Choose a portable single-zone hob if you cook one stir-fry pan at a time and need to put the appliance away. A compact two-zone built-in hob suits a permanent setup with room for a side pan; a four-zone hob makes more sense if you regularly use several pans and have a suitable worktop opening and electrical connection. Whichever format you choose, check that your pan has a magnetic base and fits the chosen zone.
If you usually make vegetable stir-fry in one pan and need to reclaim the worktop afterwards, a portable single-zone hob is worth considering. If you want a permanent surface instead, check whether a compact built-in model will fit.
A two-zone built-in hob gives you a position for a stir-fry pan and another for a small side pan. Check the worktop cut-out and electrical connection before committing to a fitted model.
If you often cook a stir-fry alongside rice, sauce or another dish, a four-zone layout offers more cooking positions. The larger fitted format also makes the available worktop space and installation requirements more important.
Decide whether storage flexibility, a compact permanent surface or room for several pans is your main priority. Then check cookware fit and the installation requirements of the exact model.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage flexibility | For a portable hob, check the stated pan-base range, where it can stand safely and whether one zone fits your routine. | If I make one-pan stir-fries, I want to clear the worktop after cooking, even if accompaniments take longer. Around 33% of consumers put storage flexibility first. |
| Compact fitted cooking | Compare the cut-out, zone diameters and connection requirements of the exact two-zone model. | I want a permanent hob with a second position for a small pan, without allocating space to four zones. Around 42% of consumers prioritise compact fitted cooking. |
| Multi-pan capacity | Check zone sizes, any bridge or boost function, and the worktop opening and electrical supply required. | When stir-fry is only part of the meal, I need space to cook other pans at the same time. Around 25% of consumers place multi-pan capacity first. |
A hob can fit your cooking routine but not your existing worktop opening or electrical arrangement. Connection requirements differ by model.
Read the exact hob’s cut-out diagram, connection rating and installation instructions before ordering. Seek installation advice if hardwiring is required.
Fitting may also involve changes to the worktop, cabinet or electrical connection.
Induction needs a magnetic pan base, and the usable base diameter must suit the chosen cooking zone. A wide rim does not tell you the size of the base that sits on the hob.
Check the base with a magnet and compare its diameter with the exact model’s cookware guidance.
You may need different cookware if your existing pan is unsuitable for induction.
A single zone can handle a one-pan stir-fry, but rice, noodles or sauce may need to be cooked in succession rather than alongside it.
Choose one zone if that sequence suits your meals; otherwise consider a two- or four-zone layout.
Cooking with fat or oil needs attention. IKEA’s LAGAN manual warns that unattended cooking with fat or oil can result in fire, and Tefal instructs users not to leave its portable cooker unattended while in use.
Stay with the hob while cooking and follow the safety instructions for your exact appliance.
IKEA’s LAGAN 505.061.01 is a compact, permanent two-zone option for a fitted kitchen.
Tefal’s IH201840 is a portable single-zone option for cooking a stir-fry in one pan.
Bosch’s PUE611BB5B is a four-zone built-in model for cooks considering a 60 cm format.
AEG’s 60 cm built-in models are relevant if you need several zones or a bridge function for suitable larger cookware.
These options cover a portable cooker, a compact two-zone built-in hob and 60 cm four-zone built-in hobs. Match the format to your available space and cooking routine before comparing controls or power ratings.
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Consider this fitted format if you want a stir-fry pan and another pan on a narrow cooking surface.
The product name states 2 zones, 2900 W, touch control and 9 power levels.
Check the worktop cut-out and electrical connection instructions before buying; this is not a portable hob.
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This portable single-zone format suits a one-pan stir-fry when you need to move or store the cooker afterwards.
The product name states 10 power settings and 6 functions.
Check that your pan base suits the cooker. One zone means cooking accompaniments separately.
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Consider a four-zone fitted hob if you regularly prepare a stir-fry alongside other pans.
This model is identified as hardwired in its product name. Check the worktop opening, electrical supply and suitable pan-base sizes against its installation documents.
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Four cooking positions suit meals that use a stir-fry pan alongside other pans, provided a 60 cm fitted format works in your kitchen.
The listing describes a hardwired installation. Check its connection instructions, worktop cut-out and zone-specific cookware guidance before ordering.
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This fitted four-zone format is relevant if you need several cooking positions more often than you need to keep the worktop clear.
Check the required cut-out and electrical supply, and confirm which zone suits the base of your stir-fry pan.
It needs a magnetic base, and that base must suit the hob’s stated cookware-size guidance. Test the base with a magnet and measure the part that rests on the cooking surface, rather than the width across the rim.
No: the connection depends on the exact model. IKEA lists its two-zone LAGAN 505.061.01 as a 13A plug-in hob, while AEG identifies the TO64IB00FZ as hardwired only. Check the chosen hob’s rating and installation instructions before buying.
Do not do so with IKEA’s built-in LAGAN: its manual says the appliance must be installed in the built-in structure before use. Follow your exact model’s instructions rather than treating a fitted hob as a portable cooker.
Stop using the appliance and follow its safety instructions. For the IKEA LAGAN, the manual says to switch it off and unplug it from the mains if the glass surface is cracked.
Yes, check the marking and accompanying product information against the requirements that apply to the hob. GOV.UK guidance dated 31 March 2026 says Great Britain continues to recognise CE marking alongside or instead of UKCA marking where the relevant product-regulation requirements are met. Northern Ireland has different market processes, so confirm the applicable requirements separately if delivery is there.