The Best Portable Induction Hobs In 2018 Reviewed
Updated April 2018
If you are looking for a small induction hob to take with you on your camping trips or to use with your countertop, a portable induction hob is the right choice. Typically when people are searching for a new induction hob, they tend to focus more on the price of the item.
Although price is absolutely important in your buying decision, you must keep in mind the following when searching for the right hob. These include:
- A friendly touch button control system
- Efficient safety settings
- Auto shutoff features
And many of the other features which we discuss in our buyers guide towards to end of this page.
Overview Of The Best Portable Induction Hobs In 2018
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The 5 Best Rated Portable Induction Hobs Reviewed
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The Stellar double induction hob comes fitted with two heat zones to enable you cook two meals simultaneously. The heat plate is made from thick glass that’s scratch resistant and break proof. The glass is also designed such that spills don’t bake and cleaning is as simple as wiping with a damp cloth. It’s a 3100W induction hob with 8 temperature settings for cooking different types of recipes. The 8 settings range between 80 and 220 degrees centigrade.
The Stellar double induction hob also features a 99 minute timer which allows you to set cooking time. Although it’s one of the best portable induction cookers, the stellar double induction hob can also be easily converted into a built in induction hob. It weighs 5 kg and comes in a black finish. Each induction hob comes with a 2 year electrical domestic guarantee.
Pros
- Double heat zones enables cooking two meals simultaneously
- Versatile induction hob can be easily converted into a built-in unit
- High wattage rating offers a wide temperature range for cooking different types of recipes
- This induction hob is easy to use, clean and maintain
Cons
- The hob’s fan is loud
If you were to read through any portable induction cooker review, the Tefal everyday induction hob IH201840 is likely to be among the best rated units. It’s a single heat zone induction hob with a wattage rating of 450W to 2100W. This variable wattage rating allows you to choose among 9 different temperature levels for cooking.
Another feature that makes the Tefal everyday IH201840 one of the best portable induction hobs is its 6 pre-set cooking function for different types of cooking including manual, boil water, heat milk and deep fry. This portable induction hob has a 2 hours integrated timer which gives you better control over the cooking process.
The LED display control panel set against the black body of the hob makes it easy to make the necessary adjustments. This induction hob’s heat plate is made from quality ceramic that’s scratch proof, heat-proof and easy to clean. The Tefal everyday IH201840 weighs 2.3kg.
Pros
- Lightweight, compact and attractive design makes the induction hob a good choice for apartments and travel
- High quality ceramic heat plate is easy to clean and highly durable
- Variable wattage rating and 6 pre-set cooking function makes it easy to cook different meals
- 2 hours timer gives you better control over the cooking process shutting off after set time has elapsed
- The hob is easy to clean and use
Cons
- The lowest temperature setting on the hob might be too high for some recipes such as cooking rice
Ideal for small spaces or on demand cooking, the ElectriQ digital electric induction hob is one of the best portable induction burners on the market today. The hob has a single heat zone and a glass heat plate. The heat plate is scratch resistant, easy to clean and doesn’t conduct heat. It also comes with a child lock to prevent accidental burns.
This 2000 watt portable induction hob has 10 temperature settings which enables you to prepare different recipes. A well lit LED control panel set against the black body of this induction hob gives you all the control you need to prepare your meals fast and safe. The touch controls feature a soft beep every time they’re pressed. Other features that stand out include a keep warm feature, timer and auto shut off.
Pros
- Lightweight, compact and attractive design is ideal for any indoor or outdoor kitchen
- Variable temperature levels and touch controls make it easy to prepare different types of meals
- Easy touch controls make it simple to adjust cooking settings
Cons
- Single heat zone will cook only one meal at a time
The judge portable induction hob has a single heat zone and comes in a compact 2.9 kg body. As one of the better rated portable induction hobs, its 1800 watt coil offers fast heating times. The high wattage is complemented by 10 temperature levels ranging from 60 to 240 degrees centigrade. This allows you to cook a variety of recipes with a single hob.
The heat plate is made from high quality scratch proof glass. This high quality glass is also built such that spills won’t bake and are easy to clean off. The judge portable induction hob has a built in control panel that makes it easy to set cooking temperature as well as desired cooking time via the timer control. This portable induction hob is A+ energy efficiency rated and comes with a 2 year electrical domestic guarantee.
Pros
- Lightweight, compact and attractive design makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor kitchens
- 10 temperature settings enable you to cook different types of recipes
- Built in control panel makes it easy to set your desired cooking temperature and duration
- This portable induction hob is easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- The plastic body might easily crack after repeated use
This is a single heat zone portable induction hob. The hob is well built and designed for on demand cooking. It’s rated at 2000 watts which allows it to heat up your induction cookware fast. It also comes with 8 temperature levels which make it easy to cook different types of meals. The heat plate is made from high quality scratch proof and heat-proof ceramic.
The ceramic surface is also quite easy to clean. The Stellar glass induction hob has a front LED display control panel which enables easy setting of cooking temperature and time. The easy touch buttons make it easy to make accurate settings. This portable induction hob weighs 3.1kg.
Pros
- Variable temperature levels allows you to cook different types of recipes
- Attractive, lightweight and sturdy design makes a good addition to any kitchen
- This induction hob is easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- This induction hob easily kicks in to safe mode when the cooling system detects very high cooking temperatures. This makes it difficult and time consuming to prepare certain meals which require high temperatures.
Conclusion
Each of the five induction hobs reviewed has it unique features that make it stand out. However, if placed side by side, the Stellar double induction hob stands out as the best. The double heat zones provided make it the obvious choice if you want to use induction cooking for most of your meals. The hob’s power consumption is also quite good given that it has two heat zones. Other areas where this hob clearly stands out are the 8 temperature settings which allow you to cook a variety of meals and ability to be converted into a built in unit. Overall, it offers good value for your money. You can find this induction hob here.
A Mini Guide To Induction Cooking
Induction cooking uses an electromagnetic current to create heat energy. The induction hob design includes a copper coil through which an electric current runs. As the current runs through the copper coil, an electromagnetic field is created.
Above the coil is a heat plate made from non ferrous material. This is usually thick glass or ceramic. This is what’s commonly referred to as the heat zone.
The reason why non ferrous material is preferred over ferrous material is that the former won’t heat up when an electromagnetic field is applied to it. Glass and ceramic are preferred due to their inability to conduct heat which ensures that they remain cool even during cooking. Glass and ceramic are also preferred due to their attractive and inexpensive nature.
When the electromagnetic field passes through the heat zone and onto a ferrous metal, it generates heat. This action is similar to that seen in transformers. Therefore, saucepans used to cook on induction hobs need to contain bases or surfaces made from ferrous material such as iron or stainless steel.
Induction Hobs Vs Gas And Electric Hobs
The major difference between induction hobs and their electric and gas counterparts is how heat is transferred onto the cookware’s surface. Induction hobs transfer heat directly while the other two transfer heat indirectly. This means that induction hobs are better at heat conservation since little heat is lost before it gets to the cookware’s surface.
Some of the advantages of investing in induction cookers over buying an electric or gas hob include the following:
- Induction hobs are energy efficient
- Induction hobs heat and cool faster making it easy to control cooking temperatures
- The hobs heat zone doesn’t usually heat up to a point that it can burn
- They are easier to clean
- Induction cooking hobs come in modern and stylish designs
Although they are considered the best option compared to electric and gas hobs, induction hobs are usually more expensive. However, with their rise in popularity and many companies opting to manufacture induction hobs, their prices have been falling over recent years.
Types And Styles Of Induction Hobs
Induction hobs are divided into three main types. This is based on the style of their design.
Freestanding slide-in induction hobs
These are large units that usually consist of induction hobs over ovens. They’re designed to fit in between your kitchen counters. They usually have two or more induction heat zones or a combination of both induction and electric hob heat zones. They usually come with numerous features and are the most expensive type.
Built in induction hobs
These usually have multiple cooking zones and are installed to look like they’re part of your kitchen countertop. Their suitability largely depends on how much countertop space you have and where you want them installed. In many instances, built-in induction hobs are just portable types that are set in a countertop.
Portable induction hobs
These are highly portable units that offer convenience and versatility. They usually consist of a single cooking zone and include a wide range of features. This guide and review will focus on the best portable induction burners.
What To Consider Before Buying The Best Portable Induction Hob
Top plate material
Induction hobs come with a top plate that’s made from a non-magnetic material with low heat conductivity. This is usually glass or ceramic. The type of material used to make the heat plate and its thickness will affect the performance of the induction pot in a number of ways. These include:
- The ability of the induction hob to heat cookware
- The type of cookware that you can use on the hob
- How easy the induction hob is to clean and maintain
- The overall look of the hob
Wattage rating
The best portable induction hobs have a high watt rating within the range of 2000W to 5000W. A higher watt rating gives you wide range of heating levels for cooking different types of food. While still considering the rating, the induction hob should also be energy efficient and have some form of electoral protection mechanism to protect against accidents.
Heat zone(s)
You’ll use induction pots with different base diameters. The heat zone size should therefore be large enough to ensure that it covers the entire base of your induction pans to ensure even heating. Portable induction hobs feature single or double heat zones. A double heat zone hob is the better choice if you want to use it as your primary cooking hob.
Controls
The best portable induction burner includes controls such as timers, variable temperature control, pre-set cooking functions and temperature warning.
