We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Appliances Small Appliances The 4 Best Portable Induction Cooktops, According to Our Tests Our top picks beat out 12 other cooktops with superior searing, simmering, and temperature control. By Greg Baker Greg Baker Greg Baker is a chef, restaurant consultant, and writer with almost 40 years of experience in the industry. As an expert in outdoor cooking, Greg has written more than 30 articles on grilling and barbecuing for Food & Wine across categories including kamado grills, pizza ovens, and meat thermometers. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 27, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Our Favorite Portable Induction Cooktop How We Tested Portable Induction Cooktops Factors to Consider FAQ Other Portable Induction Cooktops We Tested What Didn't Make the List Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Since humans started cooking food, there have been fits and starts of improvements in cooking methods. If we can assume our ancestors first cooked their food on a hot rock or the end of a stick, we can measure great, if not quick, progress from there to copper cookware, an indoor gas stove, or a convection oven. The last 50-ish years have probably given us the most rapid changes in cooking technology, from the immersion circulator for sous vide cooking to precision ovens and anti-griddles, all of which provide exacting control over temperature and how it transfers to food. Not to be left out, the induction cooktop serves the same end. Induction cooking is excellent in limiting greenhouse gas emissions and allows for far greater control in direct-heat cooking than we’ve ever had. That’s not to say that induction cooking is perfect; it requires some technique adjustment and cookware made from specific materials to function. You probably already have induction-friendly cookware in your kitchen without realizing it, like stainless steel and cast iron, so don’t fret about replacing your entire collection to move to induction cooking. One of the great features many induction cooktops offer is portability. You can take the speed and precision formerly reserved for built-in cooktops with you camping, tailgating, and more. Having an extra burner available when you're cooking for holidays or large gatherings never hurts, either. The market is vast, so to find the best portable induction cooktops, we vetted 16 options in our test kitchen, including single and double burners. We recommend these four. Our Top Picks Best Portable Induction Cooktop Overall: SALE Duxtop 9600LS Portable Induction Cooktop at Amazon $152 $115 Jump to Review Best Value: Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner at Amazon $74 Jump to Review Best Splurge: Breville Induction Cooktop at Amazon $1,500 Jump to Review Best Portable Double Induction Cooktop: SALE Duxtop LCD Portable Cooktop at Amazon $327 $216 Jump to Review Best Portable Induction Cooktop Overall Duxtop 9600LS Portable Induction Cooktop PHOTO: Amazon $152 $115 at Amazon $121 at Walmart Pros It's versatile, with a wide range of temperature and power settings, and delivers consistently good results. Cons The cooking surface is on the smaller side, which could be limiting to some users. The Duxtop Induction Cooktop 9600LS is lightweight, versatile, durable, and easily fits into a cabinet or onto a shelf for storage. The controls are accurate and intuitive, with 20 heat settings that step up in 20-degree increments. In evaluating its performance, we found that water never quite reached 212°F in our pasta cooking tests, topping out at 211°F, but it still produced al dente pasta in the time allowed. To be fair, almost every cooktop we tested was one or two degrees below boiling, if not more. This cooktop reached every heating benchmark much faster than the allotted time in all three cases. The Duxtop performed well in the searing test, producing an even sear, although the sides of the 10-inch pan were slightly cooler than the center. Its maximum usable cooking surface is 8 inches, so you’ll want to match the pan size to the surface for the best results. It has a child lockout safety feature to avoid accidental changes to the settings, and the burner immediately went into standby mode when we removed the pan. Overall, the 9600LS rated just under models costing ten times more, which we saw as a significant plus. Dimensions: 11 x 14 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Maximum Power: 1,800 watts | Temperature Range: 20 settings, from 140°F to 460°F PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Best Value Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner PHOTO: Amazon $74 $63 at Amazon $70 at Walmart Pros The Duxtop 8100MC is a powerful portable induction cooktop for those who need one that’s easily storable. Cons The 8100MC’s temperature controls only work in 40-degree increments, minimizing your control over its heat. The 8100MC is the pared-down little cousin of the Duxtop 9600LS. It had the same 1,800 watts of power and the same temperature range, but its controls worked in 40-degree increments, lowering the heating precision. You can also select varying power levels versus temperature, and a hold feature allows you to keep a steady temperature over time. Its controls are somewhat smaller than its cousin’s and aren't backlit, which could provide difficulty for those with restricted vision. The 8100 went into standby mode immediately after we removed the pot, which also shut off the exhaust fan. We found the fan’s volume distracting, but not enough to remove the 8100 from the running. Using the maximum power setting, the water for our pasta test boiled after about 20 minutes, but it only reached 207°F after 25 minutes when using the highest temperature setting. More than simply temperature settings, think of power as intensity. Still, the pasta was al dente after 11 minutes of cooking, which is the important part. A slight temperature unevenness across the pan in our searing test made the burgers curl, but the parts touching the pan did sear nicely. At less than half the price of our top pick, the 8100 delivered good results for the cost, and the construction points to a long-lasting piece of equipment. Dimensions: 11.5 x 13 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Maximum Power: 1,800 watts | Temperature Range: 10 settings, from 140°F to 460°F PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Best Splurge Breville Induction Cooktop PHOTO: Amazon $1,500 at Amazon $1,500 at Williams Sonoma View on Breville Pros One-degree temperature increments and adjustable power levels give you complete control over your temperature. Cons It’s heavy, and you may need to rein in some of the power and temperature to achieve your desired results. If the name didn’t give you enough information, the Control Freak lets you tweak and tune every aspect of your heat. It provides temperature control at one-degree intervals while also allowing you to adjust the intensity. Its controls and display were intuitive to use and easy to read, thanks to the bright LCD panel, and we liked bein able to create and save custom settings for repeated use, including hold times. Like many other models, the Control Freak didn’t quite reach 212°F in our boiling test, but the pasta was al dente at the end of the allotted cooking time. Our heating tests showed that the pans overshot the temperature by about 20 degrees, and the center of the pan was considerably hotter than its edges. In our full-throttle searing tests, the burger patties curled from the heat and didn’t make complete contact with the pan (an issue across the cooktops we tested), and over-seared in some cases. These results suggest the necessity of tweaking and tuning down the power and temperature settings to avoid those situations. At 16 pounds, the Breville was on the heavy side of what we’d consider portable, but the solid construction showed it to be a long-lived piece of equipment. Dimensions: 14 x 18.5 x 4 inches | Weight: 16 pounds | Maximum Power: 1,800 watts | Temperature Range: 405 settings, from 77°F to 482°F PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Best Portable Double Induction Cooktop Duxtop LCD Portable Cooktop PHOTO: Amazon $327 $216 at Amazon $232 at Walmart Pros The Duxtop 9620LS is very intuitive to use and durable. Cons The exhaust fan is noisy and operates at a distracting sonic frequency. Duxtop earned a third spot on our list with this portable double induction cooktop. The 9620LS had side-by-side intuitive controls for each burner, a locking feature to prevent accidental temperature changes, and a clear, backlit display. The burners had slightly different power levels, with the left operating at 1,800 watts and the right at 1,000 watts. In our testing, we found that the 9620, like many others, didn’t quite reach 212°F but cooked pasta to al dente in the allotted time. There was slight unevenness in our searing tests when the edges of the pan registered lower than the center. The cooktop setting and the surface temperature of the pan never quite agreed when measured, but the variance wasn’t more than 20 degrees. Unless you’re doing precision cooking, that variation isn’t huge in the scope of things. It’s a bit heavy for a portable, but that extra weight is expected with two burners. Dimensions: 14 x 24 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 13 pounds | Maximum Power: 1,800 watts left burner, 1,000 watts right burner | Temperature Range: 20 settings, from 100°F to 460°F PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson PHOTO: Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Our Favorite Portable Induction Cooktop We like the Duxtop Induction Cooktop 9600LS for its lightweight portability, easy storage, and the versatility of the temperature and power controls. The durability, control, and performance present an excellent value for the price. How We Tested Portable Induction Cooktops When we test products, we try to replicate the home user experience to give accurate impressions and measured results from practical scenarios. After unpacking the induction cooktops, we noted their physical attributes, like the width of the usable cooking surface, controls, and power cord length. To test for performance, we started with the simple task of boiling some pasta. We started with six quarts of room temperature water, set the cooktops to their highest setting, and, using a stopwatch, timed how long each cooktop took to bring the water to boiling. When the water reached a full boil, as a means of testing the cooktop’s features and functionality, we removed the pot of water from the burner to see if the cooktop went on standby when no pot was present and if we needed to reprogram it or if the cooktop automatically resumed when we returned the pot to the burner. We repeated these steps for those cooktops with a “boil” setting. We then added a pound of penne and cooked the pasta for precisely 11 minutes before draining it and sampling a piece of the cooked pasta to judge its texture and level of doneness. Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore For the next test, we looked at the accuracy of each cooktop’s controls. We set each cooktop to 250°F and placed a cast iron pan on them. Using a stopwatch to monitor the time, we used an infrared thermometer to measure the pan’s temperature when five minutes expired. For those pans that hadn’t reached the target temperature at the five-minute mark, we re-tested the temperature every 30 seconds until it had, noting the additional time required. From 250°F, we increased the temperature to 350°F and then 450°F, checking the pan’s temperature at five minutes and then every 30 seconds if it hadn’t reached the target, again noting the additional time required. Using the now-heated cast iron pan, we seared two burger patties for six minutes, turned them, and seared them for another five minutes, or until the patties’ internal temperature reached 160°F. We then removed them from the pan and judged the evenness of the browning and sear. Finally, as with all cooking tasks, we cleaned the cooktops per the manufacturer's instructions, rating the ease or difficulty of the task at the end. How We Rated the Best Portable Induction Cooktops Design: In evaluating the design, we looked at the cooktop’s control panel, its temperature control increments, and the accuracy of the control. Then, we looked at the safety features, including any standby modes and how long it took to reach them. The best portable induction cooktops should be easy to pick up and carry, but we also considered any features that would help, like handles or loops for hanging. Finally, we noted any sounds the cooktop made while in operation.Ease of Use: We rated each control panel, how intuitive the controls were to interact with, the controls' responsiveness, and the display's quality, judging the size and brightness with accessibility in mind.Performance: We compared the performance testing results, including the boiling and pasta cooking, against the same tests conducted on an electric and gas stove. We also noted any hot or cold spots, unevenness in searing, and discrepancies between the control panel’s temperature and the actual temperature of the cast iron pans.Versatility: The best portable induction cooktops are useful for various cooking tasks, so we looked at each cooktop's minimum and maximum temperatures, the temperature increments, and the temperature accuracy.Durability: We judged each cooktop’s quality of construction and if that quality hinted at longevity. We also noted any functional issues during testing or if, based on its use, we foresaw the likelihood of problems arising long-term. Factors to Consider Compatible Cookware Cooking on an induction cooktop limits your choices in cookware. Because induction cooking depends on an electromagnetic bond, your cookware must work with magnets. Our favorite induction cookware includes plenty of stainless steel, clad stainless, cast iron, and enameled cast iron options. When using heavy cookware like a Dutch oven, however, be careful of the glass cooktop, which could scratch or crack if you bang it with a heavy pot or pan. Glass, ceramic, aluminum, and copper are not induction-safe. Food & Wine / Eric Brockob Power and Temperature With most cooktops, you can adjust the power and temperature. You could use a combination of low power and low temperature to hold dishes at temperature or to replace a double boiler for making hollandaise. The highest and most intense settings on most of the cooktops we tested got the pans too hot to sear without the meat curling up from rapid steam release, so keep that in mind. Temperature control varies with models. Some have 40-degree increments, others have single-degree increments. The best choice for you depends on how much precise control you need over your cooking. An induction cooktop with exact controls, appropriately used, can take the place of an immersion circulator for sous vide cooking, but you may not need that. The price is a good indicator of the precision in most cases, so if you don’t need that level of drill down in your temperature, you may not want to spend the extra money. Food & Wine/Nick Simpson Size and Portability Size is a reasonable consideration for a portable induction cooktop. Your best results will be with pots or pans the size of your cooktop. Portability varies for people, so consider what will be easy for you to move. If the size is awkward or the cooktop is too heavy to carry comfortably, it cuts down on the portability factor. You should probably also consider where you’ll store it and whether the cooktop fits in that drawer, cupboard, or shelf. Control Panel The best portable induction cooktops have intuitive, easy-to-read control panels. Backlit displays are great for a clear reading. The portable induction cooktops we tested all have the option to lock the controls. This feature is great for keeping kids safe, but this also helps ensure you don’t change your settings by accidentally bumping them or some such scenario. We found touchscreen controls to be sensitive to grease splattering; trying to use them with wet hands was also an issue. Food & Wine / Nick Simpson Frequently Asked Questions How does an induction cooktop work? Induction cooktops are different from gas or electric cooktops in that they aren’t the source of heat. Instead, they form an electromagnetic connection with the pan, which then heats, turning the pan into the source of heat instead of the burner. By varying the temperature and the power (wattage) transferred into the pan, the user gains more control over the cooking temperature. What kinds of cookware can I use with portable induction cooktops? The copper coil inside an induction cooktop must form an electromagnetic bond with the pan to work. Stainless steel, clad stainless steel, and cast iron (enameled cast iron included) are all induction compatible, whereas copper, aluminum, glass, or ceramic are not. As a means of testing, if a household magnet sticks to your pan, it’s suitable for induction cooking. These are all the best cookware for glass stoves. What are portable induction cooktops good for? You can use induction cooktops for almost any type of stovetop cooking. Where they shine, though, is in cases where you need temperature control over extended periods, like making stocks or soups. You can set the cooking temperature and power, specify a cooking time, and know that, in most cases, the cooktop won’t exceed the selected temperature and will shut off when the time expires. This precision is infinitely more valuable and accurate than judging the height of a flame on a gas stove or translating what “medium” means on an electric stove. How do you clean an induction cooktop? Most induction cooking appliances have glass cooktops, so select the appropriate cleaning product with that in mind. In most cases, soapy water is the cleaner of choice for cleaning the glass, but check the manufacturer’s recommendations. Avoid abrasive cleaners that could scratch the cooktop's surface, like Barkeeper’s Friend or other powdered cleaners. What are the disadvantages of using an induction cooktop? Some disadvantages of induction cooktops include the initial cost, the fragility of the glass cooking surface, and the limitations of cookware choices. There’s also the adjustment to a new way of heating your pans that changes established cooking rhythms on gas or electric. Other Portable Induction Cooktops We Tested Strong Contenders iSiLER Portable Induction Cooktop ($70 at Amazon)There wasn’t much to knock the iSiLER off the Top Picks list. It performed well in testing but was consistently 10-20 degrees hotter than its setting, and the controls were extremely sensitive and prone to accidental change if not locked. NuWave PIC Double ($230 at Amazon)The PIC’s controls weren’t as intuitive as most of our Top Picks, and the temperature ran extremely high in our searing tests. NuWave Gold Precision Induction Burner ($100 at Amazon)The NuWave Gold did an excellent job of searing, but it struggled to maintain a boil, and our pasta was undercooked when the cooking time expired. Hamilton Beach Single Burner 10-Inch Black Induction Cooktop ($65 at Amazon)The Hamilton Beach had temperature inconsistencies that didn’t render it unusable, but it overshot our heating test targets, burning some of the burgers while it underperformed in cooking pasta. Tramontina Guru 4 Piece Starter Set ($165 at Amazon)The Tramontina Guru perhaps tries to be too many things. It’s an induction cooker with app integration, several modes for food preparation, and a scale. It’s a fine attempt, but the touchscreen controls are finicky in the face of fingerprints or grease, and the top temperature of 356°F is limiting. The app belonging to the Tramontina Guru. Food & Wine / Nick Simpson What Didn't Make the List We tested 11 single-burner cooktops and five double-burners, so some inevitably fell short of others. The Mueller RapidTherm Portable Induction Cooktop (Amazon) had a peculiar design feature that shut the burner off after 18 minutes using the “boil” feature. While that’s a good safety feature, it wasn’t enough time to bring the water to a boil. In our heating tests, it also suffered from sharp temperature spikes of almost 100 degrees. The Cuisinart Double Induction Cooktop (Amazon) lacked any granularity in the temperature settings. Instead, it had numbers from one to five. With those, we saw uneven heating across the burner, and it took 36 minutes to reach 208°F in our boiling test. Surprisingly, the Hestan Cue Precision Temperature Probe System (currently out of stock) underperformed because of its app dependence. Hestan typically ranks high in our product testing, so we were surprised to see that, using the built-in controls, water hadn’t reached 200°F in 20 minutes of cooking. The granularity of control is primarily built into the app, and gaining it via the controls was challenging. The Amazon Basics Portable Induction Cooktop Burner (Amazon) appeared and felt rather flimsy and had very poor temperature control. Our Expertise Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with four decades of experience in the food industry. His written work appears in Food & Wine, Tasting Table, Serious Eats, and other publications. For this piece, he used his expertise as well as Food & Wine's side-by-side testing insights. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit