Best Portable Induction Cooktops for home, kitchen, RV

Looking for the best portable induction cooktop?

Below is our pick of the top 3 induction cooktops you can buy for your home or for your RV.

Our Pick – Top 3 Portable Induction Cooktop

In case you’re in a hurry, here are my top three recommendations for the best portable induction cooktop.

#1 #2 #3
Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter... Portable Induction Cooktop, iSiLER 1800W Sensor Touch Electric... hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop - Powerful Single Burner...
Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter... Portable Induction Cooktop, iSiLER 1800W Sensor Touch Electric... hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop - Powerful Single Burner...
$$$ $$ $
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If you are one of those home cooks that are not very comfortable cooking with a flame stove, then an induction cooktop should be your top choice for cooking your favorite meals.

An induction cooktop cooks your food without using the conventional methods of heating up your pan. In that sense, it is not the same as common stoves that use a flame that comes from burning gas.

They are not even similar to your electric stoves, which use electricity to heat up a coil.

Instead, an induction cooktop uses an electromagnetic field below the glass top to heat only the pan and not the air surrounding it. This field transfers current magnetically to your pan or cookware to heat it up.

In essence, you are no longer heating up a burner to transfer heat to your pan because you are already directly heating your cookware.

In this article, I will be covering the best portable induction cooktops you can consider buying for your home or your RV.

Best Portable Induction Cooktop Reviewed

Below is the table that shows all the induction cooktop covered in this review.

NAME IMAGE OUR RATING PRICE
Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter... Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter... 9.5 / 10 $$$ Check Best Price
Portable Induction Cooktop, iSiLER 1800W Sensor Touch Electric... Portable Induction Cooktop, iSiLER 1800W Sensor Touch Electric... 9.5 / 10 $$ Check Best Price
hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop - Powerful Single Burner... hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop - Powerful Single Burner... 9.0 / 10 $ Check Best Price
NUWAVE Flex Precision Induction Cooktop, 10.25” Shatter-Proof... NUWAVE Flex Precision Induction Cooktop, 10.25” Shatter-Proof... 9.0 / 10 $$ Check Best Price
Nuwave Gold Precision Induction Cooktop, Portable, Powerful with... Nuwave Gold Precision Induction Cooktop, Portable, Powerful with... 8.5 / 10 $$$ Check Best Price
Copper Chef Induction Cooktop (Copper) Copper Chef Induction Cooktop (Copper) 8.5 / 10 $$$$ Check Best Price
No products found. No products found. 8.5 / 10 $$ No products found.
Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, Countertop Burner Induction... Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, Countertop Burner Induction... 8.5 / 10 $$$ Check Best Price
No products found. No products found. 8.0 / 10 $$ No products found.
Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Black... Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Black... 8.0 / 10 $$ Check Best Price
No products found. No products found. 8.0 / 10 $$ No products found.
Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, High End Full Glass Induction... Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, High End Full Glass Induction... 7.5 / 10 $$$ Check Best Price
Rosewill 1800 Watt Induction Cooker Cooktop , Included 10" 3.5 Qt... Rosewill 1800 Watt Induction Cooker Cooktop , Included 10' 3.5 Qt... 7.5 / 10 $ Check Best Price
Duxtop Professional Portable Induction Cooktop, Commercial Range... Duxtop Professional Portable Induction Cooktop, Commercial Range... 7.5 / 10 $$$$ Check Best Price
No products found. No products found. 7.5 / 10 $$ No products found.

Now let’s have a look at the detailed reviews of each of the induction cooktop covered in this article.

Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter Top Burner

Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter...

If you are seeking portable, then Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD Induction Cooktop is the one you are looking for.

Weighing at just six pounds, you can easily carry this portable induction cooktop wherever you go. It also is not the biggest induction cooker.

It has one cooking zone and the entire cooker itself has dimensions of 17.5 x 13.7 x 4 inches.

This portable induction cooktop has a digital temperature control that ranges from 100 degrees to 450 degrees and has increments of 25 degrees every time you increase the temperature.

It also has easy-to-use one-touch settings that allow you to simmer or boil your food with just a tap of the finger.

Max Burton #6450 Digital LCD 1800 Watt Induction Cooktop Counter...
  • Max Burton #6450 Induction Cooktop uses 120V AC Power, standard in all homes. Energy...
  • One touch simmer and boil. New space saving design includes a digital LCD screen and...
  • Digital temperature control from 100°F to 450°F, in 25°F increments. Digital timer with...

Final Words on Max Burton Portable Induction Cooktop

The Max Burton #6450 is not only portable but is as complete as any induction cooker can be because of how it has all of the functions you need from a reliable cooktop.

PROs CONs
  • Lighter than most other portable induction cooktops
  • Holds the temperature very well and stays consistent with it throughout the entire cooking process
  • Tends to cook a bit loudly for such a small induction cooktop

You can also read our full review of Max Burton #6450 Induction Cooktop here.

Portable Induction Cooktop, iSiLER 1800W Sensor Touch Electric Induction Cooker Cooktop

No products found.

If portable is the name of the game, then iSILER Portable Induction Cooktop is ahead of the pack.

Barely weighing seven pounds and has dimensions of 11.6 x 2.2 x 14.2 inches, it is quite small. In that regard, it is easy to carry around and it does not take a lot of space.

You can practically place on top of any table and just plug it in a standard 120V AC plug for it to work well.

Despite being small, it packs quite a bit of power. It has temperature settings that have a 40-degree increment and can cook your food form 140 degrees to 460 degrees.

As such, you can use it for simmering, steaming, slow cooking, grilling, or deep frying. The buttons are also quite sensitive so that it will be easier for you to change from one setting to another.

No products found.

Read our full review of Isiler Induction Cooktop

Final Words on iSiler Portable Induction Cooktop

Though it is quite small, you do not have to worry about how powerful and efficient it is when cooking your food.

PROs CONs
  • Smaller and much more compact than your regular induction cooktop
  • Versatile enough to cook your food in a variety of ways
  • Can be too noisy at times
  • Has to be unplugged for it to turn off completely

hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop – Powerful Single Burner Electric Countertop Stove – Features 10 Heating Levels, 6 Cook Modes, Touch Controls, and Child Safety Lock

hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop - Powerful Single Burner...

There are plenty of induction cooktops that can give you a good introduction to induction cooking, and hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop is one of them.

This portable induction cooktop makes it easy for you to appreciate induction cooking because of how simple it is to use and how it gives you control over your cooking experience in a way that some other brands or competitors can’t.

On top of all of those qualities, this portable induction cooker is quite compact.

It has dimensions of 17.2 x 13.4 x 5.1 inches and is barely 16 pounds in weight.

That means that you can cook almost anywhere without worrying about the space this portable induction cooktop takes up so long as you place it on a stable countertop or table.

hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop - Powerful Single Burner...
  • WELCOME TO INDUCTION COOKING - This electric cooktop is your portable stove. It's compact...
  • SIX USER MODES - Enjoy cooking on your terms with these modes. Choose from Fry Mode, Boil...
  • TEN HEATING LEVELS - This induction hot plate is a power cooker. A power you control. Set...

Final Words on hOmeLabs Portable Induction Cooktop

This portable induction cooker is a great choice for people looking to steadily transition their way to induction cooktops.

PROs CONs
  • Lightweight and compact enough for you to carry around anywhere
  • Very easy to use and gives you complete control over the settings
  • Can heat up faster than you might have wanted
  • Materials used are not the most durable

NuWave PIC Flex Precision Induction Cooktop with Fry Pan – Black – 9″

NUWAVE Flex Precision Induction Cooktop, 10.25” Shatter-Proof...

NuWave PIC Flex Precision Induction Cooktop is quite unique in the portable induction cooktop game in the sense that it comes at you with a circular design that makes it even more portable.

In that sense (and on top of how it only weighs 7.75 pounds), it will not take up a lot of space on your countertop or on any other surface you use.

Other than that, what makes this portable induction cooker stand out is how it has a total of 45 precise temperature settings that allow you to cook your food in a variety of ways.

The temperature control ranges from 100 degrees to 500 degrees and allows you to have complete control over how you cook your food because of the 10-degree increment.

And if you are feeling a bit lazy, you can simply rely on the timer to do its job.

Sale
NUWAVE Flex Precision Induction Cooktop, 10.25” Shatter-Proof...
  • MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON-THE-FLY – Want hotter temperature or need to cook it longer? No...
  • 45 PRE-PROGRAMMED TEMPS - Select from the 6 convenient preset temperature settings or fine...
  • PRECISE TEMPERATURE CONTROL – With 45 precise temperatures at your fingertips, you can...

Final Words on NuWave PIC Flex Portable Induction Cooktop

With its unique design and shape, this versatile and highly functional induction cooktop is the reliable portable cooker you need by your side if you are always on the go or if you simply want something that does not take up a lot of space.

PROs CONs
  • Circular design does not take up a lot of space
  • The temperature control has a 10-degree increment
  • You cannot completely turn it off as you need to unplug it after using it
  • Because it is quite small, it is not the best for large-batch cooking

NUWAVE 30242 Lightweight Induction Cooktop With 9 in Fry Pan, 10.8 A, 1300 W Black

Nuwave Gold Precision Induction Cooktop, Portable, Powerful with...

Another good product by NuWave, the 3042 Lightweight Induction Cooker will not disappoint the home cook in you.

With its circular design, it does not take up as much space as other portable induction. It also only weighs about 9.7 pounds and is not heavy enough for you to feel like carrying it around wherever you go is such a chore.

This portable induction cooker can cook your food in temperatures that range from 100 degrees to a surprisingly high 575 degrees.

You can also increase temperatures in increments of 10 degrees.

In that sense, it not only has a wider range of temperature control but it also allows you to control the temperature a way that is much more precise than any of its other competitors.

Sale
Nuwave Gold Precision Induction Cooktop, Portable, Powerful with...
  • Includes a 10.5” Hard Anodized Fry Pan; 12” heat-resistant cooking surface; 8" heating...
  • 52 temp settings from 100°F -575°F in 10°increments; 6 pre-programmed temperature...
  • 1 hour default setting/ Auto-Off; 100 hours max programmable time

Final Words on NuWave 302422 Portable Induction Cooktop

A uniquely shaped induction cooker with a wide range of temperature control, this portable cooktop is surprisingly powerful and efficient for its size.

PROs CONs
  • Comes with a unique circular design
  • It has a wide range of temperature control
  • The cooking area might be too small for some bigger pans and cookware
  • Does not have an on/off button and has to be unplugged for it to completely turn off

Copper Chef Induction Cooktop (Copper)

Copper Chef Induction Cooktop (Copper)

If you are looking for some extra cooking space at home or for something you can carry around for your camping trips, Copper Chef Induction Cooktop is a good choice for you.

With dimensions of 15 x 12 x 3 inches, it is so small and compact.

It is also very light and is not even six pounds heavy. You will be hard-pressed to find an induction cooktop that is just as compact and lightweight as this one.

This induction cooktop comes with five presets so that you do not have to manually input the settings whenever you are cooking certain recipes. It also automatically shuts off when it detects that you are no longer cooking.

Copper Chef Induction Cooktop (Copper)
  • 1,300W power- Precise time and temperature control adjusts heat in 10° increments from...
  • 5 Cooking Presets- go from warm to sear and every temperature in between
  • Induction technology Compatible with 8" to 12" induction pans

Final Words on Copper Chef Portable Induction Cooktop

It does not only look good but it is also good enough to make cooking such an easy task for you because of its presets.

PROs CONs
  • The copper-like design looks unique and sleek
  • Automatically turns off to avoid burning your food
  • The heat can be a bit slow to build up
  • It is not the most powerful induction cooker and is not the best for larger pans and cookware

You can also read our full review of Copper Chef induction cooktop here

DeikProtable Induction Cooktop 1800W Large Surface Sensor Touch Electric Countertop Burner with Timer and 10 Temperature Settings, Kids Safety Lock, Suitable for Cast Iron, Stainless Steel Cookware

No products found.

Deik Induction Cooktop is a powerful answer to your portable cooker needs.

It has dimensions of 14 x 2.4 x 11.4 inches and a weight of about 7.4 pounds. In that sense, it is both compact and light enough for you to carry around.

And, despite its size, it is surprisingly powerful and efficient.

With a power that can reach 1800 W, you can expect this tiny but powerful induction cooktop to heat up your food in an instant. You can also choose cooking temperatures somewhere between 140 degrees and 460 degrees.

And you will be surprised at how it does not tend to use up a lot of energy.

No products found.

Final Words on Deik Portable Induction Cooktop

Efficiency and speed define this portable induction cooktop as it allows you to cook your meals without taking a lot of your time and without having to use up a ton of electricity in the process.

PROs CONs
  • Heats up rather quickly
  • Very efficient energy consumption
  • Might be too small for some larger cookware

Duxtop LCD 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner 9600LS

Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, Countertop Burner Induction...

Duxtop LCD Portable Induction Cooktop comes at you at the right size and weight.

It has a surface area of about 160 square inches and is 2.5 inches thick. It also is only 7.2 pounds of light.

That means that it is compact and light enough for your portable needs.

With a temperature range of 100 degrees to 460 degrees and increments of 20 degrees, you can choose to cook your food at a precise temperature. It also heats up quite fast and will automatically shut off when it does not detect a pan.

Sale
Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, Countertop Burner Induction...
  • 【PORTABLE INDUCTION BURNER】Duxtop induction cooktop uses 110/120V 15 amp electrical...
  • 【HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY】 Choose from 20 preset power levels (100W to 1800W) and 20...
  • 【DIGITAL LCD SENSOR】Touch control panel: child safety lock keeps the cooking and timer...

Final Words on Duxtop LCD 1800 Portable Induction Cooktop

It might seem a bit basic to some but it actually is powerful and efficient enough to answer your needs if you are in the market for a high-quality portable induction cooktop.

PROs CONs
  • Small enough and is rather light
  • Heats up your cookware faster than most other induction cooktops
  • Tends to be quite noisy in an annoying way
  • Temperature settings are not exactly accurate and are dependent on the size of your pan or cookware

Induction Cooktop Portable Induction Cooker Smart Touch Sensor, Electric Burner with Countdown Timer and Kids Safety Lock, Aicok

No products found.

AICOK Induction Cooktop is ultra lightweight and weighs only about six pounds.

It also has a surface area of about 230 square inches.

That said, it is both very easy to carry and has a surface that is wide enough for you to cook pans and cookware of almost any size.

Other than that, this induction cooktop comes with standard functions.

It automatically shuts off when it does not detect compatible cookware.

And with temperatures that range from 140 degrees to 460 degrees, you can do all sorts of cooking on it such as boiling, steaming, slow cooking, deep frying, and grilling.

No products found.

Final Words on Aicok Portable Induction Cooktop

It is similar to most standard portable induction cookers but is lighter than its competitors.

PROs CONs
  • Very lightweight and compact
  • Versatile enough for you to cook within a variety of ways
  • Cooks a bit loudly in an annoying kind of way
  • Not the most powerful induction cooktop on the market

Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner

Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Black...

Small and lightweight, this Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop is very easy to carry around for those always on the go.

Its size makes it easy for you to cook meals efficiently and quickly whenever you are camping out in the woods with your family or friends or if you just happen to be on a trip across the country in your cramped RV.

What makes it an efficient induction cooker for you to use during one of your trips is that it heats up your pans quicker than most other cooktops.

You can also choose temperature setting as high as 460 degrees while expecting it to make cooking easier for you using its built-in automatic digital timer.

It is also very easy to clean as all you need to do is to wipe the top with a cloth.

Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Black...
  • PORTABLE INDUCTION BURNER Duxtop induction cooktop uses 120V 15 amp electrical...
  • HIGH EFFICIENCY Choose from 15 preset power levels 200W to 1800W and 15 preset temperature...
  • EASY TO CLEAN & VIEW With no open flame or heating element, food does not burn on the...

Click here to read our full review of Secura 9100MC Induction Cooktop.

Final Words on Secura 9100MC Portable Induction Cooktop

It does not take up a lot of space on your countertop and is a joy to use if you are looking for something that cooks your food quickly.

PROs CONs
  • It is lighter and smaller than most of its competitors
  • Heats your pan very quickly
  • The fan tends to be noisy in an irritating way
  • Heat output is low and you cannot expect it to reach high enough temperatures for certain recipes

DUXTOP 8310ST 1800-Watt Portable Sensor Touch Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner Range

No products found.

With the DUXTOP 8310ST Induction Cooktop, you are getting a product that is only 14 x 11.4 inches in length and width as well as 2.1 inches in terms of height.

It is also only about 7.4 pounds of light.

That said, it is as compact and as portable as any other induction cooktop on the market and will not be too much of an effort for you to carry around.

This induction cooker comes with standard features and functions that make any cooktop worth your while. It can reach a power of 1800W and is quick and efficient when it comes to heating your cookware.

You also can choose temperatures between 140 degrees and 460 degrees. It is essentially a great machine that provides you with basic functions in a handy package.

No products found.

Final Words on Duxtop 8310ST Portable Induction Cooktop

It might not seem much at first but it is actually a high-quality machine that allows you to cook your food fast and easy without putting you through a lot of trouble.

PROs CONs
  • Heats up your pans and cookware really quick and well
  • Does not take up too much countertop space
  • Makes a loud and annoying sound

Duxtop 1800-Watt High-End Full Glass Portable Touch Sensor Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner Stainless Steel E200A (Black), 1800w

No products found.

Another portable induction cooktop by Duxtop, the E200A may be bigger and heavier than some of the other items on this list.

But you can expect it to function just as well as they do in a more durable build that is made from premium high-quality materials.

You can choose to cook with it with 20 different temperature levels ranging from 100 degrees to 460 degrees. And the best part is that it cooks your food all without that annoying noise most induction cookers tend to make.

No products found.

Final Words on Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop

It might not be the smallest but it is highly functional and very silent at that.

PROs CONs
  • Made with heavy-duty materials
  • Cooks your food silently
  • Bigger and heavier than most competitors
  • It does not have the most appealing design

Rosewill RHAI-16001 1800-Watt Induction Cooker Cooktop with Stainless Steel Pot

Rosewill 1800 Watt Induction Cooker Cooktop , Included 10' 3.5 Qt...

Rosewill RHAI-16001 is seriously compact with an overall surface area of only about 144 square inches.

It is as portable as any induction cooker needs to be and it does not even weigh a lot.

Aside from that, you will be getting an induction cooktop that is more powerful than what its size would suggest.

It heats up your food and can boil water faster than even your microwave can. It is also quite easy to use because of how intuitive its buttons are.

Rosewill 1800 Watt Induction Cooker Cooktop , Included 10" 3.5 Qt...
  • 8 Temperature Settings from 150 to 450 Degree : 150 Degree, 200 Degree, 260 Degree, 300...
  • Polished Crystal Plate Surface
  • LED Large Screen Display, 4 Digitals

Click here to read our full review of Rosewill Induction Cooktop

Final Words on Rosewill Portable Induction Cooktop

Overall, this portable induction cooktop has nice features that tend to stand out and is one of the smallest ones you can find on the market.

PROs CONs
  • Does not take up a lot of space
  • Heats up very quickly
  • The temperature increments (25 degrees) are quite big
  • It feels and looks a bit cheap

Duxtop LCD P961LS Professional Portable Induction Cooktop Commercial Range Countertop Electric Single Burner,1800 watts

Duxtop Professional Portable Induction Cooktop, Commercial Range...

The Duxtop P961LS is an induction cooktop that looks and feels like it was made with heavy-duty and durable materials.

As such, it is not the smallest or the lightest portable induction cooker out there but it will ensure you that it can be the most durable on the market.

Other than that, this induction cooktop feels like it could be used at the professional level because of how it can easily and quickly cook up large quantities of food.

It really makes cooking seem a lot more simple aside from the fact that it comes with the standard functions that most induction cooktops come with.

Sale
Duxtop Professional Portable Induction Cooktop, Commercial Range...
  • PORTABLE INDUCTION BURNER: Duxtop professional countertop burner uses 120V 15 amp...
  • HIGH EFFICIENCY: Choose from 20 preset power levels (100W to 1800W) and 20 preset...
  • SENSOR TOUCH PANEL WITH LCD SCREEN: The sensor touch panel is sensitive to touch and easy...

Final Words on Duxtop LCD P961LS Portable Induction Cooktop

You do not get a lot of high-quality induction cooktops that are made with heavy-duty materials, but this is one of them.

PROs CONs
  • Looks and feels very durable
  • Allows you to cook large quantities of food
  • May not have the most aesthetically pleasing design
  • Not the lightest or smallest portable induction cooker

NuWave Portable Induction Cooktop & 10.5 Inch Pan (Renewed)

No products found.

This NuWave Portable Induction Cooktop comes with the standard circular design that most NuWave induction cooktops have.

As such, it does not take up a lot of space on your countertop.

Aside from that, it 52 temperature settings because of how it can cook with temperatures between 100 degrees and 575 degrees at 10-degree increments.

This allows you to cook your food at exact and precise temperatures. And if you do not feel like manually setting the temperature, you have six presets to choose from.

No products found.

Final Words on NuWave Portable Induction Cooktop

Saves you space as well as time, this induction cooker is heaven-sent for anyone who wants to cook up a meal in a cramp countertop and in limited time.

PROs CONs
  • The circular design allows you to conserve more space
  • Has 52 temperature settings
  • Has to be unplugged after use
  • The surface tends to get hot after cooking

Chef’s Star 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner – 120V / 60Hz – Black

Chef's Star 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner -...

Chef’s Star Portable Induction Cooktop is a lightweight and compact induction countertop that makes you love induction cooking.

It comes with 15 temperature levels ranging between 140 degrees and 465 degrees and has power levels that can reach 1800W.

That said, it can be as powerful as it needs to be and will cook your food up as quick as any other induction cooker.

Final Words on Chef Star Portable Induction Cooktop

It gives you want you to need from a reliable induction cooker in a package that is quite portable and light.

PROs CONs
  • It doesn’t weigh a ton and is smaller than most other induction cooktops
  • Heats up rather quickly
  • Does not always reach desired power levels
  • The cooking surface is not large enough for most cookware

Features to consider before buying a Portable Induction Cooktop

By now, you probably are already convinced of buying a portable induction cooktop you can carry around and use wherever you go.

However, before you do so, there are still features you need to consider.

Size

A portable induction cooktop obviously needs to be portable. Size is the ultimate factor in determining how portable the induction is.

It actually has to be small enough to be carried around without much effort or difficulty but still big enough to actually function up to your standards.

It also does not have to take up a lot of space so that you can practically store it anywhere.

Number of cooking zones

Most induction cooktops you can find tend to have three or more cooking zones.

Those are meant to be used at home and not for portability. As such, you would need a portable induction cooktop with fewer cooking zones so that it would be small enough for you to carry around.

Two cooking zones might be good so that you can cook up more meals at the same time.

However, depending on the size of the zone, two cooking zones might be a little too big for some people. In such cases, one cooking zone would be good enough especially if you are not looking to cook up a lot of food.

Auto Switch-off

Induction cooktops are known for heating only the pan and not the surface of the cooktop itself. So when you remove the pan, there is nothing to heat up in the first place.

In such a case, the ideal portable induction cooktop should automatically switch off sometime after it detects that you have removed the pan from the surface. This is to ensure that no energy goes to waste and that your induction cooktop does not overheat.

Timer

The best portable induction cooktop needs to have a timer setting so that you can leave your food cooking without actually having to be there.

This helps your overall productivity as you can do other things (preparing other meals or slicing vegetables) as the induction cooktop does all of the work for you.

An automatic timer setting also allows you to cook your food with much more precision and uniformity so that your recipes always come out exactly the same as the last time every time you cook them.

Compatibility sensor

Another safety feature every portable induction cooktop should have is a compatibility sensor that automatically detects if the pan you are using is compatible with it or not.

As not all pans can be used with induction cooktops, having a feature that automatically detects compatibility makes things a lot easier and safer on your part.

Temperature range

As mentioned, cooking using an induction cooktop is much more precise than gas or electric stoves because you will be using exact temperatures.

However, knowing the temperature range and increments is an important feature to have because you want your food to be cooked to a temperature that is as exact as possible. You also do not want increments to be too large that adjusting the temperature by one level already makes a huge difference in terms of heat.

One-touch settings

If you are feeling a bit lazy and are not willing to manually input the time and temperature needed by the recipe, your induction cooktop should have settings that allow you to use certain cooking features (simmering, boiling, warming) just with one touch.

That way, you no longer have to go through different modes just to get the settings right. All you need to do is to touch a certain button for your food to be cooked to the right settings

User-friendly

While it is always better to go through the manual when trying to learn how to use your new induction cooktop, the best induction cooktops should be so user-friendly that you can learn how to use them simply by testing them out one time.

In that sense, the buttons for the different settings should be laid out perfectly that you can understand what they are for just by looking at them. That way, you no longer have to waste time and effort ting through the manual.

Benefits of Portable Induction Cooktop over Gas/Electric

Now that you already know what an induction cooktop is and how it basically functions, here are some of the reasons why you should highly consider using one over conventional gas or electric stoves:

Efficiency

Induction cooktops are considered much more efficient in heating up your cookware compared to gas or electric cookware. That is because there is no longer a transfer of heat involved when you are using an induction cooker. The pan or cookware you are using is the one that is directly heated up using the electromagnetic current coming from the induction cooktop.

In comparison, the heat that gas and electric stoves produce tend to dissipate around the pan instead of directly heating the bottom. In that sense, too much energy is lost just by heating up your cookware.

Safety

Safety should always be a top priority for home cooks out there because, when you are cooking, you are literally playing with fire or heat. That means that you always have to be careful with the stove so as to not burn yourself or the entire kitchen from the flame or heat they produce.

However, in the case of induction cooktops, you get to cook your food safer. That is because the induction cooktop itself does not produce heat. If you touch the surface of the cooktop, it is actually quite cool as only the pan gets heated in the process. On top of that, you also do not have to worry about flames going out of control.

Speed

As mentioned, when you are using induction cooktops, the heat gets transferred directly to the pan using an electromagnetic current coming from under the cooktop. This means that your pan heats up faster by about half the time when compared to gas and electric stoves.

Precision

Induction cooktops use digital technology to control the current transferred to your pan so that the heat stays precise and consistent all the time. So if you want your pan to be heated up to an exact temperature, you do not have to use a thermometer or any other ways to estimate how hot your cookware is because you can directly control the heat your induction cooktop transfers.

So if you want your recipes to stay consistent all the time, an induction cooktop is the best choice as you will always deliver consistent results using its precise temperature control.

One size fits all

The problem some cooks often face when using gas or electric stoves is that you have to fit the size of the pan to the size of the burner. There are even times when you need different sizes of burners so that you can get to use pans of different sizes. That is too much of a hassle even for the most experienced cook.

In comparison, an induction cooktop is a one-size-fits-all kind of equipment because you can fit cookware of any size on top without having to worry if your pan is the right size. An induction cooktop automatically detects the size of your pan and adjusts to it accordingly so that no energy is wasted in the process.

Even heating

When using gas and electric stoves, heat does not always get distributed equally throughout the pan. This is because the flames do not exactly fit the bottom of the pan in such a way that the entire surface gets heated equally. There will always be parts of the pan that are hotter than the others.

In the case of induction cooktops, your pan gets heated evenly as there is no indirect transfer of heat from one source to another. Instead, the entire pan is what is heated as the induction cooktop transfers an electromagnetic current to the bottom of the pan to evenly heat up the surface to the desired temperature. This means that you no longer have to favor certain parts of the pan that tend to be hotter than the others.

Cleaning up is easier

The surface of induction cooktops is usually made out of glass that can easily be cleaned with a simple wipe of a cloth.

And, as mentioned, the surface stays cool all the time even when cooking up a meal because only the pan gets heated up. This means that you can immediately clean the induction cooktop up right after cooking your food without having to wait for the surface to cool first. Just by wiping any grease or moisture off, your induction cooktop will look as good as new.

Conclusion

There might be plenty of portable induction cooktops out there on the market but the ones on this list tend to stand out as choices better than their competitors.

After all, they check all of the boxes for what a good portable induction cooktop should be. As such, choosing which among those on this list is up to your budget, preferences, and personal biases.

But what is sure is that you can never go wrong with any of those portable induction cooktops.

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Hey there! I'm Sasha, just your regular mom-turned-kitchen-appliances enthusiast. When I gave my kitchen a makeover, I took a shine to new kitchen appliances like Induction Cooktops, Air Fryer, Instant Pot, Microwave, and Oven. I'm always up to some fun experiment, whipping up a storm, and writing about common questions people have about the efficient use of these kitchen gadgets