Choose a portable induction hob if you need a removable place to cook and your soup pot is induction-compatible. A plug-in built-in induction hob suits an approved fitted kitchen, while a hardwired ceramic hob belongs in a planned permanent installation. Before buying, check the pot, the exact model’s electrical connection and the shared kitchen’s installation rules.
If you cannot alter the worktop and have an induction-compatible pot, a portable hob lets you cook soup without fitting a permanent appliance. Ciarra’s two-zone portable model is one example if you also want a separate zone for preparing ingredients.
A built-in hob makes sense when the worktop and electrical connection suit the chosen model and the installation has been approved. In England, Shelter advises tenants to obtain their landlord’s permission before making improvements.
If the soup pot is not suitable for induction, consider whether a fitted ceramic hob suits the wider kitchen plans instead. The installation still needs checking: AEG’s HRX64360CB ceramic model, for example, is hardwired only.
Choose when: You need to put the hob away after cooking and have a suitable place near an appropriate socket.
Trade-off: The soup pot must suit induction; Ciarra specifies a 12–26 cm pan diameter for its CUTIH2-OW model.
Choose when: An approved fitted installation matters more than being able to clear the shared worktop after use.
Trade-off: Plug-in does not mean portable. Neff also says its plug-and-play hob can share power across active zones when its total output limit is reached.
Choose when: The kitchen operator is planning a permanent fitted installation and induction cookware is not the preferred constraint.
Trade-off: AEG specifies hardwiring and a worktop cut-out for its HRX64360CB; it is not a tabletop addition.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Removable setup | Check whether the hob can sit on a suitable worktop without alteration, and follow its socket and placement instructions. | I need to make soup without changing a shared kitchen that I cannot alter. Around 36% of consumers would put a removable setup first. |
| Soup-pot compatibility | For induction, check the pot’s base and the exact model’s supported pan diameter. | Keeping my existing stockpot matters more than choosing a particular hob format. Pot compatibility would be the first concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cooking on multiple zones | Check the zone count and how the model manages power when zones run together. | I want to prepare ingredients while a pot simmers, without assuming every zone can run at full output at once. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise simultaneous cooking. |
| Permanent installation | Confirm approval, worktop fit and the model’s stated electrical connection before choosing a fitted hob. | Our shared kitchen is being upgraded for long-term use, so a fitted surface matters more than removability. A permanent installation would come first for around 14% of consumers. |
AEG specifies a hardwired connection and a 560 × 490 mm cut-out for its HRX64360CB ceramic hob. It cannot simply be placed on the shared worktop and plugged in.
Check the exact model’s installation instructions before choosing it. For alterations to a rented kitchen in England, obtain the landlord’s permission in writing, as Shelter advises.
A fitted installation can involve worktop alteration and electrical installation work.
An existing pot may not meet an induction hob’s cookware requirements. Ciarra specifies induction pans with a 12–26 cm diameter for its CUTIH2-OW.
Check the pot’s base and measure its diameter against the exact hob’s instructions before buying.
If the existing pot is unsuitable, using that induction hob would require compatible cookware.
Neff says its plug-and-play induction hob shares available power across active zones once the total output limit is reached, which can lengthen cooking time.
If you expect to simmer soup while cooking other ingredients, check the chosen model’s total output and power-management instructions.
Electrical Safety First warns that overloaded extension leads and adaptors can overheat, creating a fire risk.
Follow the hob’s connection instructions, check the load on any extension device and never daisy-chain extensions. Keep leads and electrical connections clear of water and hot cooking areas.
Ciarra’s CUTIH2-OW represents the portable two-zone induction route for a kitchen where the hob needs to be put away.
Bosch has separate fitted induction and radiant ceramic models relevant to a planned kitchen upgrade.
Neff’s T36CA50X1U is a fitted four-zone plug-and-play induction option where the installation has been approved.
AEG’s HRX64360CB represents a permanent, fitted ceramic route rather than a removable cooking station.
These choices include portable induction hobs for a removable cooking space and fitted ceramic or induction hobs for a planned kitchen installation. Check each model against your pot, worktop and electrical provision.
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For a removable soup-cooking setup if your pot is suitable for induction; check the electrical connection before use.
The product name specifies 2,000 W, eight power levels, a 3-hour timer and suitable cookware measuring 12–26 cm.
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Consider this ceramic hob for an approved fitted-kitchen plan rather than a removable place to make soup.
Check its installation instructions for the required worktop opening and electrical connection.
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For a planned fitted kitchen where an approved installation takes priority over a removable hob.
The product name specifies four zones. Check the worktop dimensions and electrical requirements in its installation instructions.
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For a removable setup if the soup pot is induction-compatible; check its supported pan size and electrical connection.
The product name specifies ten power settings, six functions and a safety lock.
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For a planned fitted induction installation, not a plug-in substitute for a portable hob.
The product name identifies this model as hardwired. Check worktop fit, electrical provision and soup-pot compatibility before choosing it.
It will work only if the pot meets the chosen hob’s induction and size requirements. For example, Ciarra specifies induction pans measuring 12–26 cm for its CUTIH2-OW; check your pot’s base against the exact model’s instructions.
Do not assume so. Neff says its plug-and-play hob shares power across active zones after reaching its total output limit, which may lengthen cooking time. Check the power-management instructions for the model you choose.
In England, obtain the landlord’s permission before making improvements, as Shelter advises, and get the agreement in writing. Check the tenancy terms and kitchen operator’s rules before any worktop or electrical alteration; arrangements elsewhere in the UK may differ.
Keep the hob and electrical connections clear of water, follow the appliance’s placement instructions and avoid damaged leads. Electrical Safety First also warns against overloading adaptors or extension leads; do not leave the hob unattended while cooking.