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The Best Induction Burners

An extra burner may be useful during the holidays, but can it do enough to justify a place in your kitchen?

Editor&aposs Note:Update, August 2024

Our favorite induction burner remains the Breville/PolyScience Control Freak, and our Best Buy is still the Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop 9600LS/BT-200DZ. We will be testing Breville's newest induction burner and additional models soon.

What You Need to Know

Induction cooking uses magnetism to generate heat and cook your food. This may sound a bit more high-tech than your standard gas stove, but induction cooking is massively popular in Japan and Europe. In fact, induction cooktops accounted for 54 percent of stoves sold in western Europe in 2016, according to Allied Market Research, a global market research firm.

Why induction? Induction burners are known to heat up very quickly and hold a consistent temperature and are purportedly safer, since they are flameless and often have features such as automatic shut-off and screen-locking mechanisms. They are also easier to clean and are more energy-efficient than gas or electric stovetops. 

Although induction cooktops aren’t quite as widespread in the United States just yet, portable induction burners are a common option for cooks looking for a bit more burner space or for those with small kitchens that aren’t equipped with large stoves. Since we last tested induction burners, new models such as the Tasty One Top and the Breville/PolyScience Control Freak have come onto the market, with features such as built-in temperature probes that claim to dial in ultraprecise temperatures. Are induction burners the new “must-have” kitchen gadget? 

Assistant editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm prepares heats oil before preparing fried zucchini sticks.

To find out which induction burner is best, we selected a wide variety of models, using each to boil water, sear burgers, make All-Purpose Caramel Sauce, deep-fry Fried Zucchini Sticks, and keep Cheese Fondue warm for 4 hours.

How Do Induction Cooktops Work?

An induction burner contains an electric coil that produces a magnetic field when it’s turned on. When a pan with a ferromagnetic bottom is placed on the burner, the energy from the magnetic field causes the material of the pan to produce heat (see “How Can You Tell If Your Cookware Is Induction Compatible?”). The induction burner won’t actually turn on unless there’s a compatible pan.

Since only the metal of the pan heats up, all the energy goes directly into the cookware, whereas with electric or gas stovetops, some of that energy spills over, heating the air and the surrounding stove area. This is one reason that induction burners are known as being more energy efficient than electric stovetops (and why they keep your kitchen cooler).

Discovering Power Differences

We began with the basics: boiling and simmering water. On each induction burner, we boiled 4 quarts of water and then reduced it to a simmer, timing how long the water took to boil and noting how responsive the burners were to changes in temperature by timing how long it took the water to return to a simmer. We compared the results with those of the same test done on gas and electric stovetops.

The conventional wisdom is that induction cooktops heat faster than electric or gas, but we did not find this to be true with the induction burners we tested. This is because they are plug-in countertop appliances, which means their power is limited, whereas a full-size induction cooktop is far more powerful. Interestingly, the only burners that could bring the water to a boil throughout the entire pot in 20 minutes—faster than a full-size induction stovetop—had the largest footprints and widest cooking surfaces (and one was the most expensive burner in our lineup).

Why Do Induction Cooktops Have Such Small Heating Areas?

To take a closer look at the burners’ heating patterns, we dusted a layer of flour onto the surfaces of skillets and placed the skillets on the induction burners over medium heat. We observed a similar pattern: On most burners, the heat was concentrated in the center of the pan—the flour in the middle toasted to a golden brown, while the flour around the edges remained white. We measured the diameter of the heating elements, and they matched the toasted circles. Most of the induction burners had coils that measured about 6 inches across— much smaller than the 9-inch bottoms of our full-size pots and pans. Only the largest burners, with 8.5- and 9-inch coils, could toast the flour evenly across the entire cooking surface.

A larger heating coil meant more evenly toasted flour, and less scorching in the center of the skillet.

We wondered why some of the heating coils were so much smaller than the bottoms of our full-size pans. One factor is that a smaller coil is cheaper to manufacture, so the less expensive units tended to have coils about 6 inches in diameter, while the priciest and most powerful unit's coil was approximately 9 inches.

An induction cooktop also needs a fair amount of space around its coil: space for the electronics, for a cooling fan, and—as David Perreault, professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told us—space that provides a path for the magnetic flux generated by the coil to return to, as well as room for airflow to cool the coil. The bigger the coil, the more space needed. The burner with the largest heating coil was almost twice as tall as the other models. That vertical space was mostly dedicated to its extensive fan system (one fan to cool the coil and another to cool the underside of the glass, a company representative told us). The large coil is likely why this burner toasted flour the most evenly and why it was the only model able to bring water to a boil faster than the stove.

While strange boiling patterns and unevenly toasted flour aren’t major issues, smaller heating coils also caused uneven cooking. Models with the smallest heating coils produced burgers with burnt patches on the parts of the patties that were toward the center of the pans and undercooked patches on the parts near the edges of the pans. Burners with larger heating coils were able to cook the burgers evenly, with no over- or underdone spots. If you invest in an induction burner that has a smaller heating coil, such as our Best Buy, we recommend using it with smaller cookware: skillets or saucepans that measure 10 inches in diameter or less.

Testing Temperature Extremes And Responsiveness

Most of the burners’ temperatures also couldn’t go as high or as low as our recipes called for—and we found them to not be as responsive to their temperature controls as we would have liked. When we made cheese fondue, only a few of the burners could keep fondue warm for 4 hours, as you might want for a party. Even on their lowest settings, some of the burners were much too hot, causing the fondue to break and scorch on the bottom of the pot in as little as 45 minutes. Curiously, despite having burned fondue, a couple of those models weren’t powerful enough to bring 2 quarts of oil to 375 degrees when we tried deep-frying. In fact, one of the burners was still 35 degrees shy of the desired temperature after an entire hour of heating. Our favorite induction burners were able to dial in very precise heat settings—low enough to keep fondue warm without scorching but high enough to accurately heat a pot of oil for deep frying.

Adjusting The Temperature On An Induction Burner

On an electric or gas stove, power is usually indicated by markers noting low, medium, and high. Some of the burners allowed us to switch between “power mode”—which corresponds to the low, medium, and high of traditional burners—and “temperature mode,” which sets a specific temperature, such as 200 degrees. This sounded nice in theory, but we didn’t find it very useful in practice. The temperature mode is actually a measure of the temperature of the bottom of the pan (not its contents), so it wasn’t helpful for deep frying or making temperature-sensitive caramel sauce. Most stovetop recipes are also written using traditional temperature settings—not specific degrees—so we found ourselves relying on power mode much more often than temperature mode when cooking. 

That said, we preferred the burners that came with temperature probes, which allowed us to set the temperature based on the probe, making the burners easier to use and more accurate. 

A Cooktop Should Be Easy And Intuitive To Use

Most electric and gas burners are dead simple to operate: just turn the knob to the desired power setting. However, two of the induction burners we tried were far more complicated. 

We found burners with a minimalist interface of 10 light-up dots to be frustrating. To turn the burner on, you had to tap the power button, tap the plus sign repeatedly to select the power level, and then tap the power button again to set the power level. We found all the tapping tedious and the lack of information disappointing. These burners are often equipped with smartphone apps that give more detailed power settings, but we found the apps poorly designed and unreliable. For instance, the Tasty One Top app often quit on us, shutting down the burner and stopping the cooking process.

Some other low-ranked induction burners left us guessing about how their power levels, called “P1” through “P8,” compared to more conventional settings such as low and high. In some cases, their manuals didn’t provide any answers; they lacked any chart explaining how the various settings correspond to temperatures or power levels. We favored burners that had control panels that clearly displayed the power level or temperature settings. 

How Can You Tell If Your Cookware Is Induction Compatible?

To cook with induction, you need compatible cookware. So, how can you tell if your cookware is compatible? If it’s made of iron or magnetic gauges of steel, you’re set. But if you’re not sure, grab a magnet. If a magnet sticks to the base of a pot or pan, it’s compatible. If not, you can use an induction interface disk—our winner is the Max Burton Induction Interface Disk, which costs about $30. When placed under an incompatible pot or pan, the disk transfers heat by conduction. And if you’re buying online, check the cookware manufacturer’s website, which usually specifies whether the cookware is induction-compatible. As a general rule, most cast-iron (including enameled) and many kinds of stainless-steel pans are compatible, while glass, copper, and aluminum are not.

We also paid close attention to how loud the induction burners were. Induction burners emit a high-pitched whine and whir, some worse than others, because of the frequency generated by the vibrating magnetic coil. Fortunately, most of the burners in our lineup proved to be fairly quiet; only a few were loud enough for testers to find it distracting. 

Finally, we liked induction burners that were easy to clean. While most of them required just a quick wipe down to remove any grime from their surfaces, one of the burners collected grease in between the burner’s front panel and cooking surface. 

Do You Need An Induction Burner?

For most people satisfied with the cooktop in their kitchen, an induction burner isn’t a necessity, but we did identify a couple of scenarios where one might be helpful. Induction burners are a good option when your living space doesn’t have a stove, such as in an RV, on a boat, or in a small apartment. They can also be useful for catering. But by far the biggest reason to get an induction burner is that it offers a portable, powerful, and safe heat source when burner space is at a premium, such as during the holidays, or for dinner parties when you’re serving fondue or soup that needs to be kept warm for hours at a time. Since they don’t heat up the surrounding area, they’re safe to keep on the table. If you like to entertain or frequently find yourself cooking for large groups of people, an induction burner can be a saving grace in an otherwise crowded kitchen.

The Best Induction Burners: Breville/Poly Science Control Freak And Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop 9600LS/BT-200DZ

In the end, we found two induction burners we liked—at two very different prices. The Breville/PolyScience Control Freak, which costs about $1,600, is not for everyone, but if you have the budget, this is a next-level induction burner. It was the most accurate of the burners we tested and the most powerful, boiling 4 quarts of water in 20 minutes. It helped us make silky-smooth caramel sauce, kept fondue at the correct temperature for 4 hours, and seared burgers perfectly. The Control Freak allowed us to program our desired temperature to the exact degree for either the pan or the pan’s contents. Since it can hold an exact temperature, it's the only burner that is capable of sous vide cooking. We tried it out by preparing sous vide poached eggs, which emerged perfectly tender and creamy. 

We also recommend the Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop 9600LS/BT-200DZ, which costs about $115 and has an easy-to-use control panel and helpful extra presets, such as a “boil” button, which automatically sets the temperature to its highest level, and a “keep warm” button, which holds the temperature at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The burner was powerful enough to bring water to a boil quickly and accurate enough to keep cheese fondue warm and creamy for 4 hours. However, the Duxtop model isn’t without limitations. Its 6-inch heating coil is better suited for smaller cookware (10 inches or less in diameter) and is less powerful than the Breville’s. Additionally, it struggled to regain temperatures in the deep-frying test.

  • Bring 4 quarts of room-temperature water to a boil and then return it to a simmer, timing how long it takes to do each
  • Sprinkle a fine layer of flour onto a frying pan, place the pan on the burner, turn the heat to medium, and observe the browning pattern
  • Determine if the induction burners reach their stated maximum temperature by turning each burner to its maximum heat, placing a pan on each burner, and recording the surface temperature of the pan every 30 seconds
  • Make Cheese Fondue and keep warm for 4 hours
  • Sear burgers, using identically sized patties
  • Make Fried Zucchini Sticks
  • Prepare All-Purpose Caramel Sauce
  • Have five testers of varying levels of experience use the burners and evaluate the intuitiveness of the controls
  • Using the Tasty One Top app, make Deep Fried Buffalo Cauliflower (Tasty One Top only)
  • Cook Sous Vide Soft-Poached Eggs (Breville PolyScience Control Freak only)

  • Powerful and responsive; able to boil water faster than the stovetop
  • Even heating
  • Precise temperature control that can keep fondue warm for hours without scorching and make temperature-sensitive caramel sauce
  • Capable of reaching and maintaining a high temperature for deep frying
  • Intuitive controls that are easy to understand and are clearly labeled
  • Relatively quiet
  • Surface that is easy to clean with no nooks, crannies, or grooves that trap grease
  • Lock screen function that ensures that the heat isn’t accidentally turned up or down
  • Built-in timer
  • Alerts sound if no pan is placed on the burner when the unit is on or if the pan is not induction-compatible
  • Stable on the countertop

FAQs

You can find versions of just about any pot, pan, skillet, or kettle that can be used on induction cooktops. To make things easy, we've compiled a guide to our top-rated induction-compatible cookware.

We've written a whole guide to induction, which has proved to be increasingly popular in the past few years. You'll learn all about how induction works and what the advantages and disadvantages are.

Portable burners come in many varieties--induction is just one type. Check out our review of gas and electric burners.

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Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.
Fair 2 Stars out of 3.
Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Highly Recommended

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

High-End WinnerBreville/PolyScience Control Freak

Yes, this is an incredible burner, but it's also costly—which, to be honest, was our only real complaint about it. Its front knob allowed us to dial the burner to the exact temperature we wanted (the front screen also displays the corresponding power mode, such as "medium-low," to avoid any confusion). And the machine comes with a temperature probe that allows you to monitor and set the temperature of the contents of the pots, which made deep frying effortless and even allowed us to use it for sous vide cooking. Its precision ensured that caramel was silky-smooth, fried zucchini sticks were golden all over, and 4 quarts of water boiled in 20 minutes, making it the only induction burner to boil water faster than the stovetop. While the cost of this induction burner means it's not for everyone, it is an exceptional piece of equipment, especially for experienced cooks who really want the benefits of precision cooking.

Model Number: CMC850BSS

Special Features: Temperature probe, 72-hour time, ability to set and hold 405 cooking temperatures, ability to create custom cooking programs/presets

Price at Time of Testing: $1,500

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Yes, this is an incredible burner, but it's also costly—which, to be honest, was our only real complaint about it. Its front knob allowed us to dial the burner to the exact temperature we wanted (the front screen also displays the corresponding power mode, such as "medium-low," to avoid any confusion). And the machine comes with a temperature probe that allows you to monitor and set the temperature of the contents of the pots, which made deep frying effortless and even allowed us to use it for sous vide cooking. Its precision ensured that caramel was silky-smooth, fried zucchini sticks were golden all over, and 4 quarts of water boiled in 20 minutes, making it the only induction burner to boil water faster than the stovetop. While the cost of this induction burner means it's not for everyone, it is an exceptional piece of equipment, especially for experienced cooks who really want the benefits of precision cooking.

Model Number: CMC850BSS

Special Features: Temperature probe, 72-hour time, ability to set and hold 405 cooking temperatures, ability to create custom cooking programs/presets

Price at Time of Testing: $1,500

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Best Buy Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop 9600LS/BT-200DZ

This model features an intuitive and responsive control panel that makes it easy to adjust the time and temperature for various cooking tasks. It brought water to a boil in 24 minutes and kept cheese fondue at a constant temperature (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than 4 hours without scorching. However, this burner has some limitations. Its 6-inch heating coil means that it works best with smaller cookware—when we seared burgers in a 12-inch skillet, they browned unevenly. It also struggled in the deep-frying test, taking 20 minutes for the temperature to come back up between batches of zucchini fries, slowing our progress. 

Model Number: 9600LS/BT-200DZ

Special Features: Temperature mode, lock mode, “boil” and “keep warm” buttons, timer

Price at Time of Testing: $116.96

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

This model features an intuitive and responsive control panel that makes it easy to adjust the time and temperature for various cooking tasks. It brought water to a boil in 24 minutes and kept cheese fondue at a constant temperature (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than 4 hours without scorching. However, this burner has some limitations. Its 6-inch heating coil means that it works best with smaller cookware—when we seared burgers in a 12-inch skillet, they browned unevenly. It also struggled in the deep-frying test, taking 20 minutes for the temperature to come back up between batches of zucchini fries, slowing our progress. 

Model Number: 9600LS/BT-200DZ

Special Features: Temperature mode, lock mode, “boil” and “keep warm” buttons, timer

Price at Time of Testing: $116.96

Recommended with reservations

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Tasty One Top

This induction burner from Buzzfeed impressed us with its performance: boiling water the second fastest, searing burgers fairly evenly, and delivering crispy, golden-brown zucchini sticks. However, we found the machine frustrating to use. Instead of a control panel, the heat controls involved 10 light-up dots, with a power button and arrows to move the heat up or down underneath. A phone or tablet app offers more in-depth controls, but we found the app to be flawed. We tried the app's recipe for deep-fried buffalo cauliflower using the included temperature probe. While we were able to make passable food, the app quit halfway through cooking, causing the burner to shut off. We also found the app, which is meant to guide you through cooking and even controls the induction burner for you by setting its power level, had too few recipes and was poorly organized (the cauliflower recipe cannot be found in the “Veggies” section). Overall, this was a powerful induction burner, but with some frustrating usability issues. 

Model Number:

Special Features: Temperature probe, compatible with the Tasty One Top app

Price at Time of Testing: $142.00

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

This induction burner from Buzzfeed impressed us with its performance: boiling water the second fastest, searing burgers fairly evenly, and delivering crispy, golden-brown zucchini sticks. However, we found the machine frustrating to use. Instead of a control panel, the heat controls involved 10 light-up dots, with a power button and arrows to move the heat up or down underneath. A phone or tablet app offers more in-depth controls, but we found the app to be flawed. We tried the app's recipe for deep-fried buffalo cauliflower using the included temperature probe. While we were able to make passable food, the app quit halfway through cooking, causing the burner to shut off. We also found the app, which is meant to guide you through cooking and even controls the induction burner for you by setting its power level, had too few recipes and was poorly organized (the cauliflower recipe cannot be found in the “Veggies” section). Overall, this was a powerful induction burner, but with some frustrating usability issues. 

Model Number:

Special Features: Temperature probe, compatible with the Tasty One Top app

Price at Time of Testing: $142.00

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Hestan Cue Smart Probe + Induction Cooktop

We were initially impressed with this model, as it successfully brought water to a boil in 23 minutes, made golden and crispy zucchini fries, and cooked food in a speedy manner. But its 5.5-inch heating coil was too small to give the burgers an even sear, so we recommend using it with smaller cookware for the best results. We also noted that the burner failed to maintain low temperatures. It struggled to reduce the heat under a pot of water from boiling to simmering. And over the 4 hours of holding fondue at the machine’s lowest temperature setting, the cheese scorched severely, and fat started to separate at the 1-hour mark. We also had trouble using its heat controls: a touchscreen bar with 10 light-up dots. This design made it difficult to precisely and conveniently set the temperature at our desired level. Additionally, we noticed that the slippery surface made pots and pans slide—a potential safety concern.

Model Number: 41000

Special Features: App-enabled, temperature probe

Price at Time of Testing: $249.00

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

We were initially impressed with this model, as it successfully brought water to a boil in 23 minutes, made golden and crispy zucchini fries, and cooked food in a speedy manner. But its 5.5-inch heating coil was too small to give the burgers an even sear, so we recommend using it with smaller cookware for the best results. We also noted that the burner failed to maintain low temperatures. It struggled to reduce the heat under a pot of water from boiling to simmering. And over the 4 hours of holding fondue at the machine’s lowest temperature setting, the cheese scorched severely, and fat started to separate at the 1-hour mark. We also had trouble using its heat controls: a touchscreen bar with 10 light-up dots. This design made it difficult to precisely and conveniently set the temperature at our desired level. Additionally, we noticed that the slippery surface made pots and pans slide—a potential safety concern.

Model Number: 41000

Special Features: App-enabled, temperature probe

Price at Time of Testing: $249.00

Not Recommended

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Duxtop (Secura) Portable Induction Cooktop 9100MC

Overall, we thought this model was straightforward to operate, and testers appreciated its simple interface. While we were able to make temperature-sensitive caramel sauce successfully, this burner struggled with fondue, breaking the cheese and causing it to scorch on the bottom of the pot in about 45 minutes despite being on one of the lowest settings. It also seared burgers unevenly and took more than an hour to heat 2 quarts of oil for deep frying. In fact, the oil was never able to get hot enough, producing limp zucchini sticks. Note: Duxtop is a division of Secura, so the Amazon listing may read “Secura” instead of “Duxtop.”

Model Number: 9100MC

Special Features: 15 power levels, built-in count-down timer, automatic shutdown after 60 seconds if no cookware detected

Price at Time of Testing: $69.99

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Overall, we thought this model was straightforward to operate, and testers appreciated its simple interface. While we were able to make temperature-sensitive caramel sauce successfully, this burner struggled with fondue, breaking the cheese and causing it to scorch on the bottom of the pot in about 45 minutes despite being on one of the lowest settings. It also seared burgers unevenly and took more than an hour to heat 2 quarts of oil for deep frying. In fact, the oil was never able to get hot enough, producing limp zucchini sticks. Note: Duxtop is a division of Secura, so the Amazon listing may read “Secura” instead of “Duxtop.”

Model Number: 9100MC

Special Features: 15 power levels, built-in count-down timer, automatic shutdown after 60 seconds if no cookware detected

Price at Time of Testing: $69.99

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Gourmia Blacktop III 1800 Watt Induction Cooker With SmartSense Auto Detection

While it boiled faster than most other models in our lineup and caramel sauce came together quickly, this induction burner struggled through all our other tests. Burgers were unevenly cooked and burnt in spots, cheese fondue broke and burned even on the lowest setting, and it took an hour for 2 quarts of oil to reach 375 degrees. Both our copies shut off unexpectedly due to overheating multiple times, despite not being on the highest setting. While the machine was fairly straightforward to use, we sometimes found the interface and manual to be sparse (it did not include the helpful power/temperature chart that the other burners’ manuals had), sometimes leaving us guessing how the burner’s settings, such as “P5,” corresponded to standard heat settings, such as medium or medium-low. This was the only burner we struggled to clean; grease got stuck in the crevice between the front panel and cooktop.

Model Number: GIC200

Special Features: 8 power settings, built-in timer, child-lock feature

Price at Time of Testing: $44.99

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

While it boiled faster than most other models in our lineup and caramel sauce came together quickly, this induction burner struggled through all our other tests. Burgers were unevenly cooked and burnt in spots, cheese fondue broke and burned even on the lowest setting, and it took an hour for 2 quarts of oil to reach 375 degrees. Both our copies shut off unexpectedly due to overheating multiple times, despite not being on the highest setting. While the machine was fairly straightforward to use, we sometimes found the interface and manual to be sparse (it did not include the helpful power/temperature chart that the other burners’ manuals had), sometimes leaving us guessing how the burner’s settings, such as “P5,” corresponded to standard heat settings, such as medium or medium-low. This was the only burner we struggled to clean; grease got stuck in the crevice between the front panel and cooktop.

Model Number: GIC200

Special Features: 8 power settings, built-in timer, child-lock feature

Price at Time of Testing: $44.99

DISCONTINUED

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Max Burton Digital Induction Cooktop

With a large, easy-to-read interface and a “boil” button that automatically sets the machine at its highest power setting, we thought this was the most user-friendly of the induction burners we tested. We effortlessly seared burgers, cooked caramel sauce, deep-fried zucchini sticks, and held fondue at a constant temperature for 4 hours. We thought its performance was, for the most part, on par with the $1,600 model we tested, and it’s 17 times cheaper. It also had a lock screen function, which could prevent the heat from being accidentally turned up or down. The two caveats? It took the longest to boil water (about 35 minutes) and was the loudest. However, we felt these were fairly minor issues when compared to the machine’s overall intuitiveness and accuracy.

Model Number: 6450

Special Features: “Boil” and “simmer” buttons, built-in timer, 10 power level settings, incompatible cookware detection

Price at Time of Testing: $89.99

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

With a large, easy-to-read interface and a “boil” button that automatically sets the machine at its highest power setting, we thought this was the most user-friendly of the induction burners we tested. We effortlessly seared burgers, cooked caramel sauce, deep-fried zucchini sticks, and held fondue at a constant temperature for 4 hours. We thought its performance was, for the most part, on par with the $1,600 model we tested, and it’s 17 times cheaper. It also had a lock screen function, which could prevent the heat from being accidentally turned up or down. The two caveats? It took the longest to boil water (about 35 minutes) and was the loudest. However, we felt these were fairly minor issues when compared to the machine’s overall intuitiveness and accuracy.

Model Number: 6450

Special Features: “Boil” and “simmer” buttons, built-in timer, 10 power level settings, incompatible cookware detection

Price at Time of Testing: $89.99

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Max Burton Digital Induction Cooktop 18XL

Thanks to its 9-inch heating coil, this powerful induction burner was able to bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in about 19 minutes, the fastest of all the models we tested. It toasted flour and seared burgers evenly and made silky-smooth caramel sauce and golden-brown zucchini sticks. However, it was too powerful, and even on the lowest power setting fondue scorched. We liked the convenient “simmer” and “boil” buttons that automatically adjusted temperatures, but its power button was difficult to press, and the control knob and temperature probe were tricky to operate. This induction burner was also a bit loud; however, it was easy to clean and had great extra features such as a screen lock and incompatible cookware detection.

Model Number: 6600

Special Features: “Boil” and “simmer” buttons, built-in timer, 10 power level settings, 21 temperature settings, incompatible cookware detection, screen lock, temperature probe, programmable cooking mode

Price at Time of Testing: $135.59

  • Power
  • Cleanup
  • Cooking
  • Ease of Use
  • Noise Level

Thanks to its 9-inch heating coil, this powerful induction burner was able to bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in about 19 minutes, the fastest of all the models we tested. It toasted flour and seared burgers evenly and made silky-smooth caramel sauce and golden-brown zucchini sticks. However, it was too powerful, and even on the lowest power setting fondue scorched. We liked the convenient “simmer” and “boil” buttons that automatically adjusted temperatures, but its power button was difficult to press, and the control knob and temperature probe were tricky to operate. This induction burner was also a bit loud; however, it was easy to clean and had great extra features such as a screen lock and incompatible cookware detection.

Model Number: 6600

Special Features: “Boil” and “simmer” buttons, built-in timer, 10 power level settings, 21 temperature settings, incompatible cookware detection, screen lock, temperature probe, programmable cooking mode

Price at Time of Testing: $135.59

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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The Expert

Author: Valerie Sizhe Li

byValerie Sizhe Li

Associate Editor, ATK Reviews

Valerie is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. In addition to cooking, she loves skiing, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Valerie Li Stack is an associate editor for ATK Reviews. She’s interested in finding out how things are made—be it a kitchen gadget or artisanal food. Having grown up in a family that traveled extensively, she’s visited more than 50 countries—with more to come. Thanks to these travel experiences and the ability to converse in multiple languages, she’s become fascinated by the cuisines of different countries and regions and believes that food is a universal language that can connect people regardless of cultural background. As an avid skier, she dreams of hitting the slopes of all skiable mountains around the world. Prior to joining America's Test Kitchen, Valerie worked for Reviewed, USA Today, and other publications.

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