Best Portable Induction Cooktops

Our favorite standalone burners provide speedy heating and steady simmering—and all you need is a standard electrical outlet

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By offering stovelike performance in a hotplate-sized package, portable induction cooktops act as an alternative or as a helpful addition to your range.

The earliest uses for these portable induction cooktops—also called portable induction burners—were in professional settings. That includes a pastry kitchen, where the chef might need only a single, highly controllable cooktop for melting chocolate, or a buffet, where they’re often used at omelet stations. But they can be every bit as useful in your kitchen.

Unlike traditional hotplates, portable induction cooktops use an electromagnetic pulse to generate heat, like an induction cooktop or range. The result is an appliance that simmers steadily and heats faster than a traditional hotplate, and in some cases, faster than a full-sized gas stove. Their efficiency makes them an ideal choice for an extra burner in your kitchen, not to mention a nice-to-have accessory when paired with a generator if you’re camping or tailgating.

CR assessed seven portable induction cooktops (scroll further to read how we evaluated them), ranging from about $60 to over $200. Six of these cooktops have only a single burner, while one has two burners. All use a standard two- or three-prong cord that plugs into a regular 110- or 120-volt outlet. They offer the ability to select a level of heat using a point scale, like 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest temperature), and most also allow users to cook at precise preset temperatures, which is a helpful function for sous-vide cooking. Most also come with timers, so you can program the cooktop to turn off after a set time. A handful had dedicated boil settings for maximum power, too. All of the portable induction cooktops are compatible only with induction-ready cookware—cast iron, most stainless steel, enameled Dutch ovens, and any other pots and pans with a magnetic base.

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