If you can’t make changes to a rented kitchen, start by looking at a portable hob with enough cooking zones for the dishes you prepare at the same time. Induction requires compatible cookware, while a non-induction electric hob may suit different types of cookware. In every case, check the available space, the instructions and the electrical connection requirements before choosing. A freestanding cooker or built-in hob will need a separate installation check.
If you need to put your appliance down, store it away or take it with you without altering the worktop, a portable single-zone hob is worth considering. Measure the space and check the connection instructions before buying.
A portable induction hob may suit you if your saucepans and frying pans have a ferromagnetic base. UFC-Que Choisir points out that induction requires suitable cookware. Also check which pan diameters are supported by the hob you’re considering.
A portable double hob lets you cook on two zones at once without fitting a hob into the worktop. It does need more space, though, and you’ll also need to check the model’s total power against the available electrical connection.
If your kitchen doesn’t have a usable fixed hob, first decide between a portable appliance and a permanent installation, then choose between induction and non-induction heating. Only then should you consider the number of cooking zones, once you’ve checked your cookware, available space and electrical connection.
Consider this if: you want a hob that sits on the worktop and have suitable cookware, with one or two cooking zones to suit the dishes you prepare.
Bear in mind: cookware without a ferromagnetic base won’t work with induction. A double hob also takes up more space than a single one.
Consider this if: your cookware isn’t suitable for induction and you still want an appliance that sits on the worktop.
Bear in mind: radiant or halogen zones heat the ceramic-glass surface. Check the residual-heat warnings for the model you choose.
Consider this only if: a permanent installation suits the available space and electrical connection in your home.
Bear in mind: this isn’t the same as a portable hob that you can set up and plug in temporarily. Electrolux says its cooker must be installed with a suitable electrical connection.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who might prioritise this? |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical connection and power | Compare the rated power and instructions in the manual with the available socket and circuit. If you’re considering using an extension lead with multiple sockets, also check its maximum power rating and which appliances would be plugged into it. | I’d rather confirm how to power the hob before choosing its size or settings, because having a socket nearby doesn’t mean it’s suitable. Around 31% of consumers would make this their first check. |
| Cookware | For induction, test the base of your pans with a magnet and check the materials and diameters allowed in the manual. | If I want to keep using my current saucepans, their compatibility determines which hobs I can consider. This would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space and storage | Measure the available surface and the clearances specified in the manual. Check the overall dimensions and where the cable can reach. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to set the appliance down while still having room to prepare a meal, then store it away if necessary. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise how much space it takes up. |
| Cooking on more than one zone at a time | Work out how many pans you use at once, then compare the number of cooking zones, the space taken up and the total power. | If I regularly cook two things at once, a single zone could limit how I organise a meal. I’d still need enough room and a suitable connection for a double hob, though. Around 19% of consumers would put capacity first. |
A glass surface alone doesn’t tell you how the hob heats. Induction requires a ferromagnetic pan base, unlike radiant or halogen cooking zones.
Check the technology listed for the model and test your cookware with a magnet before choosing induction.
If your cookware isn’t suitable, you may need to replace it to use this technology.
Two cooking zones don’t guarantee that a hob will fit. Severin lists the dimensions of its DK 1031 as 59 × 35,5 cm and its power as 3 400 W. These figures apply to this specific model.
Measure the available space and check the total power and instructions for the double hob you’re considering.
Promotelec warns that overloading can cause overheating and also advises against connecting extension leads in a chain.
Follow the hob’s instructions first. If you’re considering an extension lead with multiple sockets, check its maximum power rating and the combined power of the appliances. Don’t assume it will suit the available connection.
Having sockets in the kitchen doesn’t prove that the space and connection are suitable for a cooker or built-in hob. Electrolux says its cooker must be installed where its electrical connection can be accommodated.
Check the model’s installation requirements and the conditions in your home before choosing this permanent option.
These examples of product ranges and models show some of the different formats available. A feature of one appliance shouldn’t be assumed to apply to every product from that brand.
Tefal describes the Everyday Slim IH210801 as a portable, single-zone induction hob rated at 2 100 W and measuring 45 mm in height.
Severin offers, among other models, the single-zone KP 1071 induction hob, rated at 2 000 W, and the double DK 1031, rated at 3 400 W.
Electrolux’s EKI544200W freestanding induction cooker is an example of a three-zone appliance designed for a permanent position rather than portable use.
These portable hobs cover induction and non-induction electric cooking. Compare each appliance with your cookware, the available space and the connection instructions for the exact model.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two things at once without fitting a hob into the worktop. Check the space required, whether your cookware is compatible and the connection instructions before choosing it.
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Consider this if one cooking zone is enough and your cookware is suitable for induction. Measure the space you have in mind and check the model’s specifications, cable and connection instructions.
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A non-induction option to consider if you want to keep using cookware that isn’t suitable for induction, subject to the materials permitted in the manual. The model name indicates eight temperature settings, eight power settings and a 180-minute timer. Check the residual-heat warnings and connection requirements.
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Worth considering for worktop cooking with induction-compatible cookware. The model name indicates eight heat settings and a 1,5 m cable. Measure the appliance and check the connection instructions before setting aside a space for it.
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Worth considering if you want a hob that sits on the worktop and have suitable cookware. The model name indicates a diameter range of 12 to 26 cm and a three-hour timer. Check the number of cooking zones, the space required and the connection instructions before buying.
They’ll work if their bases are suitable for induction. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this requirement: check that a magnet sticks to the base, then check the materials and diameters accepted in the manual for the hob you choose.
Don’t assume so. Promotelec recommends checking the extension lead’s maximum power rating and the combined power of the appliances, and advises against connecting extension leads in a chain. Also check the hob’s connection instructions.
No. The number of cooking zones doesn’t tell you whether a socket is suitable. Severin lists its DK 1031 double hob at 3 400 W. For any model you’re considering, compare the manual with the specifications of the power supply actually available.
No. A freestanding cooker needs a suitable space and electrical connection. Electrolux says its induction model must be installed where its connection can be accommodated. Check these requirements before choosing it, rather than treating it like a portable hob.