Aroma Housewares AID-506 Induction Hot Plate, Black

Aroma AID-506 Induction Hot Plate, BlackI was looking for a suitable induction cooker for a while, and I had certain requirements to meet. First was the looks. I wanted a nice, plain looking and elegant design, without too many bells and whistles and unnecessary frills. I did not want a complicated or too robust a thing, because I have very little available space for storing. Aroma AID-506 met my requirements in full. It is pretty, easy to use, easy to keep clean. It was great fun discovering which pots and pans it can work with, and it indeed works very well. Six different levels of heat help do the cooking of all sorts of food. Milk boils as a breeze. Cooking takes a fraction of time. I am thoroughly enjoying the product. Also important to mention is the cost, very reasonable for what you get. It shipped all the way to Uganda in a very short time, too.

It was a surprise to find an induction hot plate for around $50. The fact that it doesn't work makes that price understandable.Read the directions and followed them. A half-filled stainless pan was placed in the heating zone. The hotplate beeped and the light came on. I set the power level and then the timer. The beeper then sounded six times and turned the unit off. I tried it several more times, following the directions, then experimented with different approaches to time/power settings. Every time, the beeper sounded and the unit shut down. I tried three different pans, just to make sure there was good contact and enough steel/iron to engage the magnetic element. Nothing.

Do not add another junk to your kitchen. Buy something with higher watt. Search through owners manuals, packing box -could not find 'specification'. This one is probably low wattage induction cooktop. It generates very low heat even with the highest setting, thus cooking takes for ever. More time equals more electricity, how it claims 50% electricity efficient then? It's inside fan is very loud. This cheap piece of Chinese junk going back to Costco where I bought from.

There is plastic surface strip on top side and then plastic surrounding controls on front part and when your pot is larger than the glass surface of the induction plate that hangs over on to these areas the hot pot transfers heat to these areas melting these areas in the months since I have had this unit.I would suggest if you intend to use it, as it is a very nice unit...that you use pots that are no larger than the glass surface OR buy a different unit that has glass only on upper top side so pan can hang over & not melt control area.I like the unit for cooking. When you stop cooking by pressing power button the fan runs a 15 seconds or so the continue cooling magnets/unit & then it shuts down. I prefer NOT to leave plugged in as not necessary to always have at the ready.I will probably look for a unit that can accommodate my larger 12" heavy encapsulated bottom stainless steel pans maybe one with an angled down front control panel.

I purchased this hot plate for 2 reasons; firstly, I recently moved into an apartment that has remodeled the kitchen and added a ceramic glass-top stove. The stove is so hard to keep clean and if something get spilled on the eye surface and dries-it takes 2 or 3 soft scrubbings to remove the spill. I am so scared, as a renter, of being blamed for any unclear or any stains left on this stove top when I move out.So I looked at the Wave-PIC. What a sticker shock ...whew! I Google hot plates and the Aroma AID 506 induction Hot Plate appeared. The price was right/I stepped off the ledge and purchased, truly believing I would return this item shortly after receiving it. To my surprise I love the induction cooking; the quick response of the heat and the ability to control the amount of heat and the cooking time. Secondly, this item is quick, efficient, sleek, light-weight, looks good and can possible be used at other outings. Yes I still mistakenly have spills but this unit is my personal property and so far clean-up has been simple. It even states within the care documents I can use toothpaste to clean up stubborn spills. My only issue is not having a variety of magnetic pans to work with this induction heating element. But, I have 2 cast iron skillets and they work on this unit. So far I am happy.