Abstract: In a portable heating assembly, in which a heating utensil is supported on an upper surface of a utensil support, there is included a heat transfer element attached to a bottom surface of the heating utensil for both enhancing the heat transfer to the heating utensil and centering the heating utensil on the utensil support by engaging the periphery of the utensil support. Various shapes and placement configurations are provided with the heat transfer element being placed on either the radially inner or the radially outer side of the utensil support. Accommodation is also made for storage of the various components within the internal confines of the heating utensil.