More and more people are making the switch from gas cooktops to induction, and for good reason: gas prices are rising and research has linked gas cooking to various health issues.
Induction is a great way to get those gas cooktop feels without the gas cooktop dramas.
But induction cooktops don't come cheap: they're anywhere from $600 to $6000 dollars.
If you're contemplating induction but worried about dropping that sort of cash before knowing if you'll like it, portable induction cooktops can be a low-commitment way to get started – they're cheaper and don't require big changes to your kitchen like a full-size induction cooktop does.
They're also useful for small spaces like granny flats, campervans, tiny kitchens and office spaces where you can't squeeze in a full-size cooktop.
And since they're so portable you can use them for cooking in other spaces – think outdoor cooking or keeping a dish warm on the dinner table.
But while there's a lot to love about them, there are also some seriously underwhelming models on the market.
Of the 10 models our experts recently tested, they recommend only two, so you need to be careful about what you buy.
Of the 10 models our experts recently tested, they recommend only two, so you need to be careful about what you buy
If you're thinking of switching to induction cooking, our experts recommend booking in an induction cooktop demonstration rather than buying a portable model.
However, the two recommended models will stand you in good stead if you need to go portable.
We don't want you to end up with a dud, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests.
Consider becoming a CHOICE member to see the best performers.
The Apuro Induction Hob: an overpriced underperformer.
Apuro Induction Hob – 3kW CE208-A-03
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 62%
- Cooking performance: 55%
- Price: $350
You don't need to spend a fortune to get a great portable induction cooktop: some of the products our experts recommend cost less than $150.
And there's definitely no need to spend this kind of money on a portable induction cooktop that performs so poorly.
There's definitely no need to spend this kind of money on a portable induction cooktop that performs so poorly
Our experts also found it difficult to cook rice with: it left the rice grains mushy on the top, with more than half of the rice browned and stuck to the bottom.
And when melting chocolate at a low temperature, the chocolate seized within two minutes and stuck to the base of the saucepan
If you have $350 to spend on a portable cooktop, you can definitely do better for your money.
Read the full Apuro Induction Hob review.
Low price, low scores: the Philips Induction Cooker 5000 series.
Philips Induction Cooker 5000 Series HD4902
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 62%
- Cooking performance: 60%
- Price: $99
It may be one of the cheapest portable induction cooktops in our test, but this Philips cooktop's low price aligns with its low scores.
Our experts rated its cooking performance as just barely 'OK' at 55%, and it completely failed the low-temperature cooking test, with the chocolate seizing in just one minute.
This Philips cooktop's low price aligns with its low scores
It's also lacking a child lock, and has only five power levels (most other models we tested had around 10).
If you're looking for a portable induction cooktop around this price, there are plenty of other options that perform much better, so we suggest looking elsewhere.
Read the full Philips Induction Cooker 5000 Series review.
Anvil ICL3500: Pricey but only mediocre performance.
Anvil ICL3500
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 69%
- Cooking performance: 64%
- Price: $700
The Anvil is one of the most expensive models we've tested, emphasising that paying more doesn't mean you'll get better performance.
Our experts rated its cooking performance as 'OK' at 64% and it failed the sensitive cooking test where we melt chocolate to assess the performance of the low heat setting.
The touch controls need to be kept free from residue or else they won't respond and the cooling fan makes a continuous noise that can get annoying. This model also requires a 15amp power plug.
Considering one of our recommended models costs as little as $49 and produces 'excellent' cooking results, you definitely don't need to splash out on this portable induction cooktop. Read the full Anvil ICL3500 review.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
