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Are you living in a small space? Do you love to save money on your energy bill? Do you like to travel with the ability to cook anywhere? If you’ve answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, you likely enjoy finding portable alternatives to appliances like stoves, ovens, and barbecues. If you’d like an ultra-safe way to boil water and cook all kinds of dishes, we have just the thing for your collection.
Portable induction cooktops are one of the most versatile things you can have with you while you’re camping, road-tripping, or just avoiding your energy-draining stove. Most of them are super compact single-burner cooktops that offer a range of temperature settings and a broad timer range. They can be used with a variety of pot/pan sizes, too, and don’t need much power to function.
If a portable induction cooktop sounds like the right addition to your portable kitchen, we’d love to help you pick out the right one. They’ll vary in things like price, overall size, temperature range, number of temperature settings, timer functionality, and more. And every feature is important if you want to find your perfect match.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best portable induction cooktops in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Duo Pick: Aobosi Double Induction Cooktop
Upgrade Pick: Duxtop P961LS/BT-C35-D Professional Portable Induction Cooktop
Budget Pick: Duxtop 8100MC/BT-180G3 Portable Induction Cooktop
Beginner-Friendly Alternative: Hamilton Beach 34104 Single Induction Cooktop
The Duxtop 9600LS/BT-200DZ Portable Induction Cooktop has a lot to offer. With 20 cooking temperatures or power settings, you’ll be able to adjust the performance of this cooktop to match every dish precisely. Since it’s large enough to suit pots and pans anywhere from 5” in diameter and up, it’s perfectly suited for every occasion. With a rapid boil button, you’ll be able to save time while making your essentials.
One of the things we appreciate most about this cooktop is the keep warm function. It’ll warm your pot or pan for up to half an hour just in case you’re not ready for it when it’s done cooking. The lock button is another great feature — it’ll lock the temperature and timer buttons to make sure an accidental touch or curious kids can’t make any changes by mistake. Thoughtful, huh?
One of the only less-than-stellar things you’ll run into with this one is the high-pitched whine that is sometimes produced while you’re cooking. It occurs randomly and nothing can be done to stop it, so it’s just a flaw you’ll have to learn how to live with if you decide the long list of benefits outweigh the annoyance.
Overall, the Duxtop 9600LS/BT-200DZ Portable Induction Cooktop is our favourite option for this year. With a great price, tons of cooking versatility, streamlined buttons, and perfect reliability, you’ll want to use this thing every day. It’s nearly impossible to beat.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the Duxtop 9600LS/BT-200DZ Portable Induction Cooktop. Aside from an annoying high-pitched whine that is sometimes produced, they have no issues with it at all. It’s incredibly versatile with a keep warm function and 20 different power/temperature levels, and they appreciate the locking feature since it can be easy to accidentally change the settings. They’d all buy it again.
Buy If…
Precision heating is important to you
You might not always need your dish as soon as it's ready
You’ll have children around the cooktop regularly
You’ll be boiling water quite often
Don’t Buy If…
You like to cook in silence
Dimensions: 11.4” x 14.1” x 2.5”
Weight: 6.2 lbs
Number of Burners: 1
Compatible Pot/Pan Diameters: 5” plus
Temperature Settings: 20
Temperature Range: 100ºF to 460ºF
Timer: 10 hrs
Automatic Shutoff: Yes
Power Cord Length: 54”
Warranty: 1 year
We really like the Aobosi Double Induction Cooktop. If you frequently make multi-dish meals when you don’t have access to a traditional stove (or just don’t want to use it) this is the best option. Since it has two elements instead of just one, your dishes don’t have to take turns. Each element is controlled independently with easy-press and intuitive buttons. We love this for you.
We think you’ll also really enjoy how easy this thing is to clean. Since it has a glass top, all you need to do is wipe it clean — there’s no scrubbing or scraping involved even if you spill! It has a reliable keep-warm function as well, and we bet you’ll use it more than you expect — it’s great for keeping one side warm while the other finishes cooking. You can’t always get the timing perfect, right?
There are a few reasons you might doubt this one’s suitable for your lifestyle. If you plan to use large pots/pans on both burners, you might have to wait a while for each one to heat up. Especially if you’re trying to boil water. It’s also a bit more expensive than most single-element options, and since it’s also larger, it won’t be quite as travel-friendly.
Overall, the Aobosi Double Induction Cooktop has a lot of features to enjoy. It’s not as portable as a single-burner style, and it isn’t the most efficient option, but it’s still incredibly versatile, easy to use, and perfect for cooking two separate dishes at once.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Aobosi Double Induction Cooktop. They love being able to cook two things at once on it, although it can take a long time to heat up if both elements are being used. The timer, safety features, and keep warm function are all really useful, and it could not be easier to use or clean. They’d recommend it to others.
Buy If…
You’ll want or need to make two different dishes at once
A keep-warm function is a must-have
Easy cleaning is important to you
Easy-press buttons would be nice
Don’t Buy If…
You’ll want to travel with your cooktop a lot
You don’t want to spend much
You’ll be cooking with larger pots/pans
Dimensions: 22.1” x 12.2” x 2.25”
Weight: 11.3 lbs
Number of Burners: 2
Compatible Pot/Pan Diameters: 4.7” to 10.2”
Temperature Settings: 10
Temperature Range: 140ºF to 464ºF
Timer: 4 hrs
Automatic Shutoff: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
There are so many things to appreciate about the Duxtop P961LS/BT-C35-D Professional Portable Induction Cooktop. It’s a great option if you plan on making large batches of pasta, potatoes, or other similar ingredients — with a 65 lb weight capacity for its glass top, you can boil as much water as will fit in your largest pot. With a rapid boil button, that task will be even easier. And you’ll be amazed at how fast it goes!
The angled control panel is one of our favourite things on this cooktop. It’s a whole lot easier to see what buttons are where, and the LCD will clearly show your temperature or power setting as well as the remaining time left on the timer. Did we mention the timer goes up to 10 hours? Great, right?
There are only two minor things that might sway you in a different direction. As one of the best-quality induction cooktops out there, it’s also one of the most expensive. If you don’t have a flexible budget for your cooktop, this one might not make the cut. Also, it’s a fairly large cooktop and twice as thick as the average option, so it won’t travel or store as easily as the others. We bet this will be an easy thing to look past, though.
Overall, the Duxtop P961LS/BT-C35-D Professional Portable Induction Cooktop is one of the best cooktops of all time. No matter what kinds of dishes you’ll be using it for or how precise you need to be with your temperature or cook time, this cooktop will be up to the task.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers could not have a more positive opinion of the Duxtop P961LS/BT-C35-D Professional Portable Induction Cooktop. In their eyes, it’s pretty much flawless. It boils warm water in less than two minutes, has an exceptional precise temperature range, and has easy-to-read buttons paired with a great LCD display. They truly could not be happier and all agree that it’s worth the extra money.
Buy If…
You boil water quite often
A fast and reliable element is what you’re after
You’d appreciate an LCD display
You’ll be making extra-large portions of food
Don’t Buy If…
You’re looking for something budget-friendly
A thin design is important for your space
Dimensions: 12.9” x 16.5” x 4”
Weight: 12.4 lbs
Number of Burners: 1
Compatible Pot/Pan Diameters: 5” plus
Temperature Settings: 20
Temperature Range: 100ºF to 460ºF
Timer: 10 hrs
Automatic Shutoff: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
We are very pleased with the Duxtop 8100MC/BT-180G3 Portable Induction Cooktop for pretty much every household. And especially happy with it for people who are shopping on a budget. It has one of the best price tags you’ll find. But it still has a great power output and temperature range to make sure you can make all of your favourite dishes on it without any problems.
We also really appreciate the feet that keep this cooktop raised up off the counter and standing extra steady. This design helps the cooktop stay cool, too. Since this thing comes with a 5-foot power cord, it’s easy to use in every kitchen and even plug in outside with an extension cord. And one of our favourite things is the buttons — they’re real buttons instead of touchscreen ones, so they aren’t as finicky.
There are a few things that we don’t quite love about this cooktop. First, it’s missing a couple of the features we like most — a boil button and a keep-warm function. While these aren’t essential, they sure do make things easier. The other issue is the noise pollution this thing creates. The fans are super loud and will occasionally be accompanied by a pretty irritating whine. Not ideal. In the slightest.
Overall, the Duxtop 8100MC/BT-180G3 Portable Induction Cooktop is our favourite budget-friendly option right now. It’s as powerful as the top-of-the-line cooktops out there, easy to use and clean, and has a very compact design and long power cord for perfect suitability in every space.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have a great opinion of the Duxtop 8100MC/BT-180G3 Portable Induction Cooktop. Despite the lower price tag than the average competitor, it still heats up very quickly and has a super quick cool-down period as well. The long power cord makes it easy to plug in indoors and out, and the raised feet help keep it sturdy and effectively cooling itself. They would prefer it wasn’t so loud, though.
Buy If…
Affordability is your priority
You’d appreciate an extra-sturdy cooktop
A long power cord would be nice
You prefer real buttons over touchscreen buttons
Don’t Buy If…
You want a keep-warm function and/or a boil button
You’re not good with excess noise in the kitchen
Dimensions: 11.4” x 13” x 2.5”
Weight: 5.8 lbs
Number of Burners: 1
Compatible Pot/Pan Diameters: 5” plus
Temperature Settings: 10
Temperature Range: 140ºF to 460ºF
Timer: 170 mins
Automatic Shutoff: Yes
Power Cord Length: 60”
Warranty: 1 year
The Hamilton Beach 34104 Single Induction Cooktop is one of our favourite options for people looking for a simpler cooktop or who are new to induction cooking. It has a very user-friendly control panel, exceptional heating performance, and a range of temperature settings to make things easy. Plus, it comes with a magnet so you can test your pots and pans for induction compatibility. What a thoughtful addition.
The sleek appearance of this one is another thing we appreciate. You can leave it out on a counter all the time and it won’t become an eyesore. Since it is compatible with pots/pans between 4” and 10” in diameter, it’s perfect for small solo soups or large family meals. And you’d struggle to beat the price of this one, too. Perfect if you aren’t sure about induction cooking yet.
There are a few things that we’d change about this cooktop if we could. The first is the timer duration — it caps out at only 150 minutes, so if you need several hours for making things like broth, this won’t be a good fit. Larger pans also don’t heat as evenly around the edges, so you’ll want to check that before you load it up. Lastly, this option is missing a keep-warm function and a boil button.
Overall, we love the Hamilton Beach 34104 Single Induction Cooktop the most for beginners. With a magnet for testing your pot/pan compatibility, intuitive controls, and a simpler design, it’s one of the best ways to get into induction cooking. Especially in a small space or on the go!
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the Hamilton Beach 34104 Single Induction Cooktop. The control panel is very intuitive and the glass top is very easy to clean, and they appreciate that it came with a magnet so they could test their pans. It heats well, too. The timer is too short for some things, though, and the edges of larger pans don’t heat as well as the center.
Buy If…
A sleek appearance would be nice
You’ll be using a variety of pot/pan sizes with it
You’re new to induction cooking
You don’t want to spend much on a cooktop
Don’t Buy If…
You need a long timer
You’d appreciate a boil button and/or keep-warm feature
You’ll be cooking in larger pans a lot
Dimensions: 14.2” x 11” x 2.5”
Weight: 6.8 lbs
Number of Burners: 1
Compatible Pot/Pan Diameters: 4” to 10”
Temperature Settings: 10
Temperature Range: 180ºF to 450ºF
Timer: 150 mins
Automatic Shutoff: Yes
Power Cord Length: 48”
Warranty: 1 year
Portable induction cooktops tend to fall somewhere between $90 and $300. In general, more expensive portable induction cooktops will have a wider temperature range, more settings to choose from, and extra features such as a boil button and keep-warm function. Also, double cooktops will usually be more expensive than single cooktops.
The temperature range of a portable induction cooktop is an important thing to pay attention to. The typical range is somewhere between 180ºF and 460ºF, but models with a keep-warm feature will fall as low as 100ºF. The number of settings in that range is also something to look at. Some cooktops will only offer 10 settings in that range, others will offer 20. Of course, the more settings you get, the more precise you can be.
The timer range on a portable induction cooktop tends to fall between 2 and 10 hours, and they can usually be adjusted in one-minute increments. A longer timer range gives you more flexibility with the dishes you make, so it’s something we recommend you look for if you enjoy slow cooking.
Every portable induction cooktop should have an automatic shutoff feature that works either when a timer runs down or when there is no pot/pan on top for one minute. This is a safety feature we recommend you prioritize.
Some portable induction cooktops are compatible with pots/pans as small as 4” in diameter, others start at 5” across. And the upper range tends to snag at 10” in diameter, but not all cooktops will actually heat the entire thing. Something else to look at if you cook with large pots and pans often.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.