Do you like to keep your hotplate on the stovetop, but it doesn’t fit perfectly on the grates? We’ve got the solution for you!
I didn’t even know I had a problem until my friend Kim was over for Shabbos and gave me the solution.
Well, I guess I knew I had a problem…I was always rearranging my hot plate erev Shabbos to have its legs sit perfectly on the grates, with it inevitably falling on one side minutes into Shabbos. My pans were always sliding to the edge, and I had to balance the heavier items with lighter items to make sure nothing would fall off.
I just didn’t know it was an easily solvable problem. I didn’t think there was a solution other than moving my hot plate to another spot. Which wasn’t an option: a) because of space b) because of it being too accessible for kids to touch.
So, if you have limited counter space or for any reason want your hot plate on a stovetop with grates—this hack’s for you.
Tiles.
Yup, any spare tiles will work. Take 2-4 tiles (depending on how large your hot plate and tiles are), lay them over your grates and tada! A perfectly balanced hot plate. They can withstand the heat and can easily be stored in an under the sink cabinet ready for next week.
Happy warming!
I work for a kitchen appliance company and it is shocking how many people aren’t aware that it is extremely dangerous and a fire hazard to use electric appliances on a stove top – EVEN if the stove is off. This post is a safety hazard.
I actually always wondered if it’s safe…I keep my hot plate on my stove top grates and have recently been bringing my soup to a boil on the fire and then putting on the hotplate (on top of the grates) right before shabbos. I wasn’t sure if it’s safe to put a hotplate right on top of very hot grates that just warmed soup…
My hot plate chord caught fire when the chord melted from the heat of the oven below. Please be careful!
We have a glass stove top and we dont put on the hot plate until its completely cooled from warming the soup. In the meantime we keep the boiled soup hot on the hot plate on the counter and then we transfer everything over to the stove top.
Great idea, ty!
The last time I put my hot plate on top of hot grates (bec of course I was boiling my soup too), the leg of the hot plate melted onto the grate and was permanently stuck there! I had to buy a new grate!
How come ?
What is the danger of having a hotplate on the stovetop if the stove is off?
I’m not sure what dangers are being referred to here, but I can share my personal story. We had a hotplate on our stovetop in our summer bungalow. The stove was off, then a child mistakenly turned it on when trying to reach for something near the counter….. The flame caught on to the underside of the hotplate and melted one of the feet of the hotplate as it caught fire. It was dangerous!
However, properly mounting it on top of tiles may actually be a good idea to prevent such a thing from happening.
I put 2 non-disposable baking trays side-by-side on my stovetop and put the hotplate on those. This is easier for those who don’t have spare tiles lying around the house. They’re also already in the kitchen so I don’t have to go get tiles from wherever they are in the house.
Same. I unscrew the legs of hot plate and slide a baking tray under as a base
I put on a blech and than put my hot plate on top of that! Completely flat surface that will not catch fire.
Thanks!
Yes! That’s what I do. Flat blech, then hot plate on top
I use a blech that covers the knobs as well so no risk of the flames being turned on when the hotplate is there.
Any advice for a glass stovetop? Im scared it might crack…. (this happened to someone I know)
Mine cracked!
Yes… i have an induction cooker and the top is glass. I use an induction mat protector from amazon. I put it on the induction and on top of that the hotplate
An external heating element (hotplate) can activate an internal heating element (stove) and cause a fire. Consider yourself warned. There’s never a good way to use an electric appliance on a stovetop of any kind…
I use a baking tray on one side … how can it activate the stove? Can you please explain? Sounds like most
of us put the hot plate on the stove
I just place two cookie sheets underneath it. Especially because sometimes stove is still a little warm when I set it up before Shabbat. But this is also a cute idea.
I just keep my hotplate on the counter.
I raise my platta on foil wrapped tiles but I put it on my washing machine. 2 bonuses: kitchen isn’t as hot in the summer bc it’s in the laundry room, and, can set up platta way b4 Shabbat without impacting cooking and warming on the stove.
Not everyone has washing machine nearby the kitchen 🙂
But yes I wait until stove top is cooled and then use 2 large metal cookie sheets upside down on the cooktop gas grates and only use the safety rated approved hot plates like techyid brand. They are the safest I’ve seen.
I use a blech over the stovetop under the hot plate !
I put it on the washing machine or dryer in the basement. HOWEVER, be aware that if your controls are at the back of the the washer/dryer, the heat from the hotplate could harm the computer board that is inside it.
And of course it goes without saying – have working smoke detectors throughout your house! You can get wireless interconnected smoke detectors – they cast a bit more, but you will have an immediate warning of a fire anywhere in the house.
Might be a good idea to remove this post since it seems to be a fire hazard…