CR assessed five portable induction cooktops from about $60 to over $200. Members can read our evaluations of the best and worst portable induction cooktops below.
Four 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 you 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 of the cooktops feature dedicated boil settings for maximum power.
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. You’ll often need to purchase these pieces separately.
