Who is each format for?

One-pot curry cooks

If you sauté vegetables and simmer sauce in the same pan, a single cooking zone may meet your routine while leaving you with an appliance you can put away afterwards. You would need to cook rice or another side dish separately.

Cooks keeping their current pans

Check your curry pot and other frequently used pans before choosing an induction hob. Their bases need to be induction-compatible and within the chosen model's supported size range.

Two-pan meal-prep sharers

If curry and rice or another dish regularly need separate pans at the same time, a portable two-zone format addresses that need. Allow for the worktop space and operating clearances specified for the model.

What matters when choosing a hob?

Decide whether you need one or two active pans, then check cookware, electrical loading and the space available during and after cooking.

Portable single-zone

Choose it when: You cook curry in one compatible pot and want to put the hob away after use.

Trade-off: Curry and rice cannot cook in separate pans on its one zone at the same time.

Portable two-zone

Choose it when: Two pans regularly need to be active together, but the appliance must remain removable.

Trade-off: It needs more clear worktop space than a compact single plate; follow its own ventilation and operating instructions.

Built-in induction

Choose it when: The shared kitchen is being fitted out, permanent work is authorised and the exact installation instructions can be met.

Trade-off: Fitting and ventilation requirements vary by model, as Bosch notes in its installation guidance; a built-in hob is not a removable cooking option.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Safe power access Check the hob's rated load, what else is connected and any extension accessory's marked current rating. Electrical Safety First gives 13 A, or about 3 kW, as the maximum load for a single socket. If other appliances use the same connection, I need to know the hob will not overload it. Around 33% of consumers put safe power access first.
Existing-pan compatibility Test the pan base with a magnet and compare its diameter with the chosen manual. Tefal specifies a 12–26 cm pan range for the IH201840; other models may differ. I want to keep using my curry pot rather than discover it will not work on induction. For around 25% of consumers, compatible cookware is the primary concern.
Curry control and capacity Check the available heat settings and number of zones against your sautéing, simmering and second-pan needs. Tefal lists nine power levels and stew and stir-fry functions for the IH201840. When I move from frying ingredients to simmering sauce, I need controls that suit that method and enough zones for my meal. Around 25% of consumers put cooking control and capacity first.
Space and shared upkeep Measure the worktop and storage space, and follow the model's ventilation and residual-heat instructions. IKEA's TILLREDA manual says its ventilation openings must remain clear. I need to clear the shared worktop after cooking without putting away a hot or awkwardly sized appliance. Compact storage and upkeep come first for around 17% of consumers.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying the hob before checking the curry pot

    An unsuitable pan base may prevent an induction hob from heating it, and a compatible pan can still fall outside a model's supported diameter range.

    Test the pans you use most with a magnet and compare their base sizes with the exact hob manual before choosing a model.

  • Overlooking the load on a shared connection

    A portable induction hob can draw substantial power while other kitchen appliances are connected. Electrical Safety First warns against overloading sockets and extension accessories.

    Check the combined connected load and the accessory's marked rating. Do not daisy-chain extension leads; fully unwind a cable reel when using its full current rating.

  • Expecting one zone to run the whole meal at once

    A single-zone hob can hold the curry pan or a separate rice pan, but not both simultaneously.

    Choose one zone if sequential cooking suits you; consider a portable two-zone format if two active pans are a recurring part of the meal.

  • Applying one built-in model's fitting dimensions to another

    Ventilation openings and clearances depend on the appliance. Bosch states that installation methods and measurements can vary by model.

    Use the installation manual for the exact hob and obtain authorisation before permanent work in a rented or shared kitchen.

    Permanent fitting may also involve alterations to the kitchen or professional fitting.

Brands to consider for these formats

Tefal

Tefal's IH201840 is an example of a portable single-zone induction hob for a removable cooking setup.

  • Tefal lists nine power levels, six cooking functions and support for 12–26 cm pans; its stew and stir-fry functions are relevant to stages of curry preparation.
  • One zone does not allow separate curry and rice pans to cook simultaneously. Tefal notes that boil-programme performance can vary with cookware size and manufacture.

Judge

Judge's JEA90 manual is useful when deciding whether existing pans suit a portable induction hob.

  • The JEA90 manual describes a magnet test and identifies suitable induction cookware, including cast iron and induction-designed stainless steel.
  • The manual excludes pans without a suitable induction base and pans with a base diameter below 12 cm; check the requirements of any other model separately.

IKEA

IKEA's TILLREDA manual covers a portable two-zone induction format for cooking with two pans.

  • Two zones are relevant if curry and a second dish need separate pans during the same cooking session.
  • The TILLREDA manual requires clear ventilation openings and instructs users to switch off with the control rather than rely on pan detection.

Joybuy products for shared-kitchen curry

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Will my current pans work on an induction hob?

They will work if their bases are induction-compatible and meet the chosen hob's pan-size requirements. Judge recommends checking whether a magnet sticks to the base; its JEA90 manual lists cast iron and induction-designed stainless steel as suitable, while glass, ceramic, earthenware, aluminium and copper pans need a specially constructed induction base.

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

Only use one if the combined connected load is within its marked current rating and the hob's instructions permit the arrangement. Electrical Safety First gives about 3 kW as the maximum load for a single socket, warns against daisy-chaining extension leads and advises fully unwinding a cable reel when its full rating is needed.

What should I do after cooking curry on a portable hob?

Switch the hob off using its control and allow for residual heat before cleaning or storing it. IKEA's TILLREDA instructions also call for clear ventilation openings; keep metal utensils and lids off the cooking surface and do not leave the hob unattended while cooking.

Can I fit a built-in induction hob in a rented shared kitchen?

Do not arrange permanent fitting without checking that the work is authorised and that the exact model's installation requirements can be met. In England, government guidance requires landlords covered by the electrical safety rules to have installations inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years, but that duty does not itself authorise a tenant to alter the kitchen. Check your tenancy arrangements and the rules applicable where you live.