Best Portable Induction Cooktop

When you’re looking for a portable countertop burner you can choose from a gas type burner, and electric burner which could be a ring type, cast iron or infrared and lastly you could choose from and induction cooktop which is powered by electric but works differently to a normal electric burner.

Today we’re going to be looking at the best portable induction cooktop, which can be used in any place that you need to cook food as long as you have access to electricity.

Our No1 choice is the Secura 9100MC 1800W check it out below

Why you would choose an induction cooktop

It might be that you are looking for an extra burner for your kitchen and you want something that is easy to store but doesn’t take up too much space when you want to use it. You might be looking for something that is flexible enough to use indoors and outdoors in the garden for parties and barbecues. It may be that you’re looking for something to take on holiday with you in an RV or even a hotel room. It may be that you are a student looking for something small and safe to use in your dorm. What most people want is something that is quick, easy, safe and small enough to store and not take up too much room when using.

What is induction cooking

On a standard electric or gas burner, the heat from the burner heats up the pan and the air around it by thermal conduction and the food is heated the same way from the heat of the pan. An induction burner uses electromagnetic field which reacts with the metal in the pan making it vibrate and produce heat. It only heats the pan itself and not the burner making it much more efficient. The burner only heats up from residual heat from the pan and doesn’t heat up at all unless the metal touches the surface.

Why does it need specific cookware

The vibration in the pan only comes from iron or steel pans which aren’t good conductors of electricity so the metal produces heat but pans made from copper for example can conduct electricity so don’t produce the vibration to create heat. Most pans that work with induction cookers are magnetic so it’s easy to check the pans you own with a simple fridge magnet, if it sticks to the pan it should work on an induction hot plate. Although you need specific types of pans to work on induction, these pans will work on any other type of burner. You can buy these sets of induction cookware at most supermarkets and department stores including Amazon and you can always take your magnet with you to double check if you’re buying in person.

What would you look for in an induction cooktop

Wattage and power modes – If you get a higher wattage then you’re going to use more electricity. Many cooktops allow you to use different wattages so you can use them in an RV or just use less wattage if you need a slow cook. You might have simple low, medium or high power modes but the more you have the more control you get.

Temperature range – You not only want your induction cooktop to be able to go from low to high temperatures but the increments between can be important especially at the lower ranges if you want to simmer.

Safety features – safety features can include automatic shut off when a pan is removed from the cooking surface, child locks and internal temperature gauges so that it doesn’t overheat.

Size and design – You can get circular or oblong shaped cooktops, where the buttons are situated and the size can make a difference to your choice.

Price – Like many types of electrical appliances the price range can be quite diverse. The most expensive doesn’t always mean the best so it’s worth checking the features.

	Product	Watts	Power Levels	Temp Range	Increments	Cost	Check Price
Top Choice	Secura 9100MC	200w-1800w	15	140-460	20 deg	$$
#2	NuWave 30242 PIC Gold	600w-1500w	3	100-575	10 deg	$$
#3	Duxtop 8100MC	200w-1800w	10	140-460	30 deg	$
#4	SPT SR-1885SS	100w-1650w	13	100-390	20 deg	$$
#5	Fagor Portable 670041900	1800w	8	140-465	10 deg	$$$

1. Secura 9100MC 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Black

The Secura 9100MC also known as Duxtop is an oblong shaped burner with an angled control panel at the front. It’s 14 x 11.4 x 2.1 inches in size and a smart black exterior which would fit in with any kitchen design.

This induction cooktop has a maximum power level of 1800 watts and 15 optional power levels from 200w up to1800w. You can cook using the power levels if you don’t need the accuracy of an exact temperature but if you need to be a bit more exact you have 15 temperature ranges from 140F to 460F and you can choose the temperature that you need to cook with. You also have the option of using a timer which might be useful if you’re worried about forgetting that you have something cooking as it will automatically turn off at the end of the time.

The cooking area is a 8.25 inch circle so you don’t want your pans to be much bigger than that and the weight limit on the surface is around 25lbs.

There is an auto-detect for pans, so it won’t start heating till the pan is on the surface and will stop when it is taken off. It has an led display which will show diagnostic errors if there is any problems. It also has a warning system if you get high or low voltage.

This cooktop is less than $100 so makes it affordable for many people. With all of the controls available for the price we think that this Secura 9100MC is worthy of our No1 Choice.

2. NuWave 30242 PIC Gold Precision Induction Cooktop with 10.5″ Fry Pan, Black

The NuWave 30242 PIC includes a frying pan in the pack so that you can be sure you have one working pan when it arrives. The 30242 is a circular shaped cooktop with a 12 inch diameter, the led display panel is around the front of the unit keeping your fingers well away from any heat from the pan.

This cooktop has a maximum wattage of 1500 with 3 different power options, 600w, 900w and 1500w.

You have many more temperature selections with only10 deg increments giving you lots more accuracy from 100F to 575F and there are 6 pre-programmed buttons low, med-low, med, med-high, high and sear for a super quick start. This cooker even has a memory function to you can program in your own cooking times for stuff you make often.

The cooking circle is 8 inches in diameter so you want your pan bases around that size for the best even heating.

Even with a pan included the NuWave 30242 PIC Gold still comes in less than $100 so a very affordable choice with lots of controllability.

Duxtop 8100MC 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner

This Duxtop 8100MC 1800W is a neat little induction cooktop at only 13 x 11.5 x 2.5 inches. It’s an oblong shape with the controls at the front edge of the top, so important not to use a pan that is too large and would go over that control.

It has a maximum wattage of 1800 with 10 power increments from 200w to 1800w for a better level of control. You also have 10 temperature levels from 140F to 460F for that precise cooking ability. You also have a timer so you can set it and forget it if you’re cooking something like soup which might take a while.

You have auto-pan detection so you don’t have to worry if you have switched on then got distracted with something else as it won’t do anything without a pan present and it will automatically turn off after 60 seconds if there is no pan detected.

There is a set of error codes which will display if any issues are detected as well as a high or low voltage error for safety.

This Duxtop 8100MC is so easy to use and to clean when you’re finished, because the food splashes don’t burn onto the top it just takes a damp cloth when the top has cooled down. It comes in under $50 so well within most budgets.

SPT SR-1885SS 1650W Induction Cooktop, Black

The SPT SR-1885SS is an oblong shaped cooktop which is black and stainless steel at the control panel. The size is 14.2 x 11 x 2.5 inches perfect for sitting on a worktop and the controls are easily accessed on the curved front.

This induction cooktop has 13 different power settings from 100w up to a maximum 1650w so no problem finding a working level if you don’t need the exact temperature. It has a default of 900w which will probably be your go to level for most cooking. There are 13 temperature settings from 100F to 390F so between the power levels and the temperature levels you have a lot of options to get the cooking level right. You can also use the timer if you like to step away from the cooking and not forget about it.

When you switch it on you have to press the lock button to unlock the controls before you can use it so you can’t press it on by accident and it still won’t work if you don’t place a pan on the top. Although the pan will get hot it still good to know that the surrounding area stays cool to the touch.

This SPT SR-1885SS 1650W Induction Cooktop is a good price and less than $100 but it is locked to Amazon Prime members at the moment. You can get a free trial though.

Fagor Portable 1800 Watt Induction PRO Magnetic Cooktop, Black – 670041900

The Fagor Portable 670041900 is a very sleek looking black cooktop with a white surround and raised feet. It’s oblong in shape with a size of 11.8 x 15 x 2.3 inches and the controls are situated on the front of the cooktop.

The maximum wattage is 1800, although it doesn’t offer different watt settings it does offer 8 different quick use buttons which are set to the standard temperature required for each function.

You have a warm, simmer, boil, rapid boil, saute, brown, sear and stir-fry which you can press and start cooking. You can still alter the temperature with the +/- buttons if you want it to cook hotter or colder.

If you start your cooktop and press the temperature button it will give you a default of 180F, you can then adjust with the +/- buttons up or down at 10 degree increments. You have the option of setting a timer to cook too.

There is a child lock button that you can use to stop inquisitive fingers touching where they shouldn’t and it will stop when the pan is removed. There is also an automatic shut off timer of 2 hours which will come into play unless you override it with the timing function.

This Fagor Portable 670041900 cooktop is a little more expensive that the others mentioned but it offers some useful touch button options if you don’t mind the cost.

Summary

There are many induction cooktops available if you look around but apart from different cookware most people don’t know what to look out for. Hopefully we’ve covered that for you above and given you an idea of what you can get at different price ranges. If you’re still not sure check out our No1 choice for best portable induction cooktop and you won’t be disappointed.