Hobs for Red Lentil Soup for One: Induction or Hotplate?

Who is choosing a portable hob?

Solo cooks managing a simmer

If you regularly cook a small saucepan of lentils, look beyond the maximum power figure: you also need a way to lower the heat once the soup boils.

Small-kitchen cooks who put the hob away

A single cooking zone may suit a kitchen where the appliance is stored between meals. Check its dimensions against both the worktop and the intended storage space.

Cooks hoping to keep their current saucepan

Check cookware before settling on induction. VonShef advises looking for an induction symbol on the pan, while individual hobs can also specify a supported pan-size range.

What matters when buying?

Portable induction hob

Consider it when: Your saucepan is induction-compatible and you want a documented manual setting for reducing power after the soup boils.

Check before choosing: Cookware and pan-size requirements vary by model; Tefal specifies a 12cm to 26cm induction-pan range for the IH210840.

Cast-iron electric hotplate

Consider it when: You prefer a portable hob with straightforward dial control and can manage the plate’s retained heat while simmering.

Allow for: Duronic says the plate on its HP1 BK retains temperature for longer, so lowering the dial may not promptly lower the heat reaching the pan.

For a one-person pot of red lentil soup, check whether your saucepan works with the hob, how you will lower the heat after boiling, and where the appliance will go between meals.

Concern	What to check	Who this matters to
Low-heat control	Compare the lowest stated manual power setting and available simmer or slow-cook controls; a maximum wattage alone does not describe low-heat control.	When I bring a small pot of lentils to the boil, I want to turn the heat down for the simmer. Around 42% of consumers put low-heat control first.
Saucepan compatibility	For induction, check the pan for an induction symbol and compare its diameter with the chosen hob’s stated range.	If I want to keep using my saucepan, I need to know whether it will work on the hob I choose. Roughly 33% of consumers prioritise using their current pan.
Worktop and storage space	Compare the appliance’s footprint and thickness with the places where you will use and store it.	When the hob must be put away after cooking, I need it to fit the cupboard as well as the worktop. About 25% of consumers put compact storage first.

Buying pitfalls to avoid

Assuming every saucepan works with induction

An induction hob may not heat a saucepan that lacks the required compatibility, even if the pan fits on its surface.

Check for an induction symbol on the pan, then compare its size with the requirements for the exact hob. If you intend to keep an incompatible saucepan, reconsider the hob type or allow for a compatible pan.
Choosing by maximum wattage alone

Bringing lentils to the boil is only part of making soup; you also need to reduce the heat for simmering. A maximum-power figure does not tell you what lower settings are available.

Compare documented manual power ranges and any simmer or slow-cook functions, without treating those specifications as proof of simmer performance.
Expecting a cast-iron plate to cool as soon as the dial is lowered

Duronic says the cast-iron plate on its HP1 BK retains temperature for longer. The soup can therefore keep receiving heat after you reduce the setting.

Adjust the dial with that retained heat in mind, and follow the appliance’s handling and cooling instructions.
Overlooking plug condition

In a 2025 product safety report, the Office for Product Safety and Standards identified a particular induction cooker with a non-conforming, suspected counterfeit fuse and assessed it as presenting a serious fire risk. That finding concerns the reported product, not induction hobs generally.

For use in Great Britain, choose equipment supplied for the GB market, inspect the appliance and plug on arrival, and do not use one that appears damaged or suspect.

Relevant brands and models

Tefal

The Everyday Slim IH210840 is a single-zone portable induction model that Tefal positions for small kitchens.

Tefal specifies seven manual power levels from 300W to 2,100W, plus slow-cook and stew functions.
Tefal states a 12cm to 26cm range for induction-compatible pans; those model-specific specifications do not establish how steadily it will simmer soup.

VonShef

VonShef lists a single portable induction hob with a stated maximum power of 2,000W.

Its published specifications include ten power settings from 200W to 2,000W.
VonShef advises checking the pan for an induction symbol before purchase; the stated settings are not a like-for-like simmer test against other hobs.

Duronic

The HP1 BK is a single-ring, dial-controlled cast-iron electric hotplate with a manufacturer-stated 1,500W rating.

Duronic describes its 18.7cm ring as suitable for boiling and simmering.
Duronic says the plate retains temperature for longer, which calls for attention when reducing heat or putting the appliance away.

Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Will my current saucepan work on a portable induction hob?

It must be induction-compatible and meet the chosen hob’s pan-size requirements. VonShef advises checking for an induction symbol; for the Tefal IH210840 specifically, Tefal states a 12cm to 26cm induction-pan range.

Is a higher-power hob better for red lentil soup?

Not on that figure alone: soup also calls for a manageable simmer after boiling. Tefal specifies manual settings from 300W to 2,100W for the IH210840, while VonShef specifies 200W to 2,000W for its listed single induction hob; compare the controls you would use at lower heat rather than assuming either specification proves better simmering.

What electrical safety checks matter when buying a hob for use in Great Britain?

Choose an appliance supplied for the GB market and inspect the hob and plug for damage or anything suspect before use. The Office for Product Safety and Standards states that the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 set requirements for electrical equipment placed on the Great Britain market; its 2025 report on a particular induction cooker also identified a serious fire risk associated with a non-conforming, suspected counterfeit fuse. That report does not establish a problem with every portable hob.

Does a portable hob need annual PAT testing?

Annual portable appliance testing is not a blanket legal requirement. The Health and Safety Executive makes this distinction in its guidance on electrical equipment in work settings; if you use a hob at work, follow the applicable workplace arrangements as well as the maker’s instructions.