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Ditch your gas stove for a portable induction cooktop. These are the best, according to cooks.

Turn up the heat on your cooking skills thanks to the best portable induction cooktops, according to chefs and recipe developers.
By Ashley Keegan  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

Our Top 6 Picks

Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner (opens in a new tab)

Best for beginners

Straightforward controls, key safety functions, and ample temperature presets make this a great pick for induction newbies.

The Good

  • Auto pan detection
  • Built-in timer shutoff
  • Easy-to-read LED display
  • Simple, straightforward controls

The Bad

  • No incremental temperature adjustments

The Bottom Line

If you’re a newbie looking to give induction a spin, this highly lauded Duxtop induction burner is a great launching point.
Pros & Cons

NUWAVE Gold Precision Induction Cooktop (opens in a new tab)

Most precise

If you’re seeking precision and an extended temperature range, this NUWAVE induction cooktop is the gold standard.

The Good

  • Wide temperature range
  • Incremental temperature adjustments
  • Heavy-duty, shatterproof glass
  • Ideal for precise recipes
  • Great value

The Bad

  • Max wattage of 1500 takes a while to boil

The Bottom Line

With the widest temperature range of any induction burner on our list, this precise induction burner is ideal for experienced cooks.
Pros & Cons

Hamilton Beach Portable Single Induction Cooktop (opens in a new tab)

Best on a budget

This budget-friendly burner offers an opportunity to try induction cooking without breaking the bank.

The Good

  • Affordable
  • Easy-to-read display
  • Includes induction test magnet
  • Auto-shutoff timer
  • Easy-to-clean touchscreen

The Bad

  • Touch controls can get slippery

The Bottom Line

For its price, this portable induction cooktop offers at-home and on-the-go chefs an impressive amount of power and control.
Pros & Cons

Hestan SmartChef Series Induction Burner (opens in a new tab)

Best splurge

The smart Hestan Cue induction setup makes it easy to tackle hundreds of chef-created recipes — for a price.

The Good

  • Smart cooking setup
  • Connects to in-app recipes
  • Sleek and stylish design
  • Precision temperature controls
  • Heats to temperature in just 45 seconds

The Bad

  • More expensive than competitors
  • Requires Hestan Cue cookware for smart functions

The Bottom Line

If you can afford to shell out the dough for a smart cooktop and equally smart cookware, this Hestan Cue setup is really cool for home chefs of all levels.
Pros & Cons

Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop (opens in a new tab)

Best safety features

With more temperature settings and safety features than the 9100, the Duxtop 9600 is a highly capable upgrade to its predecessor.

The Good

  • Fantastic safety features
  • Easy to clean
  • Lightweight, slim design
  • Tons of preset temps and power settings

The Bad

  • No incremental temperature adjustments

The Bottom Line

Enhanced settings and safety features pack a nice punch, but it’s up to your budget to decide if the 9600 is a worthy upgrade to the Duxtop 9100.
Pros & Cons

iSiLER Portable Induction Cooktop (opens in a new tab)

Best for smaller cookware

If you tend to use cookware that’s less than 9 inches in diameter, this portable induction burner is a great choice.

The Good

  • Incremental temperature adjustment
  • Sensitive touch buttons
  • Precise power settings
  • Safety lock and overheat protection
  • Quiet fan

The Bad

  • Not suitable for larger cookware

The Bottom Line

With ample power settings and fairly precise temperature control, this induction cooktop is a great choice — but only for small pots and pans.
Pros & Cons

Anyone who has attempted to cook in a very tiny kitchen (hi, it’s me) knows the struggle of how quickly that space can heat up, especially when you have both an oven and a gas cooktop going.

But what if you could cook wherever you have the space to place a burner — and eliminate those pesky flames from the equation altogether?

Well, whether you’re working with an incredibly small kitchen, need some extra cooking space when entertaining a crowd, or taking your home-cooked meals on the go, a portable induction cooktop offers a sleek and simple solution for crafting hot meals wherever you have access to an electrical outlet.

What is an induction cooktop?

An induction cooktop, sometimes called an induction burner, is a type of electric cooktop that only heats up when there’s a compatible pot or pan placed on its surface. It’s quick to heat up, emits no heat to the surrounding space, and is relatively safe compared to other cooking methods. It also requires no gas, propane, or flame, and its temperature control is often far more precise than other cooktops.

Built-in induction cooktops exist — often in high-end kitchens — but portable induction burners bring this clean and convenient technology to the rest of us plebes as we just try to level up our at-home (or on-the-road) cooking skills.

“If you have small cookware, you'll want to look for a model with a smaller cooking surface area,” Golden advises.

Not only can it turn your tiny apartment or dorm room “kitchen” into a functional cooking space, it’s also a great solution for RVs, boats, and camping — or “glamping,” to be precise. Because many portable induction cooktops are so travel-friendly, they’re a great solution for keeping dishes warm at a potluck dinner or other event, too.

What's the difference between an induction cooktop and an electric one?

The biggest difference between an electric cooktop and an induction burner is in the way the heat is transferred. While induction cooktops are also powered by electricity, they harness the power of electromagnetism at their core. They’re made with copper coils inside, which create a magnetic current when the appropriate cookware is placed on its surface. The pot or pan is heated directly, and the cooking surface does not get hot to the touch like an electric burner does. An induction burner also draws less energy and doesn’t emit heat into the surrounding space.

Are gas stoves bad?

With recent considerations into the federal banning of gas stoves, the potential health risks(opens in a new tab) ascribed to the staple kitchen appliance have understandably come under fire (pun unfortunately intended). 

A December 2022 study(opens in a new tab) in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that nearly 13% of current childhood asthma cases in the US are attributable to gas stove use. Furthermore, a PSE Healthy Energy study(opens in a new tab) found benzene in 99% of samples it took in homes in California, and subsequently found that gas stoves can emit as much benzene as a cigarette — akin to secondhand smoke — even when the stove is turned off. So, if you wouldn’t invite your chain-smoking aunt to come sit in your kitchen while you cook, it definitely makes you wonder why we let our gas stoves get away with having a potentially similar impact on our health.

That said, Richard Trumka, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety commissioner, recently assured CNN(opens in a new tab) that it’s highly unlikely we’ll all need to get rid of our existing gas stovetops. However, there’s certainly no harm in looking into alternative cooking methods, such as portable induction cooktops.

What should I look for when buying a portable induction cooktop?

If you’re ready to give induction a spin, you’ll want to keep a number of factors in mind as you shop for the best portable induction burner for your needs. To find out which features were most important, we spoke to Jessica Randhawa, the head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer behind The Forked Spoon(opens in a new tab); Jasmine Golden, owner at Golden Truffle(opens in a new tab); and Andrew Forlines of Chef AF(opens in a new tab), a fine dining chef turned home kitchen cooking technology expert.

Here’s what these pro recipe developers had to say:

  • Wattage. Higher maximum wattage means higher maximum power, which is ideal for fast heating as quickly as possible. That’s great if you need to boil a pot of water, for example — but a maximum of just 1400 watts should be fine for all other use cases. The power output on an induction burner can typically be adjusted so you can better control heat output and energy usage. This comes in especially handy in cases where you may have lower amperage, like in an RV or on a boat.

  • Temperature control. Most, if not all, portable induction burners come with a certain number of preset temperature levels. Randhawa recommends getting a cooktop with at least ten settings so you have fairly precise control of the temperature for a wide variety of recipes.

Forlines agrees, recommending an induction burner that can be set by temperature — not just low, medium, and high settings. Some induction cooktops offer even greater control and precision, allowing you to fine-tune the temperature in increments of five or 10 degrees.

  • Temperature range. Most portable induction burners can be set from 140–450°F, though some models can get as high as 575°F and as low as 100°F.

“I like a very low heat output so that I can melt chocolate directly in a pot or pan, and hold it melted without scorching it,” says Forlines. A low heat setting is also ideal for melting butter and keeping dishes warm for serving.

  • Even heat distribution. It’s important to consider the size of the pots and pans you use most often. Some induction cooktops cannot accommodate cookware with larger diameters because the inner coil is simply not large enough to evenly heat the entire bottom surface, leading to cold spots around the perimeter and scorched food closer to the center.

“If you have small cookware, you'll want to look for a model with a smaller cooking surface area,” Golden advises. “Or, if you plan to cook two items at once, make sure the cooktop has dual-burner capability."

  • Ease of use. Portable induction burners are typically pretty easy to use, but consider how many buttons are on the interface and whether or not they are well-labeled. Also, keep in mind that touchscreen displays look sleek and are easy to clean, but they can be a little more finicky when you try to use them with wet hands (which is, of course, a common occurrence when cooking). If you foresee that being a big issue, you may want to opt for a device with buttons or knobs instead.

  • Noise level. Portable induction cooktops can be surprisingly noisy — especially when set to their highest wattage — as the interior metal components vibrate and potentially give off a slight squealing sound. Forlines also notes that the fan that cools the cooktop can get a bit loud in some models as it kicks on to protect the device from overheating.

  • Safety features. Induction cooktops are comparatively pretty safe due to the fact that they don’t heat up like gas or electric burners (though the induction surface can remain hot for a bit after cooking). That said, there are still some safety features you’ll want to look out for.

“Always be sure to get a portable induction cooktop with an automatic pan section shut-off system,” advises Randhawa. “The system will automatically shut off if no pan is detected after a short period.”

Golden agrees, adding that the auto-shutoff safety feature should also kick in if the cooktop is left unattended for too long, or if it detects an unusual temperature increase. She also notes that some cooktops come with a child safety lock, which is crucial if you have little ones in your home.

  • Portability. Depending on your intended usage, this may not matter so much. But if you’re planning on taking your induction cooktop anywhere but your kitchen countertop, you’ll want a device that isn’t too heavy or bulky.

Why are induction cooktops not popular (yet)?

It’s important to keep in mind that induction cooktops only work with certain cookware. In order for the electromagnetism in the burner to activate, your pots and pans will need to contain enough iron to create a magnetic field. You may already have induction-compatible cookware in your kitchen, however — namely cast iron, carbon steel, and magnetic stainless steel pots and pans.

While they’re not the most popular cooking surface at the moment, induction cooktops are absolutely growing in popularity, especially as folks look to move away from gas burners. And with so many affordable, portable options on the market, now’s the perfect time to give one a try.

Best for beginners
Credit: Duxtop
Specs
  • Watts: 15 settings from 200-1800W
  • Temperature range: 140-460°F
  • Temperature settings: 15 presets
  • Weight: 6.2 pounds

This popular, portable induction burner comes highly recommended by Randhawa — especially for induction newbies — thanks to its general ease of use and great safety features, like automatic pan detection and overheat protection. It also has a bright LED display with large red numbers that sits on an angle to cut down on glare, and tactile push-button controls to make easy adjustments.

Though it has 15 preset power levels to control the wattage output and 15 preset temperature levels, you can’t get ultra-precise with your temperature as there is no incremental adjustment. Still, this is an awesome, affordable choice for the average home chef.

Most precise
Credit: Nuwave
Specs
  • Watts: 3 settings (600, 900, and 1500W)
  • Temperature range: 100-575°F
  • Temperature settings: 6 presets, and 10°F increments
  • Weight: 7.39 pounds

With the lowest heat setting of 100°F, this portable induction cooktop is perfect for melting ingredients without scorching them, preparing delicate sauces and fondue, and for keeping food warm until it’s ready to serve. It has a handful of presets, but you can adjust the temperature to precisely where you need it in 10-degree increments, all the way up to 575°F.

This portable induction burner has a slim design for fast, even heating on any of its three wattage output settings. Plus, it automatically shuts off when your set cook time is complete, and it will not heat up if there is no cookware on the cooktop.

Best on a budget
Credit: Hamilton Beach
Specs
  • Watts: Up to 1800W
  • Temperature range: 180-450°F
  • Temperature settings: 10 presets or exact temperature
  • Weight: 6.8 pounds

This budget-minded induction burner offers an incredible amount of control for its price. It has several temperature presets but you can actually set an exact temperature for more precision, if your recipe calls for it. It only gets up to 450°F (a little less than most competitors), but with 1800 watts of power, it can boil 1.5 quarts of water in as little as seven minutes.

The Hamilton Beach induction burner is compatible with cookware from 4–10 inches in diameter, and it comes with an induction test magnet that will help you quickly and easily identify which of your cookware will work with this induction cooktop. That’s a particularly handy tool, especially if this is your first foray into induction burners.

Best splurge
Credit: Hestan Cue
Specs
  • Watts: 1600W
  • Temperature range: Room temp. to 450°F
  • Temperature settings: Set precise temperature in app
  • Weight: 4 pounds

Forlines is particularly fond of this Hestan induction cooktop, and he recommends it highly for its ability to precisely set temperature. The smart, Bluetooth-enabled cooktop has a simple interface, and you can control the timer and temperature (from room temp all the way up to 450°F) via the connected smartphone app.

You can use regular induction-compatible cookware with this induction burner, but the only downside is that the smart features only work with specific Hestan smart cookware (which makes this complete setup pretty pricey). The smart features are admittedly really cool, though.

“The Hestan Cue system has a heat sensor in its pan so the burner synchronizes with it,” says Forlines. “And both can integrate with the video-guided recipes in the Hestan Cue app.”

Best safety features
Credit: Duxtop
Specs
  • Watts: 20 settings from 100-1800W
  • Temperature range: 100-460°F
  • Temperature settings: 20 presets
  • Weight: 6.2 pounds

Just like the more budget- and beginner-friendly 9100 model, this Duxtop induction burner has an easy-to-read digital display and an abundance of preset temperatures and power settings to choose from. It sets itself apart from its predecessor, however, with a sleek design and sensor touch controls, including a fast-boil button and a built-in countdown timer that’s programmable up to 10 hours. It also boasts a great number of safety features like pan detection, automatic shutoff, overheat protection, and a child safety lock.

For all the upgrades, though, you still do not have the ability to set an exact temperature or make incremental temperature adjustments.

Best for smaller cookware
Credit: ISILER
Specs
  • Watts: 18 settings from 100-1800W
  • Temperature range: 140-460°F
  • Temperature settings: 17 presets, and 20°F increments
  • Weight: 5.73 pounds

This iSiLER portable induction burner features a straightforward, simple-to-use touchscreen interface. With just a few buttons, you can select a vast array of temperature presets and power settings to suit a variety of recipes and cooking methods. (You can even set a more precise temperature in 20°F increments.) You can also set a timer for up to three hours, and easily engage the child lock for safety as well.

The 6.7-inch diameter of this induction cooktop makes it suitable for small pots and pans ranging in diameter from 3.9 to 8.6 inches. Cookware larger than that, however, is likely to experience cold spots and uneven heating.

More in Kitchen

How we tested

How we chose

While we haven't hands-on tested all of these portable induction cooktops, we did put forth hours of careful research to curate a variety of induction burners, including those highly rated by customers as well as those that have come highly recommended by professional chefs and recipe developers in the food industry.

We prioritized the inclusion of induction cooktops made by well-known brands, then narrowed down the field by focusing on items that were well-rated and highly recommended. Then, to ensure that we’ve included the best portable induction cooktops on the market, we considered the following factors:

  • Temperature control. We strived to include induction burners with many temperature presets and/or precise incremental temperature controls. We also made sure that our recommended burners could achieve a wide range of temperatures to accommodate a variety of cooking methods.

  • Safety. We made it a point to include portable induction burners that offered safety features, including automatic shutoff timers and child safety locks when available.

  • Price. We aimed to keep our picks relatively affordable — in the $100–$200 range — while highlighting budget-friendly picks as well as splurge-worthy choices with more high-end features.

Mashable Image
Ashley Keegan

Ashley Keegan is a freelance contributor to Mashable.


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