Taurus, Cecotec or Fagor: we tested the best portable ceramic hobs of the moment

For those looking to save space in the kitchen or travel in a caravan with the possibility of eating at home, portable ceramic hobs are the solution. It is the reduced and compact version of those that are usually found in the home: manageable devices, light in weight and that do not require installation (it is enough to connect them to an electrical outlet). They have a single cooking area, but multiple functions and ways to prepare food, depending on the model. In addition, they are induction, that is, they directly heat the container that contains the food through electromagnetic fields.

What portable ceramic hobs have we chosen?

For this comparison we have tested four portable induction ceramic hobs: Cecotec Portable Induction Hob Full Crystal Onyx (with an average score of 9.5 points), Create Vitro Handy Pro (9.75), FAGOR – LEXIE portable induction hob(9.75) and Taurus Portable induction hob Darkfire (9.25). All are suitable for both cooking at home and outside of it. These are the aspects that we have taken into account when testing them:

– Power. The watts (W) that each one offers and the maximum temperature they reach.

– Design. The material with which it is made, the color and shape, as well as the design, position and separation of the buttons and icons that indicate the operating modes.

– Types of controls. How many features does it include? What is each of them for?

– Portability. If it is easy to transport from one place to another. The weight and measurements of the plate influence this aspect, as well as its resistance to blows.

– Others. Easy to clean, energy saving systems, acoustic warnings…

Comparison of the best portable ceramic hobs: this is how we have tested them

To value them, for a week we have used pans, pots, coffee makers and other kitchen utensils suitable for induction hobs. With each of them, we have tried to cook different types of food and dishes (rice, meat, vegetables, pasta, fish…) using the configured modes or simply choosing the most appropriate temperature or power.

The results have been quite good; The power of these plates has nothing to envy to those installed in the kitchen. Although all have met expectations, the winner of this analysis is the portable induction hob LEXIE by FAGOR. It is as comfortable to use as it is easy to clean. In addition, it has six cooking programs and a very elegant design.

LEXIE Fagor portable induction hob: our choice

It stands out for its elegant design in black; the buttons are well spaced and located on a touch screen that is easy to use and very easy to clean. Thanks to its 9 power levels (up to 2,000 W) it is possible to customize the cooking experience. It also allows you to adjust the temperature between 80°C and 240°C, a sufficient range to cover all the needs of a portable kitchen. The heat spreads evenly and constantly over the entire surface of the pot or pan, preventing the central part from burning.

It has 6 cooking programs: fry, stew, boil water, heat or barbecue mode (it is the only one that has such functionality), in addition to manual mode, which allows you to raise or lower the power or temperature as needed. They are designed to save time, since they indicate the appropriate temperature for each case, and expand the heat in one way or another depending on the dish being prepared. Undoubtedly, the most useful is to boil water, since it is used to make pasta, rice, potatoes, vegetables…

It has a timer of up to 60 minutes and a lock button for added security. In addition, it automatically turns off after a while without any kitchen utensils on it. It also alerts with a sound if the food overflows or if the time set in the timer has ended. On the other hand, its measurements and weight are perfect for transporting it from one place to another.

Portable ceramic hob Create Vitro Handy Pro: the alternative

It is tied in note with the winning model of this analysis, and it is that it is the ideal alternative to the Fagor panel. The difference between the two is in portability: the Create board is slightly heavier and larger. However, it has many features common to the winning model. Starting with its design, it is black and shiny with ultra-resistant A+Grade induction glass that adapts to the diameter of the container, applying heat appropriately. The touchscreen buttons are a bit larger, but the mode indicators are quite small.

It has 10 heating powers, reaching 2,200 watts, and eight programs to adapt to any type of food and dishes. Distinguish between automatic functions (those in which the power is preset) and manual. In the first case, there are the programs soup, boil, steam and warm and, in the second, they are stir fry, fry, cook and slow. Although it is possible to vary the temperature in all of them, it is very useful to have a reference preset power to start cooking.

Another element that makes cooking easier is the timer. Using it is as simple as pressing the button Reservation/timerlocated in the left corner and set the time for the hob to turn on and off using the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ buttons (the time can be set up to 9 hours and 50 minutes).

Cecotec Full Crystal Onyx portable induction hob: best value for money

It offers many of the features of the previous models at a lower price, making it one of the best options if you are looking for a portable ceramic hob. It is compact and lightweight, supported by four small legs that provide stability to the device. Like previous models, it is black and glossy, and has a touch screen and LED light that indicates power. It reaches 2,000W adjustable in 10 levels. Its temperature can also be adjusted in a range between 60 to 260 degrees.

It is the lightest plate, only 2.2 kg in weight and, at the same time, one of the ones that offers the greatest space for use: it allows cooking with all kinds of utensils, from coffee pots and pans, to pots up to 28 cm . Its 4 pre-set programs make it easy to prepare each food: soup, coffee, rice and keep warm. In addition, it has a manual mode, to cover all the needs in the kitchen.

Like the rest of the models in this review, it includes a timer. In this case, it includes the option to program cooking for up to 24 hours, that is, it allows programming the remaining time to have the food ready at the time the user wishes. As extra functions, we find a thermostat to protect against overheating, which turns off the hob in case of excess heat.

Taurus Darkfire portable induction hob

It clearly differs from the others due to its minimalist and clean design. Its touch screen incorporates on/off buttons, a timer of up to 3 hours, a child lock, and temperature/power control. The latter is characterized by the fact that it is designed as a kind of bar (‘SlideControl’): to increase the watts or the degrees you have to slide your finger from left to right on a horizontal bar. It is black in color and quite compact, it does not incorporate legs, but rests almost flush with the table, which gives it stability.

It is quite fast when it comes to heating up. In addition, thanks to the Keep Warm function, food is always kept warm and ready to eat at the time the user wishes. It has 8 power levels ranging from 400W to 2000W and an adjustable temperature from 60º to 240º. It lacks preset programs, so it is more suitable for people who control the kitchen. Finally, it applies the Energy-Saving System technology that allows preparation of dishes with low consumption and much more effective thanks to its induction cooking method.

*All purchase prices included in this article are current as of March 10, 2023.

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