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Hot pot is the perfect interactive dinner. This Chinese style of cooking, which originated in East Asia thousands of years ago, involves adding ingredients into a central pot of broth right on the dinner table to cook. As long as you have the right equipment and some delicious ingredients, it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab test all kinds of cooking appliances daily, from countertop cookers, like fondue pots and Instant Pots, to larger kitchen necessities, like the best electric ranges and stoves. We tapped into this expert experience to find the best electric hot pots to buy right now.
Our top picks:
Electric hot pots are great tools to buy if you're planning on this Chinese cooking style (or Japanese, if you're making Shabu Shabu) at home. Kitchen Appliances and Technologies Lab director, Nicole Papantoniou provided insight on important factors to consider when researching what to buy, whether you're considering a large or a small electric hot pot, an electric wok hot pot or other self-heating hot pots.
We also reached out to expert sources, including cookbook author Kristina Cho and Sarah Leung, a cook and writer behind the blog The Woks of Life, to provide tips about cooking hot pot at home. Read on to learn more about our favorite electric hot pot picks and discover some must-know information to making this delicious dish at home.
Aroma Housewares 5 Quart Stainless Steel Dual-Sided Shabu Hot Pot
Pros
- Lightweight
- Dual-sided
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Divider is not removable
This large electric hot pot is made from stainless steel, a material that heats more quickly than others. Its lightweight pot with cool-touch handles is removable from the sturdy base, and dishwasher-safe, which is key for easy cleanup.
We love that this pot is dual-sided, meaning you can make two different broths at once, although the divider is not removable so you don't have the option to make one big pot. "If your family and friends diverge in terms of their hot pot soup base preferences (spicy versus non-spicy), you can get a pot that has two sides," says Leung. It is important to note that you cannot sauté directly into the pot, unlike some models.
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Capacity | 5 quarts |
| Temperature range | Low, medium, high |
Pros
- Compact
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Only two heat settings
This budget buy is one of the least expensive of our recommendations, but still a great performer. The insert is made with a non-stick coating for easy cleanup, which is great since the cooking bowl is not removable from the plastic base which can make it trickier to clean. The clear lid allows to see into the bowl as food cooks. Its small size is great for one to two people, and it takes up very little storage space.
This electric hot pot has only two heating settings, high and low, which could cause inconsistencies in heating soup bases. However, the brand provides instructions for recipes to cook on both settings, so the two temperature settings provide more versatility than a single temperature.
| Material | Plastic, non-stick |
| Capacity | About 1.5 quarts |
| Temperature range | Low, high |
Zojirushi Electric Skillet for Yin Yang Hot Pot
Pros
- Dual-sided
- Comes with griddle pans
- Stable base with rubber feet
Cons
- More expensive than others
This Japanese brand makes many countertop appliances including rice cookers, bread makers and this electric hot pot. Though pricey, the model comes with a deep soup pot with a yin-yang style divider as well as a griddle pan and a clear lid. We found that it's stable, thanks to its rubber feet, and the deep pan and griddle pans are made with a ceramic non-stick coating, which makes cleanup simpler.
The deep pan is safe to be used on your stovetop, as long as the flames do not extend past the base of the pan, which means you can sauté on the stove before moving into the base to keep broths warm, and the handles stay cool to prevent burning.
| Material | Titanium with a ceramic non-stick coating |
| Capacity | About 5 quarts |
| Temperature range | Keep warm, low, medium, high |
Pros
- Small footprint
- Lightweight
- Sautéing and grilling capabilities
Cons
- Hot spots can cause foods to burn
This small electric hot pot takes up very little counter space (it measures a little under a foot from handle to handle!) so it is ideal for serving hot pot to a small group of people. The stainless steel insert is removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. The model also comes with 8-inch non-stick grill pan for versatile usage.
When our test kitchen experts cooked a hot pot base in this electric hot pot, we were thrilled that it could sauté, however found that at high heat, the onions and tomato paste cooked quickly and caught in a few places, so be sure to adjust the temperature to prevent burning when sautéing.
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Capacity | ~2.6 quarts |
| Temperature range | Low, medium, high |
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Opaque lid
This small electric hot pot is great for travel. It is lightweight, clocking in at under two pounds, so it is easy to carry around, and since it has a small footprint, it is easily set up in small spaces, like apartments or dorm kitchens. It also holds only about one quart of liquid, making it ideal for small batches. The insert is dishwasher safe and coated in a nonstick material, making the hot pot easier to clean than other materials.
We love that this model has six temperature settings, giving varied settings for different recipes and that the built-in handle and spout help to make it more convenient to pour out liquids, like boiling water or broth. However, the plastic lid isn't see-through so it may be more difficult to keep an eye on foods than if the model had a clear lid.
| Material | Plastic, nonstick |
| Capacity | ~1 quart |
| Temperature range | Warm, boil |
Pros
- Versatile usage
- Multiple specific temperature settings
Cons
- More expensive than others
While it is more expensive than other options, this electric
wok is our most versatile pick; you can sauté and stir fry veggies as well as create a soup base to simmer hot pot. It has tall sides and replicates a traditional wok's high temperatures through its electric base, allowing for searing and stir-frying.
The base of this electric hot wok comes with multiple specific temperatures, which can be important for producing consistent results. The large-capacity bowl of the wok is coated with a nonstick material and can be removed from the base and washed in the dishwasher.
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Capacity | 6 quarts |
| Temperature range | Minimum, high, sear |
How we chose the best electric hot pots
We rounded up the best electric hot pots based on our favorite trusted brands, user reviews and our expertise on cooking tools. We kept material, versatility, price and features in mind when making our selections. We also tapped into seasoned experts in the culinary world who make hot pot at home and have developed many recipes using this tool. Our test kitchen experts tried our hands at sautéing in a few hot pot bases to clarify some of the best features to consider when investing in a hot pot, as well.
What to look for in an electric hot pot
✔️ Material: Electric hot pots come in a variety of materials including aluminum and stainless. Aluminum tends to be more lightweight than stainless steel and heats quicker, while stainless steel is known to be more durable but takes longer to heat. Several models are coated with nonstick materials to make cooking and cleaning easier.
✔️ Capacity: Six quarts is a common size for electric hot pots, which can feed a family, while two quarts or smaller are ideal for one or two people. When shopping for electric hot pots, consider how many people you're cooking for at once. "Everyone should be able to safely and comfortably reach the hot pot in the center of the table. If you’re dining at a longer table or hosting more people, you may need multiple pots," shares Leung.
✔️ Temperature range: Having a variety of temperatures is helpful to bring liquids up to temperature to safely cook your hot pot ingredients, as well as to saute, if the model allows. It is important to be able to reduce the temperature of your hot pot as well as the cooking liquid reduces. Models with specific numerical temperatures help to deliver more consistent results.
✔️ Accessories: Many models come with grill and griddle inserts which means it can be used as a tabletop grill for meats and vegetables for more versatile usage.
✔️ Safety: A good electric hot pot should be balanced on its base or on the surface as well as durable. Some models come with a detachable cord, which is an added safety mechanism to minimize tripping hazards.
What is an electric hot pot used for?
An electric hot pot is a great tool to have if you want to make hot pot at home. It is used to keep broth or another soup base at a high temperature to cook ingredients in a central spot. To make hot pot, you can prepare ingredients like sliced meats, tofu and vegetables, which get dipped or cooked in the simmering broth. "I think hot pot is best when eaten at home, when you have total control over the ingredients," says Cho.
What can you cook in an electric hot pot?
An electric hot pot can be used to cook pretty much anything within a broth; proteins like beef, tofu and chicken, vegetables from carrots to cabbage and potatoes and beyond. If it comes with grilling inserts, it's also great for searing meats and veggies. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that a hot pot cannot double as a rice cooker.
Tips to make the best hot pot
✔️ "Keep food safety in mind and use your common sense!," says Leung. When handling raw meat at the table, be sure to wash your hands frequently and use separate cutlery for cooked meat and vegetables than what you use for raw proteins.
✔️ "When adding raw sliced meats or seafood to the pot, make sure the soup base comes back up to a boil, and that the protein is cooked through (it should only take seconds), before removing and enjoying anything from the pot," says Leung.
✔️ "Add[ing] a pack of instant ramen or vermicelli noodles is a great way to use up the last of the broth," says Cho.
✔️ "Don't forget about the dipping sauce," says Cho. "Everyone has their own magic combination, but you can't go wrong with sesame paste and chili oil."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Becca Miller is the associate food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she researches and writes about food all day. She spent many hours researching hot pots for this story and looked at and cooked in several models along with her colleagues. She interviewed Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, who has been testing and developing products since 2014, as well as cookbook author Kristina Cho and Sarah Leung, a cook and writer behind the blog The Woks of Life. Becca is also a passionate cook in her free time.
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