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Elite Gourmet Single Electric Burner Review: An Extra Burner for Thanksgiving, Plus Chafing Fuel to Keep the Buffet Warm

By Best Items Staff
A Thanksgiving kitchen counter in the late afternoon with nobody in frame: a small round single electric burner set on a butcher-block counter with a saucepan of gravy simmering on it, a red silicone spoon resting on a ceramic spoon rest, the main stovetop behind it crowded with lidded pots, and past the doorway a dining sideboard with a stainless chafing dish over a small blue flame beside dishes of stuffing and green beans, warm window light, candid editorial

Every Thanksgiving there's a moment around three in the afternoon when the stovetop is full: potatoes boiling, stuffing on low, green beans waiting, and the gravy still needs a burner. A plug-in hot plate solves that without a kitchen remodel, and a few cans of chafing fuel keep everything warm once it's on the table. Here's our look at the Elite Gourmet Single Electric Burner, plus two small things that make the day run smoother.

What the Elite Gourmet Single Electric Burner is

Elite Gourmet Single Electric Burner, 1000W Cast Iron Hot Plate, 7 Heat Settings is a compact countertop burner. Per its product page, a 1000W element heats a 6.4-inch cast iron plate that spreads heat evenly and works with nearly any cookware, and 7 heat settings run from keep-warm to rapid boil. It has a power light so you can see when it's on, and non-skid feet to keep it in place on the counter. Catalog rating: 4.4 / 5.0.

Prices on the site update daily, so check the product page for the current price.

Where an extra burner helps on Thanksgiving

The best jobs for a single plug-in burner are the ones that need steady, moderate heat for a long time: gravy that has to stay warm until the turkey is carved, a pot of cranberry sauce, mulled cider, or mashed potatoes held on the keep-warm setting. Moving one of those off the main stove frees up a full-size burner for the things that need real power, like boiling pasta or searing. A 6.4-inch plate suits small and medium saucepans best; a big stockpot is better left on the main range.

It's useful after the holiday, too. A hot plate is handy in a dorm, an RV, or a small apartment kitchen, and it's a simple backup if a burner on your range stops working.

How to use it well (and safely)

Read the manual and follow it. A few general habits apply to any electric burner: set it on a flat, heat-safe counter with space around it, away from paper towels, dish towels, and the edge where a child could reach it. Plug it into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord, and avoid running it on the same circuit as the toaster oven and the coffee maker if your kitchen breakers trip easily. Cast iron plates stay hot well after you switch them off, so let it cool fully before you wipe it down or put it away.

Keeping the buffet warm: Gas One 6 Hour Chafing Fuel

Gas One 6 Hour Chafing Fuel, 12 Pack, with Wick and Lid Opener is for the other half of the problem: food that's done but has to wait for everyone to fill a plate, or a second round an hour later. Per its product page, each can burns for up to 6 hours, is filled with a diethylene glycol liquid fuel, and is sealed with a wick for a clean, steady flame. You unscrew the lid, set the can in a chafing fuel holder under your chafing dish, and light it. The 12-pack includes a lid opener. Catalog rating: 4.7 / 5.0.

Note that the cans go under a chafing dish with a water pan, not directly under food. Keep the flame away from napkins, centerpieces, and table runners, put the sideboard somewhere it won't get bumped, and keep the lid nearby so you can smother the flame when the meal is over. Don't move a chafing dish while the fuel is lit.

One tool for stirring and serving: GIR Premium Seamless Spoonula

GIR Premium Seamless Spoonula, Ultimate 11 IN is a spoon-and-spatula hybrid, and it earns its spot on a busy day. Per its product page, it's made from seamless silicone that's heat resistant up to 425°F, so you can leave it in the gravy pan, and the 11-inch length reaches the corners of pans and jars without scratching nonstick surfaces. Because it's one seamless piece, there's no gap between handle and head where food gets stuck, which makes it easy to rinse between dishes. Catalog rating: 4.5 / 5.0.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

The hot plate is a good fit if you host a big dinner on a four-burner range, you cook in a small kitchen, or you want a backup burner for the dorm or RV. Skip it if you need to boil a large stockpot fast or you already have a range with a spare burner on holiday afternoons. The chafing fuel makes sense if you're serving buffet-style and already have chafing dishes or plan to borrow some; if everyone eats at once around the table, you probably don't need it.

The bottom line

The Elite Gourmet Single Electric Burner is a simple way to free up the stovetop on Thanksgiving afternoon: 1000W, a 6.4-inch cast iron plate, 7 heat settings from keep-warm to rapid boil, and a footprint small enough to tuck into a corner of the counter. Add a pack of Gas One 6 Hour Chafing Fuel to keep the buffet warm and a GIR Spoonula for stirring and serving, and the afternoon gets a lot calmer. Check each product page for the current price.