The stove is the appliance you use most in the kitchen. However, we have found ourselves in situations where we needed an alternative, and we do not want you to go through our troubles. Therefore, we extensively tested a few stoves among my friends and searched for the best portable electric stove we could settle on.
What is a Portable Electric Stove
Having cooked food hits different, and luckily, you do not need a whole kitchen range to warm or cook your food. This is where the portable electric stoves come in. You can bring the stove alongside with you when camping because of the compact size it comes in. The stoves work well in small spaces like RVs or dormitories where you can not fit in full-size ranges.
Let us look at the best portable electric stoves in all three categories.
Best Portable Electric Stoves
We have three categories: coil, infrared, and induction cooktops.
A) Best Portable Induction Cooktop
1) Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop
- Duxtop Induction Cooktop uses 120V 15 amp electrical outlet -...
- Digital control panel. Built-in count-down digital timer with 1...
- With no open flame or heating element, food does not burn-on the...
- The auto-pan detection will shut the unit automatically after 60...
- Note: In order to use this and any other induction stove, you...
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Duxtop is a single burner with a digital control panel to bring a modern look to the table. The burner has as minute by minute increment feature of up to 170 minutes. With 10 temperature settings to adjust to, you can prepare close to any recipe in your cookbook. The temperature ranges between 140 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit.
With no open flames, the pan is safe to use in small spaces or with kids around. The burner shuts down automatically when there is no pan on top of it after 60 seconds.
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2) NUWAVE Flex Induction Cooktops
- MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON-THE-FLY – The digital controls are easy to...
- PRECISE TEMPERATURE CONTROL – With 45 precise temperatures, you...
- FAST & EFFICIENT – Flex heats the pot directly without heating...
- PERFECT FOR DORMS & RV’S – Flex is light-weight and portable....
- SHATTER-PROOF CERAMIC GLASS – There are no open flames or hot...
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This burner gives you a large cooking coil capable of heating up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Three wattage power settings give you the chance to choose the amount of power level you want to use. This feature is important to save on power when you need to.
Forty-five temperature settings give you the freedom you need to prepare your recipes comfortably. The design is slim, and you can use the burner in tight spaces like the RV or a dorm. In addition, the glass is shatter-proof, making it possible to reach high levels of heat.
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3) CUSIMAX Induction Burner
- 【9 Power and 10 Temperature】Electromagnetic coils are...
- 【Works with Magnetic Induction Cookware】Only compatible with...
- 【Safety and Rest Assured】The induction cooktop has the Long 3...
- HOW TO USE INDUCTION COOKTOP? First place the magnetic cookware...
- 【18-Month-Replacement】CUSIMAX induction cooktop has obtained...
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CUSIMAX is a household brand that we love having in our kitchens. The burner has a timer to increase the safety features on the burner. The cooktop has 9 power level settings that you can use to warm food and cook food. In addition, the induction burner has a kids' safety lock feature to make the burner family-friendly.
The temperature ranges between 140 to 464 degrees Fahrenheit.
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B) Best Portable Infrared Cooktop
1) CUSIMAX Ceramic Stovetop and Infrared Cooktop
- [All Types of Cookware]--CUSIMAX Ceramic Double Hot Plate is...
- [Convenient]--Great for every day use or as an extra cooking...
- [2 Burners and Convenient]--Convenient Cooking in Smaller Spaces,...
- [Safety, Easy to Clean, Durable]--Automatic safety shutoff...
- [Customer Service]--CUSIMAX offer a outstanding 30-day...
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This is an elegant choice. The stainless steel housing attracts the eye, and the features solidify the choice in buying this cooktop. You are getting the desired double burner stoves in a portable stove. The body minimizes heat loss and ensures heat distribution in all the right places.
The cooktop is easy to clean and has a compact size for portability. In addition, the two heating elements are efficient compared to other portable cooktops.
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2) Ovente Double burner Infrared Cooktop
- Hassle-Free Cooking Experience – Powered by 120V (1700W), this...
- Compatible with All Cookware – This countertop burner works...
- Classy and Portable – The stainless steel housing and sleek...
- Easy to Clean – Cleaning the crystallite glass and stainless...
- US-based Customer Service lets you buy with confidence. Ovente...
image source: ovente.com
With this cooktop, you get two burners in two sizes to fit your different needs. The portable stove features 5-level temperature settings to increase your options to your desired temperature. The rubber feet increase the cooktop's safety by keeping it on the surface.
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3) Techwood Electric Stove
- ✔ PORTABLE KEEPS COOL HANDLES - Techwood infrared ceramic...
- ✔ MINI SIZE & PORTABLE-Techwood hot plate used timeless...
- ✔ ALL TYPES OF COOKWARE - Techwood electric stove can be used...
- ✔ MULTIPURPOSE - Techwood portable burner heats efficiently to...
- ✔ CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT - Techwood offers an worry-free...
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A double infrared burner is a good deal we would take any time. You can use all types of cookware materials on the stovetop. You have cool handles on the sides of the burner to increase the safety of the cooktop. The burner truly looks good and has a compact size for portability. The knobs are placed strategically for easy reach and safe control.
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C) Best Portable Electric Cooktop
1) Elite Gourmet Cast Iron Burner
- Easy to Clean: 6.5-inch and 5-inch Cast Iron flat cooking plates...
- Adjustable Temperature: Quickly reach and sustain the desired...
- Built in Safety: Dual power indicator lights on the front of the...
- Compact and portable: the compact size of the burner makes it an...
- Efficient Power - With a combined wattage of 1500W, dual hot...
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Getting a reliable countertop is all you need to keep your kitchen running, and Elite Gourmet has you covered. You are getting a double burner choice, with one large and small burner. The electric cooktop is easy to clean and use, making it ideal for the counter.
The burner has an indicator light to let you know when it is on. You can use cast iron cookware or other cooking utensils on the burner.
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2) CUSIMAX Double Burner Hot Plates
- [All Types Of Cookware]--CUSIMAX Double Hot Plate is suitable for...
- [Convenient & Cooking Independently]--No stovetop required. Our...
- [Safety & Easy to Clean]--Temperature is regulated by a...
- [Multipurpose]--This compact burner can cook in smaller spaces....
- [Customer Service]--CUSIMAX offer a outstanding 30-day...
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Cast iron burners are the closest you get to your kitchen range, and CUISIMAX has the best yet. The steel countertop burner has a sleek look and is suited to stay on your countertop. The double hot plate takes all types of cookware, and you will not have to buy extra utensils on the cooktop. We found this the most compact burner and loved its look.
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3) Techwood Hot Plate
- ???? MINI SIZE & PORTABLE - Techwood Hot Plate used compact and...
- ???? MULTIPURPOSE - Techwood electric stove heats efficiently to...
- ???? ALL TYPES OF COOKWARE - Techwood single burner can be used...
- ???? POWERFUL & SAFE - Powered by 1500W, it heats up food faster...
- ???? WARRANTY - Techwood offers an excellent fan-favorite...
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Techwood is a single burner that makes the most compact and ideal hot plate. The cooktop has handles to keep it from slipping and make your cooking process safe. The adjustable temperature settings allow you to enjoy the recipes you are used to. In addition, the burner accepts all cookware, and you do not have to budget for extra utensils.
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When Will I Need a Portable Electric Stove
As long as you need to eat, you must have a way of preparing or buying food. Whenever you can not access the big electric stove, you can buy a portable electric stove because of its good size and features. Here are some cooking situations when you might need a portable electric stove.
a) Small Space
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Maybe you just got your first apartment or studio where you can not fit the large stove with four or more burners. To save on space, you can buy a decent double burner portable electric stove, and you will be good to go. These will come in handy before you get a larger space and buy the cooker you have always wanted to buy.
b) When Camping Out
The stove is portable for a reason. A portable stove is one you can fit inside your car, and you will be good to go. When you go camping with your friends, a stove like this will be ideal for keeping the food warm when you are ready to have it. The stove comes in handy because you will not cook all food in the fire you have dug outside.
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The stove will hardly occupy any space and will not be heavy. All you need for portable electric stoves is a power point, which you find in most camping site centers.
c) When Buying a Stove on Budget
An induction cooktop is a quick fix to your problems when you need a stove, but you are yet to buy the large one. You can have the portable electric stove for starters as you get the large one sorted out. When cooking, you need only two burners, and these stoves give you enough cooking surface to work with.
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These stoves will save you from eating out every day, which might get costly fast, especially when you just moved to a new city and do not know the relatively affordable spots. These portable stoves are life savers in situations such as these.
It is more expensive to have to take out for two people or more than to have it prepared. Therefore, this is your way of saving a lot of cash in the long term.
d) Extra Burner
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If you have guests and your main burners are all occupied, you can use the portable stove as an extra electric burner. You will not wait in line to prepare your food, and you can distribute the cooking so that there are no more than two people at the main cooker.
When buying the best portable electric stove, you can consider it complimenting the main stove in certain situations. You can incorporate the stove in your outdoor kitchen ideas and it will fit in perfectly.
Here are some advantages of buying a portable electric stove you can enjoy.
Advantages of Portable Electric Stoves
Buying a portable electric stove is 0ne thing we can advise you to do because it opens up a lot of opportunities. Here are some advantages we enjoyed over time using the portable stovetop.
a) Use in Smaller Space
This is one of the advantages we enjoyed the most. As we have mentioned above, if you can bring the stove with you anywhere, there is a chance that it is small enough to use in a very limited space.
Maybe you have discovered some nice designs to decorate your kitchen, and the space is under renovation or painting. The stove will somehow find a spot to fit in perfectly.
b) Even Heat Distribution
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The stove distributes heat evenly and gives you efficient cooking whenever you use it. For this reason, you will save much energy compared to the large stove. This choice is an energy-efficient choice compared to other burners. Even heat distribution gives you the advantages you get with the large stoves. You get all the perks with the four burner cookers, where you can choose accordingly.
c) Modern
The stoves might be small, but they feature the most modern settings, including temperature settings that you can use for different recipes. These burners will make you feel at home wherever you bring them. You will be enjoying the same efficiency and functionality as a large cooker.
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Furthermore, you are getting an indicator light to alert you every time a burner is used to avoid accidents. Since the burners could use electromagnetic induction to heat the surface, you might not necessarily see the flames as you would on a gas burner. Coupled with the power settings, you are getting the best option for your cooking needs.
d) Easy to Clean
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Cooking on a clean surface is the first rule and you have to know how to clean a stovetop properly to enjoy cooking. These burners have a surface that you can wipe off every time you are done cooking. The cleaning is not a hassle because the surface is designed to clean easily. With these stoves, you can enjoy the confidence that comes with cooking on a clean surface.
e) Good Looking
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The other reason you can use these stoves in any space is how modern they look. One would not be able to know straight away that you have a stove until you start using it. The modern look does not compromise the functionality you can achieve just as much as you would with a standard electric burner.
f) Efficient
Pot in modern kitchen with induction stove
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You are never going wrong with these burners, especially in tough situations. You can carry them around, use them in small spaces, use both burners and still have a similar outcome as using the larger stove. You can get a stove with one burner to increase efficiency when you have to maximize the small space or storage available.
g) When on a Budget
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As we have discussed above, you might be on a budget and unable to install the best kitchen range with a double oven. The portable stove is your go-to solution in the meantime. The stoves feature everything you need, including different settings for different recipes. Some foods require low heat while others require high heat. These stoves can get the work done.
Disadvantages of Portable Electric Stoves
These points are more like things you should note when buying an electric burner so that you are not inconvenienced when cooking.
i) You Require Special Utensils
This is one thing you might not be used to because you never thought about it before. I am used to throwing whatever cooking utensil I find in the cooker and starting cooking. However, this is not the case with portable electric stoves.
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You should use iron or steel. You can use stainless steel as well. The other thing you must be aware of is that the electric cooktop is mostly flat. Therefore, you need to have flat-bottomed cooking utensils. If you bring the round-bottomed pans, heat will not be evenly distributed on the food. Portable electric burners have a good heat distribution, but the wrong cookware will not get the job done.
ii) Relatively Expensive
While the low price was one of the strong points we had for the portable electric stoves, the comparison was between the stoves and their bigger versions. However, when you compare the stoves with their gas counterparts, they are a bit more costly. However, this is never a major issue because you can use the electric burner more safely in confined spaces. Therefore, getting the electric burner instead of the gas stove still makes more sense.
iii) No Additional Features
Additional features like an oven are a huge part of our users for electric stoves. However, portable electric stoves are made as minimal as possible and as efficient as they can be for their size.
While this is not a major problem, you might want to start curating your recipes to fit the capabilities of the portable electric stove.
iv) Longer Cooling Time
The stove takes a bit longer to cool after you are done cooking. Our brains are not wired for this scenario, and we will forget that the burner top is still hot. It might be hard to tell where on the stove the hot or cold spots are, and you always have to be cautious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Portable Electric Stoves
a) What is the Difference Between an Electric and Induction Cooktop?
While both use electricity, they have fundamental differences in how they function. For example, the heating mechanism is different even though both use electricity to generate heat.
An induction burner generates heat by generating electromagnetic radiation, heating the cookware on top of the induction cooktop. This unique method does not heat the air between the cooking pan and the cooktop. As a result, induction cooking is safer as you might not suffer any burns more readily than with the electric burner.
As the heating method is via electromagnetism, the cooking utensil for induction cooktops you use needs to be a magnetic material. For the method to work at all, you need to keep this in mind. You can find a portable induction burner with all the advantages you get with an electric cooktop.
On the other hand, the electric stoves have a hotter method of generating heat. The stoves heat electrical coils or elements to generate the heat used for cooking. The heating element is often made of a very resistant material. The high resistance will lead to friction and eventually heat.
Electric stoves tend to be hot compared to the induction cooktop. This is because the cooktop then heats the air around it to transmit heat, while induction burners have a different mechanism. Therefore, an induction stove is considered to be safer in that aspect.
b) What are Infrared Burners?
Infrared technology can be used in the kitchen and offers more efficient cooking than a gas stove or other stoves. The infrared burners combine halogen lights and cast iron burners to provide heat to whatever is atop the stove. With this burner, you will be using direct infrared heating.
The heat distribution on this burner is close to or better than induction burners, making them the best portable electric stoves.
c) Which one is Safer Between Induction and Electric Stoves?
While routing for either, we must mention the electric and induction cooktops. However, the efficiency between the two is comparable in how much power they use and the outcome you can expect from each. Therefore, we can recommend that you buy either depending on your needs at the moment or the available option.
Due to its heating mechanism, the induction cooktop is safer than the electric stove. The cooktop of the electric stove heats up while the induction stove does not heat the air around it, making it a safer option, especially when you have kids around.
What Should I Consider When Buying Portable Electric Stoves
There are many options in the market, and we are here to help you choose the best suit your needs. When buying an electric stove, there are things we wish we looked at to help filter our choices more. While we have provided you with the best options above, here are electric stove features to look at when making a purchase.
i) Burner
The burner should be the first consideration you make because it will determine many other things after that. We never knew that the burner we were getting would affect how much we used the electric stove. The burner determines the safety options and how you will use the stove.
The utensils you will use on coil burners will differ from those on a hot plate. The induction stovetop will determine that you use magnetic stainless steel or cast iron when cooking, while the coil burner will directly transmit heat.
ii) Price
Coil burners are more affordable compared to induction stovetops. The induction cooktop is more sophisticated in how it functions and, therefore, more expensive. However, the price tag comes with fewer weight restrictions and easy functionality. Cleaning the hot plate is easier compared to cleaning coil burners.
The safety features on the induction hot plate are more than the gas burners and electric coil stoves.
iii) Size
Since you are picking a portable electric stove, the size will be a big deal. How convenient is having a stove with two burners instead of one? Will it fit in your car or space? The price increases with size; you can find where the price point meets your convenience.
iv) Safety Features
There are considerations you are making when buying a portable electric stove, and that may include space restrictions. For example, a portable induction cooktop will be safer than the coil burner stove in a smaller space.
Some stoves have child safety lock features that increase the safety potential. You can be away knowing that the child is safe around the stove.
v) Temperature Control
The temperature control knob is one feature that will give you so much freedom when using the stove. Sometimes, you must keep the food warm and not necessarily cook it. If you get a burner with such controls, you can have family buffets that will be more memorable, not because of the cold food. This is especially the case when cast iron burner stoves keep the food warmer for longer.
Temperature settings increase your recipe potential significantly, and you can try out different recipes.
vi) Rubber Feet
We never even thought about this feature when we were getting our first cast iron burner stove. This is because it did not register that it mattered a lot. There is nothing more trying than using a burner that dances around as you are trying to cook.
Most portable electric stoves you will use will be on top of a surface, and there is a chance that the surface was not meant for such scenarios. The rubber feet prevent accidents and damage to your working surface.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of why you would need a portable cooktop, you have options to pick from for quick and efficient cooking. So while saving up on your ideal kitchen range or painting your kitchen, you do not have to rely on take-out. We have outlined the best from induction stoves, ceramic stovetop options, and infrared stoves.
