Black & Decker Double Burner Portable Buffet Range

Why I reached for this hot plate

Space and flexibility are the two reasons I keep a portable cook surface around. Holiday overflow, backyard canning, a small rental kitchen—situations where an extra burner saves the day. The Black+Decker double burner has been my go-to for those moments. It’s a straightforward, coil-style hot plate with one 1000-watt burner and one 500-watt burner, two knobs, and two lights. Nothing fancy, and that’s part of its appeal.

Build and design

The unit is metal with a matte black finish and a compact footprint: roughly 20 by 11 inches and a little over 3.5 inches tall. At 12 pounds, it feels substantial—heavy enough to stay put while stirring a pot, light enough to carry to a patio table. The coils sit slightly proud of the surface, classic electric-stove style, and each burner has its own indicator light. The knobs are basic but positive; you can feel distinct steps through the seven settings.

Fit and finish are solid for the category. The housing doesn’t flex, the feet keep it stable on a flat surface, and the coils heat evenly for their size. Like all exposed-coil plates, it’s more utilitarian than pretty. Spatters don’t disappear into seams, but they do find their way around the coils, so plan to wipe it down after use.

Setup and controls

Out of the box, I ran both burners on high for about 10 minutes to burn off the factory oils. That’s standard with coil appliances; do it with a window cracked. From there, operation is dead simple: turn a knob and the corresponding light glows while the thermostat cycles power to maintain the setting.

The seven heat settings aren’t calibrated to temperatures, and the thermostat is binary—on/off—so you won’t get lab-grade precision. Still, with a little practice, I could hold a steady simmer on the 1000-watt side around settings 3–4 and keep sauces warm around 2–3. The 500-watt burner is aimed at gentler tasks: melting, warming, and maintaining a light simmer.

Heating performance

Let’s set expectations. This is not a gas range or an induction cooktop. It’s a pair of resistance coils totaling 1500 watts. Used within that envelope, it performs reliably.

• Boiling: On the 1000-watt burner, 1 quart of water reached a rolling boil in roughly 11 minutes with a lid; 2 quarts took closer to 20. The 500-watt side will eventually bring a small saucepan to a simmer, but it’s not a “boil water fast” burner.

• Searing and sautéing: With a 10-inch aluminum skillet, I could sauté onions and brown ground meat without fuss at settings 5–6 on the 1000-watt coil. Thin stainless steel pans also worked well. Heavy cast iron heats more slowly; it will get there, but patience helps. For a hard steak sear, you’ll want a lid and a longer preheat—or use a different tool.

• Eggs and pancakes: Even heat is a strength of coils when the pan matches the burner diameter. Eggs cooked evenly across an 8-inch nonstick pan on the 1000-watt burner at setting 4. Pancakes browned nicely once the plate and pan were fully preheated.

• Simmering and warming: This is where the 500-watt side earns its keep. I held chili and mulled cider at safe serving temperatures for hours without scorching. For delicate sauces, it behaves like a low-output back burner on a full-size range.

A quick note on cycling: You’ll hear occasional clicks and see the indicator lights cycle as the thermostats manage temperature. That’s normal. If you’re trying to maintain a very gentle simmer, nudge the knob down a touch after you reach temperature to reduce overshoot.

Using both burners at once

Running both burners simultaneously is this unit’s pitch. In practice, I’d boil pasta on the 1000-watt burner and keep sauce warm on the 500-watt side, or pan-fry cutlets while holding a side dish at serving temp. The combined draw is up to 1500 watts, which most 15-amp circuits can handle—but avoid sharing the circuit with a toaster, microwave, or space heater, or you may trip a breaker. If you’re on a tight electrical budget (older homes, RVs), plan your loads.

Pan compatibility

Because it’s coil-based, this hot plate isn’t picky. Anything with a reasonably flat bottom works: stainless, cast iron, aluminum, nonstick, enameled steel. For best results, match pan size to burner size. The larger coil is best with 8–10 inch pans; the smaller coil pairs well with 6–8 inch saucepans. Oversized pans that significantly overhang the coils heat less evenly at the edges.

Cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning is straightforward but not “wipe-and-forget.” Let the unit cool completely, then use a damp cloth with a little dish soap for the housing. Avoid soaking or splashing the coil areas. Because the coils are exposed, any major spill means a more careful cleanup around the rings. As with any electric coil, don’t scrub the heating elements themselves; wipe around them.

Coils are durable, and there isn’t much to wear out here besides the thermostats and switches. The two-year limited warranty is a reassuring touch for a budget-friendly appliance.

Safety and stability

The indicator lights clearly signal when a burner is energized, and the unit stays stable on a countertop thanks to its weight and base. The top gets hot—as expected—so give it a wide berth in a tight kitchen and leave enough time to cool before moving. I used it on a wood counter with a silicone mat underneath and had no issues, but avoid soft plastics or finishes that can’t handle heat.

Ventilation matters for greasy cooking. Coils can create smoke if oil gets onto them, so a crack of a window or setting up under a range hood helps.

Tips to get the most from it

• Preheat fully. Give the 1000-watt burner 5–7 minutes to bring a pan to stable temperature before searing or frying.

• Use lids. A lid can cut boil times significantly on a 1000-watt plate.

• Stage your cooking. Start high to get to temperature, then drop 1–2 settings to maintain without overshoot.

• Match pans to burners. Keep the big tasks on the 1000-watt side; reserve the 500-watt burner for simmering and warming.

• Mind your circuit. Don’t share the outlet with other high-draw appliances.

Who it’s for

• Small apartments and studios that need an extra burner.

• Backyard or balcony cooking where a full range isn’t practical.

• Holiday and party buffets to keep multiple dishes warm.

• Shared kitchens, workshops, and craft spaces where portability matters.

If you need fast boils, wok-strong heat, or precision temperature control, you’ll be happier with induction or a higher-wattage single-burner plate.

Limitations

The biggest limitation is power. The 500-watt burner is a warming/simmering zone; treat it like one. The 1000-watt burner is capable but not fast compared with a full-size range. The thermostatic cycling isn’t ideal for deep-frying without a thermometer, and exposed coils demand a little care with spills. Finally, although it’s billed as portable, 12 pounds and a 20-inch width take some storage space—reasonable, but worth noting if your cabinets are tight.

Verdict and recommendation

After using the Black+Decker double burner across several months of weeknight dinners, weekend projects, and a couple of family gatherings, I’m confident in its role: a steady, simple, two-burner workhorse for cooking and warming when a regular stove isn’t available. It’s not trying to be a high-performance cooktop, and that’s okay. The larger burner handles everyday tasks, the smaller keeps food ready to serve, and the controls are intuitive. Build quality is better than the price suggests, and the two-year warranty adds peace of mind.

I recommend it for anyone who needs reliable extra burners for light to moderate cooking and buffet duty. If you expect rapid boils, aggressive searing, or both burners running at high heat to power through big pots, this isn’t the right fit. But if your checklist reads: compact, compatible with any pan, simple to use, and dependable at the basics, this hot plate does exactly what it promises with minimal fuss.