Choose a single-zone induction hob for closely supervised caramel sauce if your saucepan is induction-compatible and you want stated power or temperature settings; check its base diameter against the hob’s pan range. A ceramic hot plate is an alternative for non-magnetic cookware, while a two-zone model makes more sense when another dish needs heat at the same time. The extra zone takes more worktop space, and a ceramic surface remains hot after cooking.
If you want to change the heat as the sauce cooks, look for stated power or temperature settings and check that your saucepan fits the hob. Tefal UK and Judge Cookware document different adjustment options on their portable induction models; neither removes the need to stay with the pan.
If your pan has a non-magnetic base, check it before choosing induction. Judge Cookware’s induction guidance requires a magnetisable or induction-ready base, while B&Q’s Geepas ceramic listings describe broader cookware compatibility.
If the caramel sauce and another dish need heat simultaneously, compare separately controlled zones with the space available on your worktop. B&Q and Tesco Groceries Marketplace list double ceramic models, but pan-size limits still need checking for each zone.
Start with the saucepan you intend to use, then decide whether the sauce needs its own zone or must share worktop space with the rest of the meal. Whichever hob you choose, adjustable settings are a way to manage heat, not a substitute for watching the sauce.
Choose it when: Your saucepan is induction-compatible and one adjustable cooking zone is enough for the sauce.
Trade-off: A non-magnetic pan without an induction-ready base will not work.
Choose it when: Keeping a non-induction saucepan matters more than choosing an induction model.
Trade-off: Check the exact model’s heat controls, and allow for its hot surface after cooking.
Choose it when: You need to heat the sauce and another pan independently during the meal.
Trade-off: The second zone requires more worktop space, and the two zones may have different pan-size limits.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustable heat | Look for stated power or temperature settings and check how they can be changed manually. Tefal UK states nine power levels for the IH201840; Judge Cookware states ten selectable temperatures for the JEA90. | When making a sauce that can overheat quickly, I want to adjust the hob while staying beside the pan; around 36% of consumers put supervised heat adjustment first. |
| Saucepan compatibility | Check whether the base is induction-ready and compare its diameter with the hob’s stated pan range. Judge Cookware specifies a minimum 12cm base for the JEA90. | I would rather keep my existing non-magnetic saucepan than replace it to use induction; cookware compatibility comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| A second cooking zone | Check for separate zone controls, each zone’s pan-size limit and enough clear worktop space for the whole unit. | If another part of the family meal needs a pan at the same time as the sauce, I need two independently usable zones; around 21% of consumers prioritise that capacity. |
| Electrical setup | Check the exact model’s plug and electrical details, inspect its lead and avoid overloading sockets or extensions. Electrical Safety First advises against overloaded or daisy-chained extensions. | Before comparing cooking controls, I want a traceable appliance that I can connect without an overloaded extension; safe electrical setup is the first concern for around 14% of consumers. |
An unsuitable base may prevent an induction hob from heating, and a small pan may fall below the model’s minimum size. Judge Cookware specifies a 12cm minimum base for the JEA90.
Test the outside base with a magnet, then compare its diameter with the exact hob’s instructions before ordering.
If your current pan is not induction-compatible, you will need access to a suitable saucepan to use an induction hob.
A maximum power rating does not tell you how the hob adjusts at lower settings. Tefal UK specifies power levels for the IH201840, while Judge Cookware specifies selectable temperatures for the JEA90; those are different types of control specification.
Check the adjustment method on the exact model and stay with the pan while making caramel sauce.
A second zone is useful only if the unit, both pans and their handles can sit in a clear, stable space. The Cooks Professional double ceramic hob listed by Tesco Groceries Marketplace measures 64cm by 30cm.
Measure the usable surface and check both zones’ pan limits and cable route before choosing a double model.
An Office for Product Safety and Standards report from August 2025 identified a particular induction cooker whose nonconforming plug fuse presented a serious fire risk. That finding concerns the reported product, not every portable hob.
Choose a listing that identifies the model and electrical details. Inspect the plug and lead before use, and stop using the appliance if you notice damage, scorching, sparks or a burning smell.
Tefal’s IH201840 is a single-zone induction option for a compatible saucepan.
Judge’s JEA90 is a single-zone induction option for cooks who prefer stated temperature selections.
The Geepas ceramic hot plates listed by B&Q provide single- and double-zone alternatives to induction.
This single-zone induction option is relevant if you have an induction-compatible saucepan and can stay with the pan while making the sauce.
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For closely supervised sauce making with an induction-compatible pan, this single-zone hob offers a choice of heat settings.
The listing states 2000W, ten power settings, touch controls and six functions. Check the supported pan-base diameter against your saucepan, and confirm the plug and electrical details for the exact listing before buying.
It will need a magnetisable or specially constructed induction base, and its base must fit the hob’s stated size range. Judge Cookware’s JEA90 instructions specify a minimum 12cm base; a magnet sticking firmly to the outside base is a useful preliminary check, followed by the pan and hob instructions.
A ceramic hot plate is an alternative if keeping those pans is your priority. B&Q’s Geepas double ceramic listing describes compatibility with multiple cookware types, but check the exact model’s pan sizes and heat controls before choosing it.
No: stay with the pan and adjust the heat as needed. Tefal’s IH201840 guidance says not to leave the appliance unattended, and its listed functions should not be treated as caramel-specific programmes.
Only use an extension arrangement after checking its marked rating and the combined load connected to it. Electrical Safety First advises against overloading or daisy-chaining extensions and says cable reels should be fully unwound; a wall socket avoids those extension-specific checks where one is practical.
Check that the listing identifies the exact model and its electrical specification, then inspect the plug and lead before use. Office for Product Safety and Standards guidance covers electrical equipment placed on the Great Britain market under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and notes that some provisions apply differently in Northern Ireland; a product title alone does not establish compliance.