A hot plate is a portable self-contained tabletop small appliance that features one, two electric heating elements. A hot plate can be used as a stand alone appliance, but is often used as a substitute for one of the burners from an oven range or the cook top of a stove. Hot plates are often used for food preparation, generally in locations where a full kitchen stove would not be convenient or practical as hot plates are easily moved from one location to another.