Who is this for?

Single-pot shared-kitchen cooks

You make soup in one saucepan and want to clear the worktop afterwards. A compact footprint, controls for gentler cooking and straightforward storage matter more to you than a second cooking zone.

Buyers keeping an existing saucepan

You want to establish whether your soup pan has a magnetic base of the right size before choosing a hob. Pan requirements vary by model: Tefal UK specifies a 12–25 cm base range for IH201840, while Judge says bases under 12 cm are unsuitable for JEA90.

People coordinating a shared kitchen

You need a place to cook without trailing leads, overloading sockets or leaving heating unattended. You also need to establish whether the accommodation provider or household permits a personal cooking appliance.

What matters when choosing?

Portable single-zone hob

Choose it when: One saucepan is your usual task and the worktop must be cleared after cooking.

Trade-off: You cannot heat a second pan at the same time.

Portable two-zone hob

Choose it when: You regularly need a second pan alongside the soup.

Trade-off: Allow for more worktop space and the appliance's stated electrical load; IKEA UK rates its two-zone TILLREDA at 2,800 W and 13 A.

Installed kitchen hob

Choose it when: The shared kitchen already has a usable hob, or the property operator is arranging a permanent installation.

Trade-off: Adding an installed hob is a property and installation decision, not a substitute for getting permission to use a personal plug-in appliance.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Worktop space and storage Measure the clear, stable surface and plan where the lead will run. IKEA UK lists its one-zone TILLREDA at 27 × 30.5 cm. I need to put the hob away so other people can use the worktop; roughly 29% of consumers put space and portability first.
Saucepan compatibility Test the pan base with a magnet, then measure it against the exact hob's requirements. Tefal UK specifies 12–25 cm for IH201840; Judge excludes bases under 12 cm for JEA90. Keeping my existing soup pan is the deciding condition, rather than choosing a hob and changing cookware afterwards. Around 29% of consumers prioritise pan compatibility.
Simmering controls Look for documented lower-power or selectable-temperature settings and a timer. Tefal UK lists nine power levels from 450 W to 2,100 W and a two-hour timer for IH201840. After bringing soup to a boil, I want a control I can adjust for the gentler cooking stage; about 21% of consumers place simmering control first.
Shared-kitchen safeguards Confirm permission and a suitable socket location before buying. For the two-zone TILLREDA, IKEA UK states a 2,800 W connection rating and 13 A current. If the socket position or house rules make a personal hob impractical, its cooking features will not decide my purchase. Roughly 21% of consumers put these shared-kitchen safeguards first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying a hob before checking the saucepan

    A portable induction hob needs suitable magnetic-base cookware, and a pan that is too small for the chosen model may also be unsuitable. Judge's JEA90 manual, for example, excludes bases under 12 cm.

    Test the base with a magnet and measure the base rather than the rim, then compare both results with the exact model's instructions.

    If the soup pan fails either check, you may need a compatible saucepan.

  • Choosing two zones for a one-pan task

    A second zone is useful when another pan must be heated at the same time, but it also changes the space and electrical-use checks. IKEA UK gives its two-zone TILLREDA a 2,800 W connection rating and 13 A current.

    If you normally make soup in one pot, compare single-zone models first. For two-zone cooking, check the worktop and socket arrangement rather than assuming a shared outlet or extension lead is suitable.

  • Assuming an unfamiliar listing has a suitable plug

    The Office for Product Safety and Standards reported an induction cooker with a serious fire risk because its plug lacked a conforming BS 1362 fuse link. That report concerns the identified product, not portable hobs as a group.

    Check that the listing is intended for your destination, inspect the plug and lead before use, and consult current safety alerts if the product or seller is unfamiliar.

  • Leaving soup unattended because the hob has a timer

    A timer or pan detector does not replace switching the appliance off. IKEA's TILLREDA manual says to use the hob control rather than rely on pan detection, and Electrical Safety First advises against leaving electrical appliances on unattended.

    Stay nearby while cooking, use the timer as a reminder and switch the hob off at its control when finished.

Brands with relevant portable models

Tefal

Tefal's Everyday IH201840 is a single-zone option with a soup function listed in its product description.

  • Tefal UK lists nine power levels from 450 W to 2,100 W, a two-hour timer and a 12–25 cm supported pan-base range.
  • It heats one pan at a time, and a saucepan outside the stated base range is not a suitable match. Tefal's 10-year repairability statement is a brand commitment, not an independent durability result.

IKEA

IKEA's portable TILLREDA range offers a one-zone format for a single saucepan and a two-zone format for simultaneous pans.

  • IKEA UK lists a 2,000 W zone and 27 × 30.5 cm dimensions for the one-zone model. Its two-zone model has 1,500 W and 2,000 W zones.
  • Both formats require magnetic-base cookware. The two-zone model has a 2,800 W connection rating and 13 A current, so its placement and socket arrangement need particular attention in a shared kitchen.

Judge

Judge's JEA90 is a tabletop single-zone hob with selectable temperatures rather than a documented soup preset.

  • Judge lists ten selectable temperatures from 60°C to 240°C and dimensions of 31 × 27 × 5 cm.
  • The JEA90 manual requires magnetisable cookware and identifies pan bases under 12 cm as unsuitable.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Will my existing saucepan work on a portable induction hob?

It can work if its base is magnetic and meets the chosen hob's size requirements. Test the base with a magnet and measure it: Tefal UK specifies 12–25 cm for IH201840, while Judge says bases under 12 cm are unsuitable for JEA90.

Is one cooking zone enough for leek soup?

One zone is enough when you make the soup in a single saucepan. Consider a two-zone model if you regularly need another pan at the same time, but check its worktop footprint and electrical rating; IKEA UK lists 2,800 W and 13 A for its two-zone TILLREDA.

Can I use a portable induction hob with an extension lead?

Do not assume an extension lead is suitable for a cooking appliance. Electrical Safety First advises against overloading sockets and extension leads; check the hob's instructions and arrange a suitable, dry socket location before use.

Can I bring my own induction hob into shared accommodation?

Check the property's rules with the landlord, accommodation provider or house manager before bringing in a personal hob. Government guidance on landlords' electrical-installation duties in England does not itself grant permission to use a personal cooking appliance, and accommodation arrangements differ.