Ditch Your Gas Stove For A Portable Induction Cooktop. These Are The Best, According To Cooks.

Anyone who has ever tried to cook in a small kitchen as a teenager (hey, that was me) knows how hard it can be to quickly heat up a place like that, especially if you have a stove and a gas burner.

But what if you could cook anywhere you have room for a stove and completely eliminate those pesky fires from the equation?

Whether you're working with a very small kitchen, need more cooking space when entertaining a large group, or taking home meals with you on the go, the portable induction hob provides a stylish solution and makes it easy to prepare fresh meals anywhere. You. Hey, you. Access to electrical outlets.

What is an induction cooker?

An induction cooktop, sometimes referred to as an induction hob, is a type of electric hob that only heats up when a compatible pot or pan is placed on it. Heats quickly, does not give off heat to the environment, and is relatively safe compared to other cooking methods. Plus, there's no need for gas, propane, or flame, and temperature control is often more accurate than on other stoves.

There are induction hobs built-in – often found in high-end kitchens – but portable induction burners have brought this neat and convenient technology to us all just to try to improve our cooking skills at home (or on the go).

"If you have a smaller cooktop, look for a model with a smaller burner," suggests Golden.

Not only will it transform your small apartment or dorm "kitchen" into a functional cooking space, but it's also a great solution for RVs, boats, and camping - or "hills" to be exact. Because many induction cookers are so portable, they are a great solution for heating food at dinner parties or other events.

What is the difference between an induction cooker and an electric stove?

The biggest difference between an electric hob and an induction cooktop is heat transfer. Although induction cookers are powered by electricity, they mainly use electromagnetic energy. It is equipped with copper windings that generate a magnetic current when suitable cookware is placed on them. The pot or pan is heated directly and the cooking surface is not heated like an electric stove. Because induction hobs use less energy, they don't release heat to the environment.

Is gas stove bad?

In recent discussions about a nationwide ban on gas stoves, the potential health hazards of basic kitchen equipment (opens in a new tab) came under fire (pun intended, sorry).

In According to a December 2022 study (opens in a new tab) in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, nearly 13% of childhood asthma cases in the United States are now caused by using gas stoves. Additionally, a study by PSE Healthy Energy (opens in a new tab) found 99% gasoline in samples taken from homes in California and later found that gas stoves emit as much gasoline as cigarettes - similar to cigarette smoke - despite time . Turn off the stove . So, if you haven't invited your heavy-smoking aunt to sit in the kitchen while she cooks, you may be wondering why we leave our gas burners off and the potential hazard to our health.

However, US Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka recently confirmed to CNN (opens in a new tab) that there is no need to turn off all existing gas hobs. However, it certainly doesn't hurt to explore alternative cooking methods, such as a portable induction cooker.

What should I look for when buying a portable induction cooker?

If you're ready to experiment with induction, there are several factors to consider when shopping for the best portable induction cooktop for your needs. To find out which features are most important, we spoke to Jessica Randhawan, chef, recipe creator, photographer, and author behind The Forkid Spoon (opens in a new tab) ; Jasmine Golden, owner of The Golden Truffle (opens in a new tab) . And Andrew Forlais of Chef AF (opens in a new tab) , a gourmet chef turned home cooking guru.

Here's what a professional recipe developer had to say:

• Show. High peak power means high peak power suitable for heating as fast as possible. For example, if you need to boil a pot of water, that's fine, but for all other use cases, a maximum of 1400 W is sufficient. The power output of an induction hob can often be controlled, giving you more control over heat output and power consumption. This is especially true when you have low power, such as a B. In a motor home or boat.

• Temperature control. Most, if not all, portable induction burners come with a set of preset temperature settings. Randawa recommends an oven with at least ten settings for precise temperature control for different recipes.

Forline agrees and recommends an induction hob with adjustable heat—not just low, medium, and high settings. Some induction hobs offer more control and precision, allowing you to set the temperature in 5 or 10 degree increments.

"I like very low heat so I can melt the chocolate in the pot or pan without it burning," says Forlin. The low temperature setting is best for melting butter and defrosting food.

• Even the temperature distribution. It is important to consider the size of the pots and pans you use frequently. Some induction hobs cannot accommodate large diameter hobs because the coils inside are not large enough to evenly heat the entire bottom surface, resulting in surrounding cold spots and hot spots.

"If you have a smaller cooktop, look for a model with a smaller burner," suggests Golden. Or if you plan to cook two dishes at once, make sure your oven has two burners.

• Ease of use. Portable induction torches are very easy to use, but think about how many buttons there are on the user interface and whether or not they are nicely labeled. Also keep in mind that the touch screen is smooth and easy to clean, but if you try to work with wet hands (which is common when cooking, of course) it can be a little tricky. If you expect this to be a big deal, you can opt for buttons or button devices.

• sound level. Portable induction hobs can be very noisy, especially when set to their highest power level, as the internal metal parts vibrate and make a slight buzzing sound. Forlins notes that on some models, the fan that cools the oven can make a slight noise when starting to prevent it from overheating.

• Safety equipment. Induction cooktops are relatively safe because they don't get as hot as gas or electric cooktops (although induction hobs can get hot some time after cooking). However, there are still some safety features that must be maintained.

"Always make sure you have a portable induction cooker with an auto-shut off for the pan area," advises Randhawa. After a while, if no ship is found, the system will be closed automatically.

Golden agrees, adding that the auto-off feature should also be activated if the oven is left unattended for a long time or exposed to very high temperatures. He also points out that some ovens come with child safety locks, which is important if you have kids in the house.

• Mobility. Depending on what you're using, this might not be much. But if you plan to move your induction hob somewhere other than your kitchen counter, you need something that's not too heavy or bulky.

Why are induction hobs not (yet) popular?

It is important to remember that induction hobs only work with certain cookware. For electromagnets to work in an oven, pots and pans must contain enough metal to create a magnetic field. However, you probably have induction-compatible cookware in your kitchen, including cast iron, carbon steel, and stainless steel pots and pans.

While induction cooktops aren't very popular these days, they are gaining in popularity, especially as people try to stay away from gas cooktops. And with so many affordable portable options on the market, it's time to give it a try.

Portable insert burner vs. Grill ovens | Sunavo portable oven comparison