Shabbat Hot Plate – The Best Warming Trays for Shabbos

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If you’re looking into a Shabbat hot plate, you’re probably finding so many options, it can be confusing. Here’s a breakdown of the best warming trays for Shabbos for every individual need. You can see my comparison of the best hot water urns for Shabbos here.  Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links and gifted product. This post was originally published on Oct 2018 and was updated and republished with new information and feedback.

Since everyone’s requirements are different, I compared a few options in three different categories so that I can find the best shabbat hot plate for YOUR needs. I read reviews in-depth on different websites, ditched those with overly negative feedback, whittled down the list by price as well, and shared my findings below.

While searching for the best Shabbat hot plate, there was one non-negotiable: it must be UL listed or similarly certified for safety. I also ALWAYS use mine with an appliance timer, as even some of the safe ones aren’t designed to be on for 25+ hours straight. I can’t guarantee safety on anything, or take responsibility for it, but I did try my best to seek out options that I’d use personally. I have my timer set to turn off for 15 minutes every hour so it doesn’t overheat. It’s enough to cook my cholent – you can find my best cholent recipe ever here. And once we’re on the topic, make sure you check out some of my favorite Shabbat lunch ideas!

When I’m not making cholent, I simply have it on for the times that I need it on, a few hours at a time.

In addition, always read the instructions that come with your Shabbat hot plate and listen to the safety warnings. For example, some can’t be covered with aluminum foil (as many people like to do).

Another note: some hot plates have tempered glass surfaces. Just like your Pyrex dishes, these can be sensitive to extreme changes in temperature. That means that you’ll want to be careful not to put dishes from the fridge right onto it once it’s been heated. You can put it on while off Friday and then turn it on to heat, or heat in oven before putting on. Shabbat we anyway don’t put things on directly – we place it on overturned aluminum pans first – but if you do, you can place your food on before the timer turns it back on

The 3 best Shabbat hot plates in summary

1. Chefman Electric Warming Tray – This is the one I used for the past few years. It features a relatively affordable price, different capacity options, and sleek looks. It can be hard to clean.

2.  HotMat Connect – This one is much more versatile and feature rich. It is highly innovative and unique: it’s expandable, easy to store, and can even be traveled with. It’s my favorite for those of us with needs that vary (a small family vs. lots of guests) and slim storage space.

3. Broil King Extra Large 600-Watt Warming Tray – For a more industrial strength and rugged option, that’s available in multiple sizes, this one is a favorite. It has a much more cleanable surface than the Chefman.

Reviews of each of the best Shabbat hot plates

#1 – The elegant, faithful Shabbat Hot Plate – Chefman Electric Warming Tray:

Years ago, when we were looking for a Shabbat hot plate, I chose the Chefman Electric Warming Tray. We had an old version of the same that lasted just a few uses, and got a credit to upgrade to the new. The new one has been touching almost all the right notes for us. It’s got a large capacity, a beautiful design, and has lasted us for a few years.

We did at one point need to bring it to an electrician to get it fixed and it’s been holdingup since.

As you can see, I can squish about four 9×13 inch pans on it, or three and my dutch oven cholent.

I tend to not need to fill it, unless I have guests, in which case I stack the pans 2-3 high. I place pans that need to be piping hot at the bottom, and those that are good slightly less hot on top. I find that it heats through well. Things that are on the bottom, if left on too long can burn so I save that spot for chicken with gravy, roast potatoes, and other dishes that do well there. If I need to remove things from the base, I simply place them on top of an overturned pan and it works great.

Features:

• 21×16 inch surface (multiple size options available)
• Tempered glass surface
• Stainless steel accents
• Adjustable temperature settings

Pros:

• Fuse safety feature is designed to keep it from overheating when using it for extended periods of time. Manufacturer warns against keeping it on for longer than 72 hours, which is more than adequate for Shabbos, and most holiday needs. I find it a PRO that they give a time-on guideline.
• It’s so pretty! The glass top and stainless steel detail make it look nice on your countertop all Shabbos.
• The surface is pretty large and can handle food for guests.
• We’ve personally used this for well over four years and it’s been reliable and useful. We did need to repair it at some point, however it’s held up since and been worthwhile.
• Heats food thoroughly in an hour or two

Cons:

• I have found that the surface can be hard to clean. Since it can’t be covered, this means that our tempered glass is not quite as pretty and sleek as it once was… Right now, after years of use, it’s quite the eyesore, but it still works.
• The heating surface comes all the way to the edge of the warming tray – but the handles make it less of an issue

#2 – The Versatile, Storable, Expandable – HotMat Connect:

HotMat recently reached out to me to share their new HotMat Connect and I was intrigued. They did send me a sample for this post, and I agreed to share it. However: my opinion is honest, and I’ll point out the flaws as well as the good.

I had actually noticed that a few people purchased standard HotMat hot plates instead of my suggestions, which is always a good sign to me.

The HotMat features a silicone frame, allowing it to actually fold. The new Connect line features two-part modular design. Each piece has two portions and you can connect up to five using the included connectors. It’s perfect for families like mine who love to host but on a typical week don’t need to leave much out.

While I do love my ChefMan, the HotMat Shabbat Hot Plate connect solves two issues:

• On weeks that I don’t need the huge full-sized Plata out, the needs-based HotMat connect is a game changer. And I can expand it when I do need more space.
• It’s much easier to take out and put away – to store in general. It folds small enough to store in a kitchen drawer or stick in a suitcase for a Shabbat away.

It’s fabulous for parties – it kept the soup at our family Chanukah party at the perfect temp. It kept the creamy mushroom pasta hot but without ruining the heavy cream sauce.

It comes in other colors, including black if you want a classier look. Each piece can fit two pots or pans.

Features:

• Expandable to heat up to 10 dishes
• Two temperature modes – warm (212 degrees) and hot (302 degrees). We keep it on warm for Shabbat.
• Foldable
• Silicone frame, stainless steel surface
• On/off switch
• Covered sockets and switches

Pros:

• The covered switches are a must for Shabbat and keep the look seamless.
• ETL approved and strict safety compliance for ease of mind. It’s designed with Shabbat in mind.
• Needs vary, and instead of having multiple hotplates, you can have one that can be expanded to suit your needs. I love this option.
• Surface cleans easily from spills.
• The hot surface doesn’t go to the edge.
• Folds small so it’s easy to store. This is by far the easiest to handle hot plate I have ever seen for this reason. It’s lightweight too. There’s no unnecessary bulk here.

Cons:

• The way that they connect isn’t the most space efficient and requires a gap between hot plates because of the length of the cord. I “squished” it together but it’s a tad awkward to do.
• Because you don’t have a continuous surface, you can’t load it and pack it in tight – you’ll want to expand it to suit your needs. I do find that for parties or buffets this is irrelevant -having the separate surfaces is an advantage. It’s also an advantage when you want to have better control of heating temps.

#3 – The Extra Large Industrial Strength Shabbat Hot Plate – Broil King 600-Watt Warming Tray

A wider and slightly less deep option, this Shabbat hot plate has an easy-to-clean stainless steel surface and sits higher above your counter top. I like that the bigger size is all in the width – so you can still keep it deep on a countertop, despite its large size. Note: I haven’t tried this one, and evaluated it based on reviews and to fill the niche of a more industrial option.

Features:

• 15-1/4 by 46 inches – with a 41×14 inch warming surface
• Stainless steel surface
• Two adjustable thermostats

Pros:

• More rugged and strong than other options
• Very big
• The stainless steel surface is more cleanable than the tempered glass surface. It’s also won’t shatter
• Sits higher above your countertop, and can be placed farther in because it’s not as deep. It also has deeper plastic sides – making the edges less accessible than the Chefman.
• Made in the USA

Cons:

• It’s pricier than other options
• According to one review, it’s not serviceable (because it doesn’t work with a heating element)

In a nutshell: my best Shabbat hot plate

As someone who has literally been dependent on my husband to take out the hot plate, I value the portability and storability of the HotMat Connect. It becomes the size I need it to be, and while purchasing additional units can add up, you’re still at a bigger advantage than you’ll be having multiple sizes. Since my own family is small (as in, my kids don’t eat real food…) and I love hosting, my needs vary greatly.

I appreciate that I can set it far back from the edge of my counter and that the switches are covered. I’m finding that it covers all my needs, and the fact that I can actually store it in my kitchen is a game changer.

While I still need to “time test” it, I do think that it’s my top pick due to its ability to suit evolving needs.

Which do you think are the best Shabbat hot plates? Got any questions about any of them? Comment below!

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