Choose a portable induction hob if you cook potato curry in one pan and want to put the appliance away afterwards. A built-in hob makes more sense if you regularly need several pans at once and have a suitable worktop and electrical setup. Whichever route you take, check that your curry pan has a flat, magnetic base and fits the chosen hob’s stated pan-size range.
If your curry fits in one saucepan or sauté pan and you need to clear the worktop afterwards, a portable hob is the relevant option. Compare its storage size and stated pan-size range with the space and cookware you have.
Frying aromatics and then simmering potatoes in sauce calls for usable manual settings at both stages. Check the controls and your pan’s compatibility before prioritising extra cooking zones.
If one-person curry is only part of what you cook, several zones may be useful for preparing other dishes alongside it. A built-in model also needs to suit the worktop opening and the installation specified for that exact appliance.
Start with the number of pans you normally use at once, then check where the hob will go and whether your curry pan fits it.
Choose it when: One pan is enough and you want to store the hob after cooking.
Trade-off: You cannot heat a second pan on the same hob while the curry cooks.
Choose it when: You want a permanent multi-zone layout and the exact model suits your worktop and supply.
Trade-off: It takes up permanent worktop space even when you cook with just one pan.
Choose it when: You regularly use several pans or larger cookware beyond one-person meals.
Trade-off: Check the required cut-out and electrical installation before committing to a fitted model.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Space and installation | Compare portable storage dimensions or, for a built-in model, its installation method and required worktop cut-out. | If I make curry in one pan and need the worktop back afterwards, I would put storage ahead of extra zones. Around 46% of consumers with this curry-cooking need put space and installation first. |
| Frying and simmering control | Look for manual power settings, including lower settings, and check whether a timer is provided. | When I move from frying spices to simmering potatoes, I want to adjust the heat without relying on an automatic programme. For around 36% of consumers, that control is the primary concern. |
| Pan fit and wider cooking needs | Check for a flat magnetic pan base within the model’s stated size range; match zone count to the pans you use together. | I also prepare food alongside the curry, so room for another pan matters more to me than storing the hob away. Multi-pan capacity comes first for around 18% of consumers. |
Induction needs cookware with a magnetic base. A pan’s rim diameter also tells you little about whether its base fits the hob’s stated range.
Test the base with a magnet, check that it sits flat, and compare its base diameter with the exact hob’s instructions.
If your current pan is unsuitable, you may need another induction-compatible pan.
Installation differs by model: Neff describes its T36FBE1L0G as Plug&Play, while AEG lists the TO84IB00FB as hardwired only and specifies a built-in cut-out.
Read the installation sheet before ordering, including its worktop and electrical requirements, and seek qualified installation advice where appropriate.
A hardwired choice can also involve electrical work or changes to the worktop.
Tefal warns that a small quantity of liquid can boil dry before the IH201840 automatic boil cycle finishes. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service advises against leaving pans unattended.
Reduce the setting when the curry reaches a simmer, use a timer as a reminder if available, and stay nearby while it cooks.
A 2025 Office for Product Safety and Standards report identified a particular portable induction cooker with a suspected counterfeit, non-compliant plug as presenting a serious fire risk. The report does not describe portable hobs as a whole.
Check the model and plug of the appliance you receive, keep its purchase details and check safety notices for that exact product.
Tefal’s Everyday IH201840 and Everyday Slim IH210840 are portable, single-zone models for cooking with one pan.
Neff’s N30 T36FBE1L0G is a 60 cm, four-zone built-in option for a permanent cooking area.
Bosch offers built-in induction hobs in several widths; its 60 cm PUE611BB5B is a four-zone example.
This portable hob is relevant if you plan to make potato curry in one pan and put the appliance away afterwards. Check its fit with your pan and the controls you need for simmering.
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A portable option to consider when you cook curry in one pan and need to clear the worktop afterwards.
Its stated features include 2000 W power, 10 power settings, six functions and touch controls.
Before choosing it, check the supported pan-base diameter and whether its lower settings and any timer meet your simmering needs. Use a flat, magnetic-base pan and remain nearby while cooking.
It will work only if its base is magnetic and fits the chosen hob’s requirements. AEG recommends placing a magnet against the pan base: a strong stick indicates magnetic compatibility. Check that the base is flat and compare its diameter with the hob’s stated range.
Use the size range specified for the exact hob and measure the pan’s base rather than just its rim. Tefal lists both the Everyday IH201840 and Everyday Slim IH210840 for induction pans from 12 cm to 26 cm; another portable model may have different requirements.
The answer depends on the appliance and the work involved: Neff describes the T36FBE1L0G as Plug&Play, while AEG specifies a hardwired connection for the TO84IB00FB. For fixed electrical work in England, GOV.UK’s Approved Document P covers safety in dwellings. Follow the exact model’s installation instructions and check the requirements where you live rather than assuming one approach applies throughout the UK.
No. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service advises not leaving pans unattended and taking them off the heat if you leave the room. A timer can remind you to check the curry, but it does not replace supervision; Tefal also warns that small liquid quantities may boil dry during the IH201840 automatic boil programme.