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Aside from durians, another one of our favourite foods in Singapore is hot pot. However, preparing a hot pot feast isn’t easy. Between the time spent washing and slicing the ingredients, you’ll most likely be deadbeat before finally sitting down for the meal. While there are many hot pot restaurants in Singapore like Haidilao, not many of them are open 24/7. Plus, a hot pot feast in a restaurant can quickly rack up a hefty bill. If you’re having a sudden midnight craving for hot pot, we suggest you turn to the best self-heating hot pots instead! They are budget-friendly, convenient and come in an extensive range of flavours! Check out the popular Haidilao self-heating hot pot as well as Zi Hai Guo instant hot pot below. In addition, we’ve included some other self-heating food like ramen and claypot rice in case you’re looking for a change.
What’s a Haidilao hot pot party without their signature sweet and sour tomato soup? You can now enjoy the true flavours of Haidilao in the comfort of your own home with the Haidilao Self-Heating Vegetables Hot Pot (available on Scarlett Supermarke 思家客国货超市 Offical)! Suitable for vegetarians, this Haidilao instant hot pot contains a variety of ingredients including lotus roots, black fungus, potato slices and vermicelli. If you’re up for spicier flavours, try the Haidilao Spicy Beef Self-Heating Hot Pot (available on Scarlett Supermarke 思家客国货超市 Offical) instead. Tie an apron and pour yourself some beer to complete your Haidilao home experience!
Need a quick remedy for your growling tummy? Here’s where the ZI HAI GUO Self-Heating Mala Xiang Guo (available on Pot A Toast) comes in handy! Rip open the pack of the Zi Hai Guo instant hot pot pack and you’ll be greeted with a generous amount of ingredients. This is also why many foodies love Zi Hai Guo self-heating hot pots! Be prepared to indulge in piping hot fishballs, vermicelli and crunchy vegetables like black fungus and lotus roots in just 15 minutes!
Craving for some spicy and hot soup but too lazy to head outside? This Meng Wei Self-Heating Instant Hot Pot (available on 狮城小吃货) is just the thing for you. Featuring a tantalising selection of eight flavours that include juicy sausages, crunchy vegetables and tender beef tripe, it is bound to be a satisfying meal. Made using authentic Chong Qing hot pot seasoning, the rich and spicy broth will definitely hit all the right spots. Pair it with some Chinese snacks and bubble tea to end your day on a high!
If you prefer chonky chunks of beef in your hotpot, you will love the Mo Xiao Xian Self-Heating Hot Pot (available on Munch N’ Stuff). Choose between mala spicy tender beef or tomato sirloin, depending on your taste preference. The perfect meal to snuggle up with on a rainy day, enjoy the hearty broth and satisfying beef without stepping out of your room. Moreover, Mo Xiao Xian self-heating hot pots tend to be less greasy compared to the others, making it a less sinful supper option.
Another popular brand for instant hot pots is the Ban Gan Bu Self-Heating Hot Pot (available on chuanq886.sg). Coming in a set of threes, you can have a taste of the best flavours Ban Gan Bu has to offer! This includes the Oden hot pot, potato noodles hot pot and chilli chicken rice. You can bundle the two hot pot flavours with other rice flavours like mushroom beef and bamboo shoots beef as well!
Potato noodles are called 土豆粉 (tu dou fen) in Chinese. They are made from potato starch and are commonly round, often used in hot pots, soups, and stir-fry dishes for added chewiness and texture – as seen in Tian Xiaohua Self-Heating Clay Pot Potato Noodles (available on BaBaBiYa). There are four different flavoured soups for you to enjoy the noodles with, the usual mala and spicy flavours, along with a sesame sauce flavour. For extra protein and maximum enjoyment, add some sausages before closing the lid to cook!
Boat noodles are a common supper option amongst Singaporeans, and sometimes when the cravings hit, you just need a little something to satisfy them. That’s when the Thai Vegetarian Self-Heating Noodle (available on threessisters.sg) comes in handy. Other than the usual mala hot pot, why not try some of the best self-heating Thai boat noodles flavours instead? If you’re craving other cuisines, there are also Korean spicy stew and Sukiyaki flavours available. They are vegetarian-friendly, containing no garlic, onion or any animal ingredients for more people to enjoy!
While you won’t be eating this tasty meal from a clay pot, the Hai Di Lao Self-Heating Claypot Rice (available on BaBaBiYa) boasts the same smoky flavour that you’d get from traditional claypot rice. This can be easily achieved in just 15 minutes (a traditional clay pot rice will set you back by an hour). Moreover, it comes with a variety of protein like braised pork or Chinese sausages which add a delicious mix of sweet and savoury flavours to the rice. This ties the whole dish together and makes for a convenient meal that’s delicious and filling!
开小灶 (kai xiao zao) literally means opening a small stove, usually used to describe giving someone special treatment, or in this case, giving someone extra delicious food! Spoil yourself with a Kai Xiao Zao Self-Heating Rice (available on BaBaBiYa), with five mouthwatering flavours to choose from, what will be your pick? Apart from the convenience of having hot meals at home, the other perk of self-heating food is portability. Whether you’re camping with friends or out on a picnic date, you can easily whip up a delicious hot meal within 15 minutes.
You don’t need to fly to Japan for a bowl of piping hot Japanese ramen, because you can enjoy one right in the comfort of your home with the Zi Shan Self-heating Japanese Ramen (available on ladykboutique)! Made of thin Japanese ramen noodles, aromatic pork broth, onsen egg and chashu slices, this self-heating food delivers a robust flavour that will satisfy any ramen lover. Here’s a tip: if you prefer your ramen noodles to be more chewy, we suggest adjusting the self-heating cook time to be around 10 minutes. The longer you wait, the soggier your noodles will get.
Nothing beats eating a bowl of hot braised pork rice while watching your favourite C-dramas! Whip out a bowl of Zi Hai Guo Self-heating Claypot Rice (available on towerfood) and prepare a warm meal in just 15 minutes. With nine flavours to choose from, there will definitely be one you’ll like. Mix the fragrant sauce and rice, together with the well-marinated meat slices for the perfect blend of flavours. Every mouth is filled with juicy, scrumptious goodness that your tummy will appreciate!
Self-heating hot pots, also known as instant hot pots, do not require an external heat source or electricity to work. Instead, they contain a packet of quicklime at the bottom of the tray which releases sufficient heat for cooking the hot pot ingredients. To activate the quicklime, all you need is to pour some room temperature water into the heating tray and voila, your instant hot pot will be ready in a few minutes! This self-heating method not only works for hot pots but also for instant porridge and warm desserts.
As with all cooking methods that involve heat, self-heating hot pots and food pose the risk of scalding if you’re not careful when handling them. In addition, the self-heating heat packs release hydrogen, a combustible gas, when activated. Hence, it is advisable to refrain from consuming self-heating food in vehicles or small enclosed spaces. Leave your windows open when you’re enjoying self-heating food at home. Always keep self-heating food away from children or pets.
With the best self-heating hot pots and food options that are both extremely convenient and yummy, there’s honestly no reason for you to skip meal times anymore! Nonetheless, as many of these self-heating hot pots are meant for individual serving, they may not be the best option if you’re looking to invite a few friends over for a steamboat party. For bigger portions and less hassle, we suggest engaging one of these steamboat delivery services in Singapore instead! From fiery mala soup to thick collagen broth, these steamboat places will have your guests satisfied in no time.
This article was updated on 20 June 2024. Additional research done by Liew Shu Wen
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