Updated on 7 June 2023
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Tefal Everyday Slim
With six pre-programmed cooking modes, this induction hob is designed to make your life easier. With a power of 2100 W, it can accommodate pans from 12 to 24 cm in diameter.
Very intuitive to use, the Everyday Slim IH210801 has a fully touch-sensitive control panel that allows you to adjust the power to seven intensities and the temperature to 240°C. In addition, six programmes have been designed to simplify your work by automatically setting the power and timer according to the selected mode (low temperature, simmer, boil, boost, brown and roast). With its 2100 W output and the ability to handle 12 to 24-cm frying pans, it is compatible with a wide range of utensils and preparations. In our tests, it boiled 1 litre of water the fastest (3.05 minutes). In terms of even heating, we measured a difference of around 6°C between the hottest and coldest points on the plate. The fan is a bit noisy, but in our opinion, it is not as annoying as on other models. Finally, it has a fairly long cable (1.55 m), which makes it easy to use.
The different portable induction hobs we tested.
We started by measuring the diameter of their burners.
We evaluated the responsiveness of their touch controls.
We compared their efficiency.
We measured the maximum temperature reached at minimum power with a laser thermometer.
Domo DO332IP
The Domo DO332IP offers very good value for money. It can be used with pans from 12 to 20 cm in diameter and heats more evenly than other hotplates.
With a difference of only 4°C between the hottest and coldest point, this plate was the most evenly heated in our tests. The maximum temperature reached at minimum power (400 W – 60°C) was 71°C, which is too low for preparing sauces. The power is adjustable in 8 levels (up to 2000 W – 240°C). We were pleasantly surprised by its efficiency, as it took just 3.30 minutes to boil 1 litre of water at full power. The 20-cm hearth can accommodate utensils of at least 12 cm in diameter. The hob detected our pan and did not overheat it. We also noticed that the timer (maximum 3 hours) stopped at the end of the allotted time and that the child lock worked correctly. Unfortunately, as is often the case with this type of product, the fan was quite noisy. The 1.30m cord is a little shorter than the competition, but we found it to be more robust than other similarly priced models.
Brandt TI2FSOFT
The Brandt TI2FSOFT is an induction model with two plates sufficiently spaced to each accommodate a 26 cm diameter pan. Each plate has its control strip and timer.
As well as having a fairly comprehensive range of safety options, this induction hob seems to us to be the most suitable for regular use, as it can hold two 26 cm pans at the same time. It has two cooking zones of 2000W and 1400W. Each of them can be adjusted individually via the touch control panel. The intensity can be set to 10 levels, the timer can be set for up to 180 minutes, and you can also select one of the five preset programmes (keep warm, simmer, roast, boil, booster). On the highest setting, it took almost 4 minutes to boil a litre of water. Another positive point is that the lowest power setting is around 50°C, which is good for preparing sauces. On the other hand, it does not offer the best heat distribution (around 8°C difference between the hottest and coldest points) and it emitted a certain plastic smell when in use.
Aigostar Cookmate
This round, lightweight model is very original. Easy to use, it has only four quick response touch buttons and a thumbwheel to choose the power level and timer time.
The power of this induction hob can be adjusted in 9 levels ranging from 200 to 2000 W (60 to 200°C). In our tests, it took about 4 minutes to boil 1 L of water at maximum power, which makes it as efficient as the Brandt, but slightly less than the other two in the selection. At minimum power, we measured that the maximum temperature reached was 67°C, which makes it quite interesting for sauce lovers. It has a heating surface of 20 cm, but the hob had no problem recognising the smaller pots, so it did not heat up more than necessary. In addition, the heating was a little more even than on other plates, with a difference of 5°C between the coldest and hottest points. Thanks to the atypical format of this hob, the brand has managed to reduce its weight to just over 1.5 kg, making it the lightest model in this selection. We found the touch controls and thumbwheel to be responsive. Lastly, what we liked least was the child lock system, which does not lock the on/off button (although this is a common feature on this type of portable motherboard).
Our selection
Our choice, Best mid-range Best budget Best High-end Budget alternative Tefal Everyday Slim Domo DO332IP Brandt TI2FSOFT Aigostar Cookmate With six pre-programmed cooking modes, this induction hob is designed to make your life easier. With a power of 2100 W, it can accommodate pans from 12 to 24 cm in diameter. The Domo DO332IP offers very good value for money. It can be used with pans from 12 to 20 cm in diameter and heats more evenly than other hotplates. The Brandt TI2FSOFT is an induction model with two plates sufficiently spaced to each accommodate a 26 cm diameter pan. Each plate has its control strip and timer. This round, lightweight model is very original. Easy to use, it has only four quick response touch buttons and a thumbwheel to choose the power level and timer time. £ 106.49 on Amazon £ 55.94 on Amazon See the price on Amazon See the price on Amazon
Selectos compares and tests hundreds of products to help you buy better. We sometimes receive a commission when you buy through our links, which helps fund our work. Learn moreWhy trust us ?
How did we do the test?
To test the portable induction hobs, we started by measuring the diameter of their burners and the length of their cables. We also weighed them and assessed the responsiveness of their touch controls.
We then timed the time it took to boil 1 litre of water in the same pan at full power. This allowed us to compare its efficiency. We also used a laser thermometer to measure the maximum temperature reached at minimum power. Finally, also using a laser thermometer, we measured the temperature difference between the hottest and coldest points on the plate to judge the uniformity of the heating.
| Name | Diameter of the hobs | Max. temperature attained at minimum power | Temperature difference between the hottest and coldest point on the plate | Time it takes to boil 1 L of water at max. power | Cable length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domo DO332IP | 20 cm (minimum 12 cm) | 71°C | 4°C | 3' 30'' | 1,30 m |
| Aigostar BlueFire 30PKZ | 20 cm | 65°C | 6°C | 4' 10'' | 1,60 m |
| Aigostar Cookmate | 20 cm (12 to 26 cm) | 67°C | 5°C | 3' 57'' | 1,55 m |
| Duxtop 9600LS | 20 cm (minimum 12 cm) | 60°C | 6°C | 3' 15'' | 1,50 m |
| Tefal Everyday Slim | 23 cm (12 to 24 cm) | 78°C | 6°C | 3' 05'' | 1,55 m |
| Severin DK 1031 | x2 - 22 cm (18 to 22 cm) | 85°C (on the right) | 7°C | 5' 50'' (on the left) | 1,20 m |
| Brandt TI2FSOFT | x2 - 22 cm (12 to 26 cm) | 50°C (on the right) | 8°C | 3' 55'' (on the left) | 1,50 m |
How to choose a portable induction hob?
As its name suggests, the portable induction hob combines all the advantages of the built-in induction hob (speed, homogeneity of heating) with ease of transport and storage, making it an ideal solution for equipping a motorhome, an outdoor kitchen or a kitchen that is too cramped.
However, the fact that it is a standby solution does not mean that certain criteria have to be overlooked. We have listed them to help you make the best decision for your needs.
- The number of cooking zones: because portability is important, portable induction hobs have only one or two cooking zones. The diameter of these zones does not vary much: it is usually 22 cm and can accommodate pans of at least 15 cm in diameter. On the other hand, it is important to check the distance between the two hotplates to ensure that two pans can be placed on them at the same time.
- Power: expressed in watts, it normally varies between 1500-2000W. If the hob has several burners, check the power of each one, as one will be more powerful than the other.
- The intensity setting: the more power levels you have, the more precise your settings and therefore your cooking will be. Several models of portable induction hobs also offer a choice of temperature.
- The timer: considered indispensable, it is even more convenient when combined with an automatic stop at the end of cooking. If the hob is equipped with several burners, it is useful to have an independent timer for each one.
- Functionality: some models have pre-set programmes, such as keeping warm, boiling (also called “boost”), simmering or frying, among others.
- Safety options: In terms of safety, the hobs comply with strict standards. They have quite similar options, such as residual heat indicator, locking (child and transport safety), automatic shut-off in case of prolonged inactivity, pot detection, anti-overflow and anti-overheating.
Induction uses electromagnets: a magnetic field heats the base of the pan much more evenly than a conventional electric hob. This means that it is essential to have compatible cookware, as only magnetic pots and pans will work on such a hob.
Other models we recommend
Aigostar BlueFire 30PKZ (£47.99 upon publication): our 3rd economic option. During our tests, it took about 4 minutes to boil 1 L of water at maximum power (2000 W). Although the diameter of the heating surface is 20 cm, this plate detects the size of the utensils used. The touch controls were responsive and fairly easy to understand. On the other hand, we found the childproof lock to be lacking in accuracy. Despite this, the timer lived up to our expectations, stopping the hob at the end of the set time. Its power cable, at 1.60 m, is also the longest of all the models tested. However, we preferred to leave it out of the main selection because it offers slightly lower performance than the Domo model.
Duxtop 9600LS (£63.99 upon publication): a mid-range alternative. With two cooking programmes directly accessible (boil, keep warm), this induction hob has a cooking surface of 20 cm which can accommodate pans of at least 12 cm. And during our tests, we were able to confirm that it did indeed detect our small pot, preventing it from heating beyond its surface. The child lock and timer are effective. The touch controls were responsive and we were able to adjust the temperature and power on 20 levels (from 100 to 2100W and from 50 to 240°C). In our opinion, its performance was quite good (water boiled in 3 minutes and 15 seconds), but the plate did not heat as evenly as others (6°C difference). In addition, it emitted a rather annoying buzzing noise, which added to the noise produced by its blower. These are the reasons why it was left out of the main selection.
Severin DK 1031 (£137.90 upon publication): another model with two burners. When we put it to the test, not only did we find that it has the shortest cord of the selection (1.2 m), but it also tends to heat up more than it should at the lowest temperature (85°C instead of 60°C), which is not the most practical if you want to heat sauces. Its 22 cm double cooking zone can accommodate pans from 18 to 22 cm. In addition, we found that the heating diameter was suitable for smaller pans. However, as the left hob was less powerful (7 levels compared to 10 on the right) than the others we tested (models with a double cooking zone), the litre of water inevitably took longer to boil (5 minutes and 50 seconds). Nevertheless, it is still a good alternative if you want a double burner solution that smells less like plastic.
Translated by Ramsés El Hajje
