Gravy cooks with induction-ready pans
If you already have a magnetic saucepan, an induction hob lets you choose settings for softening onions and then simmering or reducing gravy. Check the pan size against the particular hob before choosing it.
Who is a portable hob for?
Shared-kitchen cooks using mixed cookware
If you cannot count on the communal pans having magnetic bases, a ceramic hob offers a way to use a wider range of pan materials. You will need to allow its surface to cool before cleaning or putting it away.
Space- and socket-conscious flatmates
If the hob will be brought out only when needed, consider where it can stand safely, how its lead will reach a suitable socket and where it can be stored after cooling.
What matters when choosing one?
Single-zone induction
Choose it when: Your saucepan has a magnetic base and fits the hob’s supported pan-size range; models such as the Tefal IH210840 offer adjustable power and a timer.
Trade-off: A non-magnetic shared pan will not work properly, so cookware compatibility comes before control features.
Single-zone ceramic
Choose it when: You need to use existing pans made from different materials; Cooks Professional states that its single ceramic hob accepts cast iron, stainless steel, aluminium and copper.
Trade-off: The ceramic surface becomes hot and must cool before you wipe down or store the hob.
| Concern | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pan fit and heat control | For induction, test the saucepan base with a magnet and check its diameter. Compare the model’s adjustable settings with how you plan to fry onions and simmer gravy. | If my existing saucepan will not heat on the hob, its controls are no use for this gravy; around 40% of consumers would put pan compatibility and heat control first. |
| Shared-kitchen safety | Check the appliance and lead, the available socket capacity and the rules for your accommodation. Plan to remain nearby while cooking. | In a kitchen with several appliances competing for sockets, I need a safe place to plug in and use the hob; around 30% of consumers would make this their primary concern. |
| Cleaning and storage | Measure the usable worktop and storage space. Check the hob’s dimensions, lead length and cooling requirements. | If I have to clear the communal worktop after making gravy, the hob must fit away once it is cool; for around 20% of consumers, cleaning and storage would come first. |
| A second cooking zone | For a double cooker, check its footprint, total electrical rating, individual-zone controls and supported pan sizes. | If another pan needs to be on the heat at the same time, one zone may not meet my cooking needs; roughly 10% of consumers would prioritise two-pan capacity. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Buying induction before checking the saucepan
An induction hob needs a magnetic pan base, and the Tefal portable models discussed here specify a 12cm–26cm pan-size range.
Test the base with a magnet and compare its diameter with the exact model’s guidance. If the shared pans are unknown, consider whether ceramic better suits the cookware you already use.
Choosing induction may also mean obtaining a compatible saucepan.
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Treating a spare extension block as unlimited capacity
Electrical Safety First warns that overloaded extension equipment can overheat, while Home Office guidance for shared or rented accommodation advises against overloading sockets.
Use a suitable wall socket where possible. If an extension is unavoidable, check its marked rating against everything connected to it, do not daisy-chain extensions and fully unwind a cable reel.
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Choosing two zones without measuring the worktop
A double cooker allows two pans to be used at once but takes up more communal preparation space.
Measure a stable, heat-resistant position away from the sink and combustible clutter. Check the particular cooker’s zone controls and pan limits before choosing it for gravy and a second dish.
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Relying on a timer instead of staying nearby
A timer or auto-off feature does not replace supervision while onions fry or gravy reduces. Electrical Safety First warns against leaving electrical appliances on and unattended in the kitchen.
Stay nearby while the hob is in use, treating any timer or auto-off function as an additional safeguard.
Portable-hob brands to consider
Tefal
Tefal’s portable induction models are relevant if you have a compatible saucepan and want adjustable controls for one-pan cooking.
- Tefal specifies the IH201840 at 2100W with cooking programmes and the slim IH210840 at 2100W with adjustable power, pause and auto-off.
- These induction models require magnetic cookware within the stated 12cm–26cm pan-size range.
Cooks Professional
Its single ceramic hob is a route for cooks who want to keep using pans made from different materials.
- Cooks Professional specifies a 2000W hob with a 17.5cm cooking zone and a dial marked from 110°C to 160°C.
- The ceramic surface heats up; the maker’s stated pan size for best use is up to 22cm.
Geepas
The Geepas GCP32026UK is a portable double ceramic cooker to consider when two pans genuinely need heat at the same time.
- Geepas lists the double cooker with a 2000W total rating.
- Before choosing it for gravy, check the individual-zone controls, supported pan sizes and space available on the shared worktop.
Portable induction hob on Joybuy
This single-zone induction option is for cooking onion gravy in a magnetic saucepan. Check the saucepan’s size and the hob’s lower settings if gentle frying and simmering will determine your choice.
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ochama 2000W Portable Induction Hob, 10 Power Settings
Consider this single-zone hob if your gravy saucepan has a ferromagnetic base. Its listed features include 2000W power, touch controls, 10 power settings, six functions and a safety lock.
Check the supported pan size and whether its lower settings suit the way you cook onions and simmer gravy. Allow the glass panel to cool before cleaning or storage, and confirm that the hob and its lead will fit your shared-kitchen worktop and socket arrangement.
Questions about shared-kitchen hobs
Can I use any saucepan on a portable induction hob?
No. Induction needs a magnetic pan base; a magnet that sticks firmly to the base is a useful initial check. Standard aluminium needs a bonded magnetic base to work, and you should also check the pan-size range of the exact hob. Tefal specifies 12cm–26cm for the portable models discussed here.
Is a ceramic hob more practical when shared pans are mixed?
A ceramic hob can be more practical if you cannot rely on the shared pans being induction-compatible. Cooks Professional states that its single ceramic model works with cast iron, stainless steel, aluminium and copper; its surface must cool before cleaning or storage.
Can a portable hob run from an extension lead?
Use one only when the hob and all other connected appliances stay within the extension’s marked rating. Electrical Safety First advises against overloading or daisy-chaining extension equipment and says cable reels should be fully unwound. A suitable wall socket is preferable where available.
What should I check before using a hob near the shared sink?
Place the hob and its lead away from water, check that both are in good condition and do not handle electrical equipment with wet hands. Electrical Safety First advises keeping kitchen socket outlets and switches a safe distance from the sink where possible; stay nearby whenever the hob is on.