Who this choice affects

Hands-on polenta cooks

If you stay with the pan and adjust the heat as you stir, documented manual settings matter more than maximum wattage alone. Tefal publishes a manual power range for its Everyday Slim IH210840.

Cooks with limited counter space

If the hob must be put away after use, compare its width, depth and height with both your worktop and storage space. Tefal publishes the IH210840’s thickness, while IKEA gives dimensions for its one-zone TILLREDA.

Cooks keeping an existing saucepan

If you want to use your current polenta pan, check its base before choosing induction. It needs to be magnetic and meet the chosen hob’s pan-size requirements.

What matters when choosing

Start with the pan and the space available while you cook, then decide whether adjustable heat or a second cooking zone is the more important requirement.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Heat control Check the manual power range and selectable levels; Tefal states 300W–2100W and seven levels for the Everyday Slim IH210840. If I need to adjust the heat while stirring one pan of polenta, I want controls I can change during cooking. Around 36% of consumers put heat control first.
Counter and storage space Measure the usable worktop and storage area, including room for the cable; compare the hob’s width, depth and height. When I have to clear the worktop after cooking, the hob needs to fit where I can store it. For around 29% of consumers, space is the primary concern.
Existing-pan compatibility Check whether the pan base attracts a magnet and fits the exact induction model’s stated size range. I would rather keep using my polenta pan than change cookware to suit a hob. Keeping that pan is the main priority for around 21% of consumers.
A second cooking zone Check that the zones have separate controls, then compare the appliance’s full dimensions with your counter space. If I cook polenta alongside another dish, I may accept a larger hob to use two pans at once. Around 14% of consumers put a second zone first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Choosing induction before checking the pan

    An induction hob needs a magnetic pan base, and compatible pan sizes depend on the model. An existing saucepan may therefore be unsuitable even if it fits physically on the cooking surface.

    Test the base with a magnet and compare its base diameter with the chosen hob’s published requirements. Tefal states a 12 cm to 26 cm induction-pan range for the Everyday Slim IH210840.

    If your existing pan is incompatible, using that induction hob may require another pan.

  • Assuming that portable means it will fit

    A hob must leave you room to stir and prepare food as well as fit where you plan to store it. IKEA lists its one-zone TILLREDA at 27 cm wide by 30.5 cm deep; the Joybuy listing for the two-zone Russell Hobbs 15199 gives dimensions of 28 × 7.8 × 46.8 cm.

    Measure the available worktop and storage space, and allow for the cable route before choosing between the formats.

  • Assuming any extension lead will do

    An overloaded extension lead can overheat, and connection instructions differ by appliance. IKEA’s manual for its two-zone TILLREDA says not to use extension cords.

    Follow the instructions for the exact hob. Avoid daisy-chaining extensions; if that hob’s instructions permit an extension, check its marked current rating and the combined load, as Electrical Safety First advises.

  • Relying on a familiar model name alone

    A product page may identify the right model without offering an item you can currently order. The Joybuy listing for Russell Hobbs 15199 states that it is no longer available.

    Check current availability and the complete model number before ordering, rather than treating a similarly named hob as the same product.

Brands to consider

Tefal

Tefal’s portable single-zone induction range includes the Everyday Slim IH210840.

  • For the IH210840, Tefal states a 45 mm thickness, seven manual power levels from 300W to 2100W, a timer, pause and auto-off.
  • The IH210840 requires a compatible induction pan within its stated 12 cm to 26 cm range. Check its full footprint against your available worktop.

IKEA

IKEA’s one-zone TILLREDA 704.935.03 is a portable induction option with published dimensions.

  • IKEA lists the unit at 27 cm wide by 30.5 cm deep, with a 2000W induction zone, a 140 cm cord and a child lock.
  • It needs magnetic-base cookware and a flat, stable surface. Its zone rating alone does not tell you how its individual settings will suit a stirred dish.

Russell Hobbs

Russell Hobbs lists model 15199 as a portable two-zone mini hob.

  • The Joybuy product listing describes separate controls for its two plates, rated at 1500W and 750W.
  • Its listed 46.8 cm depth needs to fit your cooking and storage space. The Joybuy listing for this model states that it is no longer available.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Can I use my existing saucepan on a portable induction hob?

Yes, if its base is magnetic and meets the exact hob’s pan-size requirements. Tefal states a 12 cm to 26 cm induction-pan range for the Everyday Slim IH210840; check your pan’s base rather than relying on its rim diameter.

Can I plug a portable hob into an extension lead?

Follow the instructions for the exact hob rather than assuming an extension is permitted. IKEA’s two-zone TILLREDA manual prohibits extension cords; where an appliance’s instructions do allow one, Electrical Safety First advises checking the lead’s current rating and avoiding an excessive combined load.

Should a portable electric hob carry UKCA or CE marking?

The Department for Business and Trade’s March 2026 product-marking table lists UKCA or CE for electrical equipment placed on the Great Britain market. Its Northern Ireland entry lists CE, or UKNI together with CE. Check the applicable marking alongside the seller, plug, instructions and condition of the particular hob; a mark alone does not answer those other questions.

What should I do if an induction hob’s surface cracks?

Stop using the hob and disconnect it from power. Tefal’s induction-cooker guidance warns against using an appliance with a cracked surface because of electric-shock risk; follow the instructions for your particular model before any further use.