Who each type suits

Solo cooks short on worktop space

If you usually make soup in one saucepan, a portable one-zone hob can be brought out for cooking and stored afterwards. The trade-off is that you cannot heat a second pan on it at the same time.

Regular soup cooks who want more control

If you make soup often, a timer, selectable power levels or a soup programme may be useful alongside the portability of a single cooking zone. Check what the particular model offers rather than assuming every portable hob has these controls.

People fitting a permanent kitchen

If you are replacing a fitted hob or regularly cook with several pans, a built-in multi-zone model may suit your wider routine. Its extra zones offer little direct benefit when the task is just one saucepan of soup.

What matters when choosing

Compact portable hob

Choose it when: One saucepan is your usual setup and you need to store the hob between uses.

Trade-off: One cooking zone cannot heat another pan at the same time.

Portable hob with more controls

Choose it when: You still want one portable zone but value settings or programmes for repeat soup cooking.

Trade-off: Check the pan-size rules as well as the controls: Tefal specifies a 12–25 cm pan-base range for its IH201840.

Built-in multi-zone hob

Choose it when: You are fitting a permanent kitchen and regularly need to cook with more than one pan.

Trade-off: A fitted four-zone hob occupies permanent space without adding much to a one-pan soup routine.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Space and portability Check whether the hob is portable and whether its size and cable position suit your available worktop and storage space. If I make one pot of soup and need the worktop for other tasks afterwards, I would rather put the hob away than keep extra zones in place. Around 39% of consumers put compact, stowable cooking first.
Saucepan fit Confirm that the pan base is magnetic, then compare its base diameter with the exact hob’s stated requirements. I want to keep using my small soup saucepan, so whether its base works on the hob is my deciding factor. For around 38% of consumers, cookware fit is the primary concern.
Heat control and everyday use Compare documented power settings, timer operation and relevant programmes; check any safety controls on the exact model. When I cook soup regularly, I want controls that let me adjust the heat after boiling without relying on maximum output. Around 23% of consumers place control and everyday-use features first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Buying the hob before checking the saucepan

    A non-magnetic pan will not work on an induction zone, and a small base may fall outside a model’s stated size range.

    Check the base with a magnet and measure its diameter against the exact hob’s instructions before ordering.

    If the existing saucepan does not fit, you will need a different induction-compatible pan to use that hob.

  • Choosing by maximum wattage alone

    Maximum output does not tell you how much control you will have once the soup reaches a boil.

    Compare documented lower power settings, timer operation and any soup or stew programmes on the models you are considering.

  • Leaving the cable in the cooking area

    Water, hot surfaces and trailing leads make placement important for a portable electrical appliance. IKEA’s TILLREDA manual says not to use extension cords or run its cord across working areas.

    Use a stable surface away from the sink, keep the lead clear of hot surfaces and work areas, and follow the exact hob’s electrical instructions.

  • Choosing four zones for a one-pan task

    A fitted four-zone hob serves a wider cooking routine, but its additional zones do not improve a single saucepan of broccoli soup.

    Consider a built-in model if your permanent kitchen setup or other meals call for several pans; otherwise, compare portable one-zone options first.

Brands to consider for these hob types

IKEA

IKEA’s TILLREDA 704.935.03 illustrates a compact, portable one-zone option for smaller kitchens.

  • IKEA lists a 2,000 W, 175 mm induction zone, plug-in use and a child lock for this model.
  • It heats one pan at a time and requires magnetic cookware; check the saucepan against the zone and follow the model’s handling instructions.

Tefal

Tefal’s portable Everyday IH201840 is a one-zone option with stated soup and stew programmes.

  • Tefal lists nine power levels from 450 W to 2,100 W and a two-hour timer for the IH201840.
  • Its stated 12–25 cm pan-base range means a smaller saucepan needs checking before purchase.

Judge

Judge’s portable JEA90 offers selectable temperatures rather than named soup programmes.

  • Judge lists 2,000 W and ten selectable temperatures from 60°C to 240°C for the JEA90.
  • Judge’s manual requires magnetic cookware and says pans with a base under 12 cm are unsuitable.

Bosch

Bosch’s PUG61RAA5B illustrates the built-in route for a kitchen that needs more than a portable soup hob.

  • Bosch lists four cooking zones on this 60 cm model, along with Plug & Play, PowerBoost, QuickStart and ChildLock.
  • A fitted four-zone layout is a larger permanent setup than one saucepan of soup calls for on its own.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Will my saucepan work on an induction hob?

It needs a magnetic, induction-compatible base that fits the particular hob’s pan-size requirements. If compatibility is unclear, test the base with a magnet and measure its diameter: Tefal specifies 12–25 cm for the IH201840, while Judge says a base under 12 cm is unsuitable for its portable model.

Is a 2,000 W portable induction hob too powerful for soup?

Not necessarily; the more useful check is how you can lower and adjust the heat after boiling. Tefal lists nine levels from 450 W to 2,100 W, a timer and soup and stew programmes for its IH201840, so compare the actual controls on any model you are considering.

Can I use a portable induction hob beside the sink or with an extension lead?

Keep the hob and its lead away from water and place it on a flat, stable surface. IKEA’s TILLREDA manual specifically says not to connect that hob with extension cords or place its cord across working areas; follow the instructions for your exact model.

Where can I check whether a hob has been recalled?

Check the Office for Product Safety and Standards’ product safety alerts, reports and recalls service on GOV.UK. Use the hob’s brand and model details to identify whether an alert applies to your appliance.