Common Questions Archives - HLCooking https://hlcooking.com/category/common-first-questions/ Mastering Your HOTLOGIC® Personal Oven Tue, 21 May 2024 22:47:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/hlcooking.com/wp-content/uploads/untitled.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Common Questions Archives - HLCooking https://hlcooking.com/category/common-first-questions/ 32 32 215873330 First Time Using the HOTLOGIC® https://hlcooking.com/first-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=first-time Sun, 19 May 2024 01:52:09 +0000 https://hlcooking.com/?p=2037 Typically, the first time anyone uses a HOTLOGIC® they heat either a frozen meal or leftovers. If you choose to heat a frozen meal in a box that fits in the HOTLOGIC®, open one end to verify which side is up. Then close the box and set inside the HOTLOGIC®. If the box is too […]

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]]> Typically, the first time anyone uses a HOTLOGIC® they heat either a frozen meal or leftovers. If you choose to heat a frozen meal in a box that fits in the HOTLOGIC®, open one end to verify which side is up. Then close the box and set inside the HOTLOGIC®. If the box is too big, the tray can be removed and placed directly on the heating plate. For leftovers, put them in a covered, heat-safe dish with a flat bottom and then place in the HOTLOGIC®.

What containers can you use? See here.

Place – Plug – Zip

Marie Callender's Lasanga and Green Giant Sauced Broccoli in purple HOTLOGIC® HLM

PLACE your food in the HOTLOGIC®. PLUG in the HOTLOGIC® and ZIP shut. Cook for the correct hours. By plugging in your HOTLOGIC® before zipping it shut, it is possible that you may not forget to do this before turning away from it. It is very disappointing to be hungry and reach for the HOTLOGIC® only to realize the food is still cold because it wasn’t plugged it in.

How Long to Heat

How long your food takes to heat depends on the density of the food and its starting temperature: room temperature, 40ºF or frozen. If the food comes from the refrigerator, the HOTLOGIC® site says, “It generally takes less than 1 hour to heat refrigerated food and 2 hours for frozen food.” I find that it takes 30 minutes to 1 hour longer to heat fully. But once heated it is okay to leave the food in for hours if the food container is sealed and there is enough moisture.

What Else Can be Heated

The HOTLOGIC® can also be used to warm pizza, breads or burritos. Place a piece of aluminum, parchment paper or paper towel on the heating plate first, before setting these items directly on the heating place. Heating in the HOTLOGIC® causes condensation to form. When heating breads, tortillas or burritos; do not wrap them in plastic. They will get soggy. If you need to wrap them, use parchment paper or paper towels. Burritos will need to be turned over after about an hour. Place rolls on top of the container wrapped a paper towel. If they are placed on the heating plate, they will harden.

Ready to Use Your HOTLOGIC®

Now you are ready to use your HOTLOGIC® for the first time. It can take a while to get used to how it works. Once you do, you will find that it is so easy and convenient to have your meals ready to eat when you are.

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]]> 2037 Road Trip With Your HOTLOGIC® https://hlcooking.com/road-trip/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=road-trip https://hlcooking.com/road-trip/#respond Sun, 19 May 2024 01:25:19 +0000 https://hlcooking.com/?p=2003 Traveling with a HOTLOGIC® in your vehicle on a road trip means having hot meals ready to eat whenever you are. The size and low energy requirement makes it highly portable and easy to use in a vehicle. When you are traveling by car, you may also have room for a cooler or portable refrigerator/freezer. […]

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]]> Traveling with a HOTLOGIC® in your vehicle on a road trip means having hot meals ready to eat whenever you are. The size and low energy requirement makes it highly portable and easy to use in a vehicle. When you are traveling by car, you may also have room for a cooler or portable refrigerator/freezer. This will provide you with cold food for several days of travel.

Which HOTLOGIC® Model Do I Choose?

The model you choose to use depends on what you have available or where you primarily use your HOTLOGIC®. The HOTLOGIC® Mini 12V already has the correct plug for a vehicle. If you want to use it inside a hotel room at night, you will need to get a converter. A HOTLOGIC® Mini 110V will work in a car with an inverter rated for a minimum of 45 watts. The HOTLOGIC® MAX/Family 110V requires an inverter rated for a minimum of 100 watts.

For more information on selecting the correct adapter, click here.

Can My HOTLOGIC® Stay Plugged in When the Car Is Off?

If you have a 12V plug that has power flowing through it when the car is turned off, then yes. But do you want this power drain? If your battery is in good shape and the time will be short, you should not have issues. Some people report having the HOTLOGIC® operating for four hours with the car off and are still able to start their car. To be on the safe side, it is better to use a power device. Plug a power pack or power station into the vehicle’s 12V plug which shuts off, and plug the HOTLOGIC® into that device. When the car is off, the power comes from the power bank or station.

ALLPOWERS Portable Charger 41600mAh Power Bank with AC Outlets USB Wireless 110V200W Laptop Power Bank Fast Charging Battery Pack for Cell Phone Camera Drone
ALLPOWERS Portable Charger 41600mAh Power Bank with AC Outlets USB Wireless 110V200W Laptop Power Bank Fast Charging Battery Pack for Cell Phone Camera Drone
Portable Power Station 300W,ZeroKor Outdoor Portable Power Pack 280Wh/75000mAh,Lithium Battery Bank Power Source with Flashlight,Portable Generator with DC AC Outlet for Home Use Camping RV Travel
Portable Power Station 300W,ZeroKor Outdoor Portable Power Pack 280Wh/75000mAh,Lithium Battery Bank Power Source with Flashlight,Portable Generator with DC AC Outlet for Home Use Camping RV Travel
ZunDian 1800 Amp Battery Jump Starter with Air Compressor Car Tire Inflator, Portable Power Station 110V 400W Power Inverter USB DC AC Outlet, 12V Emergency Auto Battery Booster Box, Jumper Clamp
ZunDian 1800 Amp Battery Jump Starter with Air Compressor Car Tire Inflator, Portable Power Station 110V 400W Power Inverter USB DC AC Outlet, 12V Emergency Auto Battery Booster Box, Jumper Clamp

For more information on selecting the correct power supply for your needs, click here.

How Do I Keep My HOTLOGIC® From Spilling?

The next question you may have, is where you can place your HOTLOGIC® in your vehicle while driving. Delivery drivers in the Facebook group HotLogic Recipes say they have no problems with placing their HOTLOGIC® Mini on the floor while driving. However, there are some drivers that feel safer using a “Stupid Car Tray” to secure their HOTLOGIC®.

How Do I Store Cold Food?

Travelling by car means there is usually room for a cooler or portable refrigerator/freezer. You have the choice of using ice, frozen cold packs or electricity to keep your food cold. There are many options to choose from: hard or soft sided coolers, “portable refrigerator” that costs below $100 and portable refrigerator/freezers that cost above $140.

The best soft sided cooler which I have heard of is the Mojecto Extra Large Cooler Bag for 3-4 Days Trip. This is the one favored by flight crew. It uses ice packs and not ice.

Mojecto Extra Large Cooler Bag for 3-4 Days Trip (XXX Large-17x14x10 in). Dual Thickly Insulated Compartment, Heavy Duty 1680D Polyester, Removable Liner, Sturdy Zippers.
Mojecto Extra Large Cooler Bag for 3-4 Days Trip (XXX Large-17x14x10 in). Dual Thickly Insulated Compartment, Heavy Duty 1680D Polyester, Removable Liner, Sturdy Zippers.

I have not had success using a “portable refrigerator” that costs below $100. They typically use a fan and only cool the interior of the appliance down 20-40°F from the outside temperature. This means if your car’s interior gets above 80°F, your food will not maintain a food safe temperature.

For myself, I picked up an Alpicool Y16T Portable Fridge. Beside using it for car trips, I use it when I have too many groceries to fit in my refrigerator. I really like it and find the Bluetooth app to be convenient to use. I am able to plug it in to my power station with my HOTLOGIC® when I travel.

Alpicool Y16T Portable Fridge 12 Volt Car Refrigerator 16 Quart Freezer for Fishing, Camping, RV, Truck, Boat-12/24V DC
Alpicool Y16T Portable Fridge 12 Volt Car Refrigerator 16 Quart Freezer for Fishing, Camping, RV, Truck, Boat-12/24V DC

For more information on selecting portable refrigeration options, click here.

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]]> https://hlcooking.com/road-trip/feed/ 0 2003 How to Choose an Adapter for Your HOTLOGIC® https://hlcooking.com/how-to-choose-a-hotlogic-adapter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-choose-a-hotlogic-adapter Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:43:42 +0000 https://hlcooking.com/?p=374 With the right HOTLOGIC® adapter, you to take your HOTLOGIC® on the road or use it in a building.

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]]> With the right HOTLOGIC® adapter, you to take your HOTLOGIC® on the road or use it in a building. Whether it is a HOTLOGIC® Mini 12V, a HOTLOGIC® Mini 120V, or a HOTLOGIC® Max 120V, it doesn’t matter. If you have the correct adapter, you can use any of them in a vehicle or plugged into a wall outlet.

In order to select the correct adapter, you need to know that the HOTLOGIC® Mini requires 45 watts of power and the HOTLOGIC® Max uses 100 watts of power. With this information you are ready to select the right adapter for your situation.

Converter for the HOTLOGIC® Mini 12V

60 Watts

If you have a HOTLOGIC® Mini 12V, select an AC to DC converter greater than 45W to be able to plug it in a wall outlet.

Inverter for the 120V HOTLOGIC® Mini and the HOTLOGIC® Max

These are adapters you would choose to operate household appliances in a vehicle. Add up the watts required for your appliances that will all be plugged in at the same time. Then select an inverter rated a bit higher. (Click images to see in Amazon.)

150 Watts

200 Watts

1200 Watts

If you are travelling in a vehicle, there are other considerations. Find more information at Travel With Your HOTLOGIC®.

Adapter for International Travel

A stepdown converter is required if you wish to use your HOTLOGIC® 120V Mini or Max overseas. This converter can handle 200W. It will work for either the Mini or the Max or both plugged in at the same time. (Click images to see in Amazon.)

230 Watts

If you wish to be able to also use the converter with an 1800-volt hair dryer, then you will need an adapter like this one. (Click images to see in Amazon.)

2000 Watts

Use Your HOTLOGIC® in a Locomotive Engine

locoverter, a 74V to 12V (DC) or 110V (AC) converter

If you are a train crewman, you may need a 74V to 12V (DC) or 110V (AC) converter to be able to use a HOTLOGIC® in a Locomotive Engine. This can be found at locoverter.com.

Final Words

When you choose an adapter for a HOTLOGIC®, just read the description to make certain it will provide enough watts to run your HOTLOGIC® or combination of appliances.

Questions about what portable power supply to get? Information about selecting a power station can be found here.

Hot Logic Adapter

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]]> 374 Containers For Your HOTLOGIC® https://hlcooking.com/containers-for-your-hotlogic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=containers-for-your-hotlogic Fri, 16 Sep 2022 02:41:54 +0000 https://hlcooking.com/?p=372 Find bakeware that work in your HOTLOGIC®.

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]]> Now that you have your HOTLOGIC®, you are most likely wondering where to get containers for your HOTLOGIC® and what works as bakeware in a HOTLOGIC®. I have included Amazon links to a variety of containers that will work in your HOTLOGIC®. These will give you an idea of what you want, but I would recommend you check locally at Walmart, Target, Big Lots, Dollar Tree or your local grocery store first to see if they have what you want. As for bakeware for a HOTLOGIC®, it is anything that is heat-safe and has a flat bottom to provide good contact with the HOTLOGIC® hot plate.

Bakeware You May Already Have

Bakeware such as aluminum foil, parchment paper, paper towels and grill mats can be used directly on the HOTLOGIC® heating plate.

What Size Container?

The common rule of thumb to use when selecting a dish to use in a HOTLOGIC® Mini is that a 6-cup dish is maximum size and two 3-cup dishes may fit side by side. The HOTLOGIC can fit a 9 x 13 pan or two 6-cup containers, The following is an approximation (≈) of size in cups (c), ounces (oz) and milliliters (ml).

6c ≈ 49 oz ≈ 1420 ml
4c ≈ 33 oz ≈ 946 ml
3c ≈ 24 oz ≈ 710 ml

Bakeware example, two 3-cup bento boxes fit inside a HOTLOGIC® Mini for cooking meals.

Plastic

Many people like to prep their meals and freeze them. They can create a variety of meals from which to choose for their grab-n-go meals. Two common choices are vacuum sealing the froze portions and using plastic meal prep containers. The bags used for vacuum sealing can be put directly on the heating plate or placed on a paper towel or in a dish.

Single Compartment

2 Compartment

3 Compartment

Silicone

Silicone containers work well in the HOTLOGIC®. This material does a great job of transferring heat.

100% Silicon
I use these almost every day.

Locking lid
2 of these may fit side-by-side

2 Compartment

A really easy way to cook an omelet in your HOTLOGIC® is to use a silicon omelet form.

Glass

The suggested glass containers have plastic or stainless-steel lids. I did try glass containers with bamboo covers in my HOTLOGIC® a few times, but the bamboo lid dried out and warped. When I use those dishes, I use something else as a cover in the HOTLOGIC®.

Single Compartment

2 Compartment

3 Compartment

5-cup

5 Pack 

Stainless Steel Lid

For the Max, a fellow member of the Facebook group HotLogic Recipes recommends the DEEP 9×13 dish by Pyrex, because it is 50% bigger than the typical 9×13 and fits well.

Metal

Bakeware made of metals will work in a HOTLOGIC®. You can use aluminum, cast iron or stainless-steel. If you are using a chef torch to create the Maillard reaction, I would recommend using glass or metal in which to cook your meat.

Aluminum

Cast Iron

Stainless Steel

N/A
N/A


My personal preference is to use stainless-steel containers. This is the bento box I use. The lid locks. If I was using the HOTLOGIC® in my car, I would use this container to avoid spills. Two of the 3-cup fit perfectly in the Mini.

One of the members in the Facebook group HotLogic Recipes recommended using a cake pan like this aluminum one for the HOTLOGIC® Max.

Final Words

Any food safe dish that can take up to 200°F heat and has a flat bottom will work. If the dish does not have a lid, then aluminum, plastic wrap, wax paper, parchment paper or paper towels can be used to cover the dish. In the end there are many choices that can be used. You just need to select the ones that work best for your lifestyle.

Containers For Your HOTLOGIC® or Hot Logic

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