Portable Induction Cooktops Worth Buying, Including for Large Pans
A portable induction burner boils water faster than most stoves and plugs into a regular outlet. Our picks for the best portable induction cooktops from Duxtop, Breville and more, and what to know about big pans.
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Our top picks at a glance
1 Best overall
Duxtop 9600LS
About $112 to $152
The fastest, most even burner in CNN Underscored's testing, with fine temperature control. Read more
Pros
- Boiled 2 quarts in about 4 minutes
- Even heat and steady simmer
- Child lock and presets
Cons
- High-pitched whine with some pans
2 Best budget
Duxtop 8100MC
About $58 to $65
A simple, inexpensive burner that boiled, browned and simmered as well as pricier models. Read more
Pros
- Great performance for the price
- Fast boiling
- Tactile buttons
Cons
- No child lock or presets
- Coarser temperature steps
3 Best double burner
Duxtop LCD Double Induction Cooktop
About $232 to $327
Two burners for a full meal, with one-touch boil and a 10-hour timer. Read more
Pros
- Two zones
- Steady simmer
- Auto shutoff
Cons
- Slower when both burners run
- Left burner limits the right
4 Best precision
Breville Control Freak
About $1,500
Holds an exact temperature for hours, with a probe for deep frying and candy. Read more
Pros
- Exact temperature control
- Very even browning
- Temperature probe
Cons
- Very expensive
- Large and heavy
A portable induction cooktop is a single burner that plugs into a standard outlet. It uses a magnetic field to heat the pan itself, so it’s fast, efficient and responsive, and the glass stays cooler than an electric coil. It’s handy as an extra burner, in a dorm or RV, for canning outdoors, or while you’re renovating a kitchen.
Side by side
| Cooktop | Burners | Power | Boil test (2 qt) | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duxtop 9600LS | 1 | 1,800W | About 4 min | $112 to $152 |
| Duxtop 8100MC | 1 | Check listing | About 3.5 min | $58 to $65 |
| Duxtop LCD Double | 2 | Shared | Under 4.5 min | $232 to $327 |
| Breville Control Freak | 1 | 1,800W | Fast | $1,500 |
Test results are from CNN Underscored's side-by-side testing of 13 portable induction cooktops and Tom's Guide's testing. Prices are typical list and sale prices, October 2026.
1. Duxtop 9600LS: Best overall
Buy it if: Most people who want a reliable, precise extra burner.
CNN Underscored named the 9600LS its best portable induction cooktop. It boiled 2 quarts of water in about 4 minutes, caramelized onions without burning them, browned a chuck roast well and held temperatures accurately. It adjusts from 130°F to 460°F in 20-degree steps or by power level, and it has a timer, boil and keep-warm presets and a child lock. It also whined less than most.
What bugs us: It still makes a high-pitched whine with some cookware, which is common with induction.
Skip it if: you need two burners.
2. Duxtop 8100MC: Best budget
Buy it if: Anyone trying induction for the first time or needing a cheap extra burner.
For around $60, the 8100MC boiled water slightly faster than the 9600LS in CNN’s testing, and it browned meat, sautéed onions and held a simmer better than most competitors. It has a timer and simple tactile buttons.
What bugs us: No child lock or presets, a plainer display, and temperature steps of 40°F, so use power levels for fine control.
Skip it if: you have young kids around. Get the 9600LS for its lock.
3. Duxtop LCD Double Induction Cooktop: Best double burner
Buy it if: People cooking whole meals during a kitchen remodel, in an RV or in a tiny apartment.
CNN’s best double burner boiled water in under 4.5 minutes and held a steady simmer. Each burner works in power or temperature mode, and it has one-touch boil and keep-warm buttons, a timer up to 10 hours and an automatic shutoff.
What bugs us: The two burners share one outlet’s power, so they heat more slowly when both are on, and the left burner can’t run at full power while the right one is in use.
Skip it if: you mostly cook in one pan.
4. Breville Control Freak: Best precision
Buy it if: Serious cooks who want exact temperatures for deep frying, candy, tempering chocolate or sous vide-style cooking.
The Control Freak holds a precise temperature for long periods, browned very evenly in CNN’s testing and includes a probe that keeps soups or frying oil at an exact temperature. Tom’s Guide found it heated pans very quickly.
What bugs us: It costs about 10 times as much as our top pick, and it’s large and heavy. Tom’s Guide found small pans sometimes needed repositioning to register.
Skip it if: you just need an extra burner.
Our research
We relied on CNN Underscored’s testing of 13 portable cooktops, which measured boiling speed, simmering, onion caramelizing and searing, plus Tom’s Guide’s testing. We focused on:
- Speed and evenness
- Simmer control, where many cheap burners fail
- Controls and safety features
- Noise
- Price
We haven’t tested these ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.
Can you use large pans on a portable induction cooktop?
Yes, with limits. A portable burner’s heating coil is smaller than the glass surface, so a large pan heats mostly in the center. In practice:
- Pans up to about 10 to 12 inches usually work well. The edges will be a little cooler.
- Large stockpots for canning can work, but heating takes longer, and check the burner’s weight limit. A heavy, full canner can stress the glass.
- Pans need a flat, magnetic bottom. Here’s how to tell if your pans work on induction.
- Preheat gradually on medium for big pans to help heat spread.
Questions people ask
Do portable induction cooktops need a special outlet? No. Most single burners plug into a standard 120-volt outlet. Avoid sharing the circuit with other high-power appliances.
Why does my induction burner buzz? Some humming or whining is normal, especially at high power or with multi-layer pans.
Is induction better than electric? It’s faster and more responsive. Here’s the full comparison: induction vs electric cooktop.