Hot Pot, Warm Home: Using Your Hot Pot As A Space Heater

Hot pot is a fun and social meal to enjoy with family and friends. It's an interactive dining experience where guests cook their own food in a pot of broth heated on a burner. The best part? You can use a hot pot as a heater!

To get started, you'll need a heat source. A butane or electric burner is perfect for this. You can also use an electric skillet, Instant Pot, or pressure cooker. Just make sure you have a pot that's wide and shallow enough to hold all your ingredients.

Now, let's talk about the food. The beauty of hot pot is that you can choose whatever proteins, vegetables, and starches you like. Go for thinly sliced beef, pork, or lamb. Throw in some shrimp, crab, or fish. For veggies, try napa cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms, or enoki mushrooms. And don't forget the starches like noodles, rice cakes, or dumplings.

Of course, you'll need some broth to cook everything in. You can make your own or buy a store-bought broth base. And don't forget the dipping sauces! Soy sauce, sesame sauce, and peanut sauce are always popular choices.

Once you've gathered all your ingredients, it's time to cook! Bring your broth to a boil and then add whatever takes the longest to cook first. Meat, seafood, and hardy vegetables are a good place to start. Then, add your other ingredients and cook to your desired doneness. Don't forget to use separate utensils for cooking and eating!

So, there you have it! Hot pot is a delicious and fun way to enjoy a meal with loved ones. And who knows, maybe it'll help warm up your space too!

Choose a heat source: a butane or electric burner

When choosing a heat source for your hot pot, you have a few options: a butane burner, an induction burner, or an electric multi-cooker. Each option has its pros and cons, so it's important to consider your needs and preferences before making a decision.

Butane burners are a popular choice for hot pots because they are cordless, quiet, and relatively inexpensive. They use butane canisters as fuel, which can be convenient if you want to cook outdoors or in a location without access to an electrical outlet. However, the biggest drawback is the need to procure and dispose of butane canisters properly. It is also important to note that butane burners may not be suitable for certain types of pots, such as traditional earthenware donabe pots.

Induction burners, on the other hand, are electric and require access to an electrical outlet. They are safe, efficient, and fast, making them a good choice for those who want to reduce emissions and wasted energy. However, induction burners tend to be noisier than butane burners due to the built-in fan used for cooling. Additionally, induction burners require the use of pots made of magnetic materials with completely flat bottoms, which may limit your pot options.

Electric multi-cookers are another option for hot pots. They are efficient, safe, and easy to clean. They are also versatile and can be used for preparing other dishes, making them a handy kitchen appliance. However, it is important to consider the size of your kitchen and your intended use before purchasing an electric multi-cooker, as some models can be quite large and bulky.

Ultimately, the best heat source for your hot pot will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you value portability and want a quiet, cordless option, a butane burner may be the best choice. If you prefer an electric option and don't mind the noise, an induction burner could be a good choice. If you're looking for a versatile appliance that can be used for multiple cooking tasks, an electric multi-cooker may be the best option.

Pick a pot: a stainless steel pot with a clear lid is ideal

Picking the right pot is essential for a successful hot pot experience. A stainless steel pot with a clear lid is ideal for several reasons. Firstly, stainless steel is a durable and efficient material for conducting and distributing heat evenly. It can handle high temperatures without warping and is suitable for various cooktops, including induction, gas, and electric stoves. Additionally, stainless steel pots are often designed with thin metal, allowing the soup to heat up quickly as ingredients are added.

The ideal pot for hot pot should also have a wide and relatively shallow shape. This design ensures that food doesn't get "lost" at the bottom of the pot, making it easier to retrieve cooked items. A pot with a capacity of 3 to 6 quarts and a depth of 3 to 6 inches is generally suitable for serving a group of up to eight people.

A clear lid is advantageous as it allows you to monitor the cooking process without lifting the lid and releasing heat. It helps you keep track of the boiling liquid, ensuring it doesn't overboil or evaporate too quickly. Additionally, a lid with a vent or steam hole prevents fogging, rattling, and accidental overboiling.

When choosing a stainless steel pot, look for features like riveted handles with silicone grips to provide a secure and cool grip. Some pots also have measurement markings inside, eliminating the need for separate measuring cups. Finally, consider the ease of cleaning; some pots are dishwasher-safe, while others may require hand-washing.

Prepare your broth: make your own or use a store-bought base

Preparing the broth is the foundation of your hot pot meal. You can make your own broth from scratch or use a store-bought base.

If you want to make your own broth, you can follow this simple recipe: add a handful of goji berries, ginger, and sliced scallions to chicken soup. You can also experiment with different flavour profiles. For instance, you can try a plain broth with a clean taste, a thick tomato soup base, or a fiery, oily Sichuan hot pot.

If you're short on time or want a more convenient option, you can use a store-bought hot pot soup base. These are available in powder or sauce form and can be added to water or stock. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and you're good to go. Here are some popular options:

• Fly By Jing Fire Hot Pot Base: This Sichuan-peppercorn-infused broth packs a punch of spice and is a favourite of chef Eric Sze.
• Haidilao Hot Pot Seasoning: This herbal and clean-tasting broth gets a thumbs-up from Eric Sze.
• Little Sheep Mushroom Soup Base: This umami-rich option is recommended by the author of the article and is great for a veg-forward hot pot spread.
• Lee Kum Kee Soup Base: This brand offers a variety of flavours, including satay, Japanese-style pork, tomato, and spicy Sichuan.

With these options, you can easily prepare a delicious broth for your hot pot feast.

Select your ingredients: meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and starches

When it comes to selecting your ingredients, the world is your oyster (or oyster mushroom). Hot pot is all about choosing your favourite ingredients and what you're going to put into your pot. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Meat

Hot pot is what you make of it, so whether you're a beef, lamb, chicken, or pork fan, you can pop your choice of thinly sliced meat into the pot. If you're feeling fancy, you could even try some chicken wings or tripe.

Seafood

If you're a seafood lover, go heavy on the seafood. You could try shrimp, scallops, squid, fish slices, or even something more unusual like minced shrimp slide, a special kind of seafood ball.

Vegetables

Load up on veggies—the more, the merrier. Leafy greens like spinach, watercress, and lettuce are a great choice, as are cabbages like napa and bok choy. If you're after something a little more adventurous, you could try lotus root, bamboo shoots, or daikon radish.

Tofu

Tofu is a must-have for any hot pot. There are so many varieties to choose from, including medium-firm tofu, firm tofu, tofu puffs, pressed tofu, deep-fried tofu, and egg tofu.

Starches

No hot pot is complete without some starchy goodness. Noodles are the carb of choice, but you could also try rice or dumplings. If you're going for noodles, udon is a great option, but mung bean noodles are also a good choice as they're excellent at soaking up flavour.

Cook and serve: add ingredients to the broth and cook to your liking

Once you've gathered your ingredients, it's time to cook and serve your hot pot. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Broth

First, fill your hot pot halfway to two-thirds full of broth or water. You can use a pre-packaged hot pot soup base or make your own broth by adding ingredients like goji berries, ginger, and scallions to chicken soup. Bring the broth to a boil before adding any other ingredients.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

When the broth reaches a gentle boil, start adding your ingredients. Begin with slower-cooking vegetables like carrots, daikon radish, corn, and mushrooms. These ingredients will add flavour to the broth as they cook.

Next, add your proteins. Thinly sliced meats like beef, pork, and chicken are popular choices. You can also add seafood such as shrimp, fish, and squid. Remember to cook the proteins thoroughly, allowing the broth to boil for at least 30 seconds to one minute after adding raw meat.

Continue adding your chosen ingredients, such as leafy greens, tofu, and noodles. Add ingredients in small batches to avoid overloading the pot and lowering the broth temperature.

Step 3: Use the Right Tools

Use chopsticks or hot pot strainers to add and remove ingredients from the broth. It's important to use separate utensils for raw and cooked food to avoid cross-contamination. Have individual plates or bowls for each diner to assemble their customised dipping sauces.

Step 4: Create Dipping Sauces

Hot pot is often served with dipping sauces that diners can customise to their taste. Common sauce ingredients include soy sauce, sesame sauce, peanut sauce, chili garlic sauce, and scallions. Mix and match these ingredients to create your perfect sauce.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Meal!

Hot pot is meant to be a social and interactive dining experience. Relax, enjoy the company, and savour the flavours of your hot pot creation. Remember to keep the broth bubbling gently throughout the meal, adding more broth or water as needed.

Frequently asked questions