12 Picks for the Best Portable Induction Cooktop to Get This 2022

12 Picks for the Best Portable Induction Cooktop to Get This 2022

Limited kitchen space? Save more room by switching from a regular electric or gas burner to a portable induction cooktop! It’s a great space-saving piece of kitchen equipment since you can use a single burner on a small countertop area and keep it aside when it’s not in use. More than that, it’s light and easy to carry around for camping and outdoor excursions (as long as you have access to an electric outlet). Speaking of which, it’s also proven to be more energy-efficient than a regular stovetop. 

Induction works by using electric currents to produce a magnetic field that directly heats a pot or pan. Generally, cast iron, stainless steel, and other types of cookware with a magnetic base can be used for this type of burner. So continue reading for our guide on how to choose the best portable induction cooktop and a rundown of our top 12 picks this year.

Our Favorite Portable Induction Cookers at a Glance

Top 12 Portable Induction Cookers for Your Kitchen

There are a lot of models to choose from when it comes to this type of kitchen equipment. Browse through this section for a more in-depth portable induction cooktop review of the products we featured on this list.

Best Overall: Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Standard power and temperature range
  • Automatic pan detection
  • Two-year warranty

What We Don't Love

  • No safety lock

This Duxtop model is the best induction cooktop that you can get on Amazon.com, with rave ratings to boot. It’s manufactured by the well-established Secura cookware company, so you can rest assured that its quality is at par with the rest of their products. 

Right off the bat, this portable induction cooktop is lightweight and easy to carry around. With a standard dimension of 13 by 11.5 inches, it won’t take up much space on your kitchen counter. This Duxtop unit also heats up fast (with a temperature range from 140 to 460 degrees F), and it comes equipped with a built-in seven-blade fan to make sure your product doesn’t overheat.

Because this cooktop is built with an automatic pan sensing feature, it will shut off by itself within 60 seconds if no cookware is detected. To add, you can easily toggle all of its temperature, power, and timer settings on its control panel. It’s also convenient that the glass surface of this appliance is compatible with cast iron and magnetic stainless steel cookware (that are at least five inches in diameter). With this product, you’ll be able to give your juicy rosemary ribeye steak a good sear on a skillet.

Best For Cast Iron: Sunmaki Portable Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Standard power and temperature range
  • Easy clean surface
  • One-year warranty

What We Don't Love

  • No safety lock

Nothing compares to cast iron skillets when it comes to giving pieces of succulent eye of round steak a good sear. Thankfully, their base material is compatible with most induction cookers, like this Sunmaki Portable Induction Cooktop. You can use this burner to heat 3.9 to 8.6 enameled or plain cast iron pots and pans. Even stainless steel or copper aluminum cookware can be compatible, as long as they have a magnetic base. 

This induction cooktop has a sleek black crystal surface that is easy to clean. When you’re done, all you have to do is wipe the appliance with a clean piece of cloth, and any unwanted particle will slide right off. It’s also equipped with nine power levels (200 to 1800 Watts) and ten for temperature (140 to 464 degrees F). You can adjust this on the touch-screen panel according to your cooking needs, like when you have to deep fry or just heat some food. And when kids are around, you can easily enable the built-in child lock feature to avoid accidents.

Best With Safety Lock: iSiLER Sensor Touch Electric Induction Cooker

What We Love

  • Wide selection of power and temperature levels
  • Large digital buttons
  • Thermostat for maintaining temperature

What We Don't Love

  • Temperature control could be better

It’s best to get this iSiLER induction cooktop stove if you have kids running around the house, as it’s equipped with a good child safety lock that secures the panel during the cooking process. You can quickly enable this feature by nudging the corresponding large digital button on the glass surface of the appliance. You’ll also find there the on and off switch, as well as the timer, power, and temperature settings.

This product also boasts 18 power levels, adjustable from 100 to 1800 Watts (with increments of 100). In addition, it has 17 preset temperature levels, with a standard range of 140 to 460 degrees F. You can also set its timer up to three hours at one or 10-minute intervals, without having to worry about overheating because its built-in thermostat is designed to always keep the set temperature at bay. Lastly, this compact cooktop has a diameter of 6.7 inches that can hold induction-compatible cookware that is anywhere from 3.9 to 8.6 inches. 

Best For Camping Trips: Nuwave Precision Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Compact
  • Lightweight
  • Wide temperature range

What We Don't Love

  • Limited power options
  • No safety lock

This Nuwave Pic Flex cooktop is a worthy companion for your next camping trip! It’s lightweight at 4.5 pounds and compact with a diameter of 6.8 inches, so it would be very easy to pack for traveling. It’s also useful for backyard cookouts and picnics⁠ virtually anywhere as long as you have access to a power outlet.

This portable cooktop has a broad temperature range, too. It can go as low as 100 degrees F for warming up food, to as high as 500 degrees F for pan-searing in 10-degree increments. However, the power control settings of this appliance are quite limited compared to the first three induction cooktops mentioned on this list, with only three options to choose from: 600, 900, and 1300 Watts.

Best For Beginners: NUWAVE Lightweight Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Free compatible cookware
  • Wide temperature range
  • Additional “delay” and “sear” buttons

What We Don't Love

  • Limited power options
  • No safety lock

This Nuwave portable induction cooktop is a good gift to give for beginner cooks, as well as those who are newly venturing into the world of fireless food preparation. It comes with a free 10.5-inch hard-anodized cooking pan that fits seamlessly well on its 12-inch heat-resistant cooking surface. Perfectly convenient because you won’t need to go out of your way to look for compatible magnetic induction cookware! Also, this appliance comes with a cooking guide, instructional DVD manual, and cookbook for easier navigation.

You can manually adjust the temperature setting of this burner from 100 to 575 degrees F, or quickly select one from the six preset settings. It’s also equipped with a programmable 100-minute timer and useful “delay” and “sear” functions. It automatically turns off, too! Although, it’s also important to note that you won’t have much of an option about the power settings on this appliance, as you’ll only be able to choose between three: 600, 900, or 1500 Watts.

Best With Pot: Rosewill Induction Cooker

What We Love

  • Overheating protection
  • Good temperature and power range
  • Long timer limit

What We Don't Love

  • No safety lock

Aside from frying, induction plates are also great to use for boiling water, soups, and sauces. If you’re fond of making these, then the best induction burner to get is this Rosewill model that comes with a free stainless steel pot that can hold up to 3.5 quarts of liquid.

This kitchen appliance has a polished crystal cooking surface and an easy-to-navigate intuitive LED screen display and control panel. This part lets you adjust your ideal settings. You’ll be able to choose from eight different temperature levels from 150 to 450 degrees F. It’s also equipped with a good power level range, with eight options from 300 to 1800 Watts. Its three-hour timer setting is also a useful feat.

Best Double Burner: NutriChef Double Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Built-in safety lock
  • Pre-programmed cooking modes
  • Warming function

What We Don't Love

  • Pricey

Some kitchens simply cannot make do with just a single burner alone. After all, you can save more time by cooking two dishes simultaneously for feasts and large family gatherings. If this appeals to you, then this Nutrichef model might be the best induction hotplate for the job. 

This cooktop is built with two circular heating zones that you can configure individually. Its surface is made of ceramic tempered glass, and you can use it to heat traditional induction-compatible cookware with a diameter of 4.7 to 10.2 inches. Below them, you’ll find the digital LCD screen that flashes your custom settings. You’re free to select from the three pre-programmed cooking modes (fry, steam, and water) or the function for keeping food warm. Another good thing about this Nutrichef appliance is that it is safe to have around kids because you can easily lock the buttons on the panel when it’s not in use.

Best Space Saver: Schönes Bauen Essen Countertop Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Sleek look
  • Water-resistant control panel
  • Built-in safety lock

What We Don't Love

  • Heat distribution may be inconsistent
  • Surface may be too smooth to keep cookware in place

For kitchens with limited space, this single Schönes Bauen Essen induction cooktop stove is a good space-saving option. With a length of 14.52 inches and a thickness of 1.77, it’s thin enough with just the right size for most cooking applications. Most importantly, its 22-inch hotplate can support cookware with food up to 33 lbs.

The surface of this countertop induction burner is made of easy-to-clean anti-thermal shock glass in black, providing durability as well as a polished look. Adding to that, the lockable touch control panel of this appliance is also sleek and water-resistant. Through this, you can select your desired temperature from 140 to 460 degrees F and set the timer up to 170 minutes.

Best Fast Heating: Hamilton Beach Single Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Inexpensive
  • Fahrenheit and Celcius units
  • Free induction test magnet included

What We Don't Love

  • No safety lock

This Hamilton Beach induction stove takes pride in its ability to heat 40 percent faster than the rest. So, you’ll save more time with how quickly it can reach your set temperature. To use it for cooking, you may select one of the product’s 10 preset cooking levels or adjust the heat according to your own cooking needs, as long as it’s within range (180 to 450 degrees F).

Each purchase of this product comes with a free magnet that you can use to test if your cookware is induction-compatible. This appliance can handle a range of pan and pot sizes as well, from four to ten inches in diameter.

Best High Tech: Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop With LCD Sensor Touch

What We Love

  • Good power and temperature range
  • Good timer limit
  • Safety lock
  • Auto-pan detection

What We Don't Love

  • Pricey

This Duxtop model has all the trappings of a good induction cooktop and more! Starting with the necessities, it has 20 preset power levels from 100 to 1800 Watts for boiling liquids and making sauces. For frying and sauteing, you can select from one of its 20 pre-programmed heat levels or input a specific temperature, as long as it’s within the 100 to 460 degrees F range. 

However, what truly sets this product apart from the rest is its expansive timer setting. Unlike most induction cooking burners that can be set up to a maximum of four hours only, this one boasts an impressive 10-hour capacity. You can also make use of the fast “boil button” on its LCD touch panel, or the “keep warm” function to keep your food heated for up to 30 minutes. It’s also equipped with a child-safety feature that locks the digital controls after you customize the levels according to what your dish requires. For an added level of security, this cooktop automatically shuts off within 60 seconds if it doesn’t detect compatible cookware (five inches or more in diameter) on its hot plate. 

Best Budget-Friendly: Mueller RapidTherm Portable Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Lengthy timer limit
  • Auto-pan detection
  • Built-in safety lock

What We Don't Love

  • Temperature setting could be more user-friendly

Good induction cooktops don’t have to be expensive, and this model produced by Mueller proves just that. It comes at a lower price compared to all burners on this list, but its functionality is still at par with the rest. 

This induction cooktop has four pre-programmed settings for hot pot, slow cook, boil, and keep warm. It has a good temperature range from 140 to 460 degrees F and eight power levels that you can toggle between 200 to 1800 Watts. The Mueller burner is also equipped with a pause feature, as well as a timer that you can set up to four hours, which is longer than most of the products on this list. For better safety, it also has a built-in pan detection system that shuts off the unit if no cookware or an incorrect one is used.

Best Luxury: Duxtop LCD Portable Double Induction Cooktop

What We Love

  • Good temperature range
  • Good power range
  • Fast-heating
  • Safety lock

What We Don't Love

  • May not recognize small and lightweight cookware

If you don’t mind splurging on a brand new kitchen appliance, then we recommend getting this Duxtop model. It’s a lot more expensive than most induction burners on this list, but it’s a good deal when you consider that you’ll be paying for two independent hot plates in one. Also, it’s produced by an established manufacturer, so quality is guaranteed.

This Duxtop induction cooktop comes with an LCD screen and an easy-to-navigate control panel where you can adjust the temperature and/or power mode settings of each hot plate. You’ll have plenty of options from the 20 preset levels for each! When it’s all set, your pan or pot will be quick to heat up. For safety, this Duxtop unit is also equipped with a child-lock feature.

READ ALSO: Saucepan Guide: 12 Best Types to Get for 2022

How to Choose the Best Portable Induction Cooker

Person cooking chopped vegetables on a pan using an induction cooker

Choosing one out of the extensive selection of induction burners being sold on Amazon and other online platforms can be quite confusing. To help you choose the best one, we’ve put together a few things that you can consider:

Size and Capacity

For camping and kitchens with limited space, go for induction cooktops that are portable and compact. Single burners are best for these instances. Meanwhile, if you’ll be cooking large quantities of food, double burners are the way to go. This will save you time, as you’ll be able to cook two dishes at a time.

READ ALSO: Easy Pork Recipes for Dinner with 5 Ingredients or Less

Cooking Zone

Your portable stove should be compact, yet large enough for the heat source to handle standard pot and pan sizes. More importantly, it’s ideal for each hot plate to be able to sense both small and large cookware.

Control Panel

Go for portable induction cooktops that contain all necessary buttons in one area. Aside from the power switch, it’s useful to have large and easy-to-navigate buttons for controlling power and temperature settings

Safety Features

As with gas and electric stoves, you can get burns if you mishandle induction hot plates. To avoid accidents, some units come with convenient power indicators that let you know when the appliance is up and running. 

Some cooktops also come with sensors that automatically shut off if there is no cookware or an incompatible one is detected. Units with a safety lock widget are ideal, especially if you have kids running around the house. 

READ ALSO: 15 Best Stock Pots to Get in 2022

Special Features

The best induction burners should have a built-in timer system. Most units can be set up to four hours, while there are rare ones that are capable of running up to 10 hours. If you want to monitor your power usage, opt for those that display electric consumption. 

Pre-programmed power and temperature levels are also convenient to have so that you won’t have to input a specific number every time. You may also want to check out units with “pause” and “warm-up” buttons and those with LED flames for some special effects.

Want to share your experiences with or ask questions about the best portable induction cooktops featured in our “12 Picks for the Best Portable Induction Cooktop to Get This 2022” article? Join the discussion in the Kitchen Equipment forum and let’s talk about these handy appliances!

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Kaye

Kaye is a writer and a recent oat milk convert. With a background in Language Studies, she has founded a deep appreciation of cultures, traditions, and the power of words. In her spare time, she enjoys testing some of the trendiest and most accessible recipes on the internet.