A double induction cooktop can be a great second cooking station for entertaining, easy for travel use like camping, or for permanent use in a small kitchen.
In this review of double induction cooktops, you'll learn about important features--they're different than for single induction cookers--and the best double induction cooktops on the market. We look at the best model overall, the best counter inset (installable) model, and the best model that doesn't use power sharing.
Best Double Induction Cooktops at a Glance
Here's a quick look at our picks. See detailed reviews below.
Cooktop: | Header | Features: |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall: |  | -1800W/Standard 120V outlet -Auto safety shutoff (60s delay) -Child Safety Lock -Boil/Keep Warm shortcut keys -Power sharing automatically adjusts power levels -20 temp settings from 100-460F -20 power settings from 100-1800W -10 hour timer -2 year limited warranty. |
Best Counter Inset Model: True Induction TI-2B |  | -1800W (standard 120V plugin) -Power sharing adjusts power to both burners (max 1800W) -10 power levels 100-1800W -9 temp settings 120-460F -150 timer/max run time -Cooktop 24.5" x 15" -Inset 23.6" x 14.125" x 2.3" -Glass ceramic top -23 lbs -Designed to be inset in counter. |
Best Non-Power Sharing: Cuisinart ICT60 |  | -1800W (standard 120V plugin) -8 settings on left burner/5 settings on right -1200 watt and 600 watt burners -30 second shut-off delay when pan is removed -Limited 5 year warranty. |
Standard Features
All the double induction cooktops we review here have these features:
- 1800 watts of power
- Can be plugged into a standard 120V outlet
- Auto shutoff when a pan is removed and for overheating (some with 30-60s delay)
- Pan sensor so the unit won't switch on if it doesn't detect a pan
- Cooling fans that run continuously while unit is in operation
- Require induction-compatible (magnetic) cookware.
What to Know Before You Buy
Here are some basic facts about how induction cooktops work.
Pulsing: How Induction Cooktops Work
Induction cooktops control heat by pulsing power on and off to reach and maintain the set point.
This is important to understand, if even in broad terms, because it explains the primary difference between inexpensive induction burners and higher-end ones.
When you pay a premium price for an induction burner, you are paying for more sophisticated heat control.
In inexpensive portable induction cookers, the pulsing is crude and poorly controlled, which accounts for the scorching that can happen with induction cooking and the inability to hold a nice simmer.
In more expensive induction cooktops, the pulsing has better controls, with the ability to speed up and slow down based on how close it is to set point, and also to pulse at different wattages (rather than just On/Off, On/Off). This results in smoother temperature transitions and better ability to hold constant temperature, particularly low temperatures. The result is less scorching and gentle, constant simmers.
All of these double induction models have good, but not great, temperature control. To get really good low temperature control, though, you have to spend quite a bit more, either on a full-sized cooktop or a high-end model like the Vollrath Mirage Pro.
Power Usage--Important!
An 1800W double induction cooktop--this is one that plugs into a standard wall outlet--uses power differently than a single portable induction burner. The maximum amount of power available is 1800W--this is true for all standard 120V power outlets. On a single burner, that power goes to only one burner, so no problem. But when an 1800-watt unit has two burners, there are all sorts of ways that power can be distributed.
Some double induction cooktops have 1800 watts available to both burners. But that doesn’t mean you can run both burners at maximum power simultaneously--you can't. You can only use a maximum of 1800W including both burners.
This equation holds true for all double induction burners: the power being used by both burners simultaneously cannot exceed 1800W. So even if both burners are capable of an 1800W output, they can’t operate at their maximums at the same time. You can have 1800 and zero, or you can have 1600W and 200W, or you can have 900W and 900W, or you can have 1200W and 600W, etc. And if you set both burners to maximum, most units will simply divide that power up equally so both burners operate at the maximum possible power with both burners running (i.e., 900W).
So note that regardless of what specs are given, no 1800W induction burner can produce more than 1800W total at the same time. Probably the biggest frustration about this for most people occurs when you have both burners going and you raise the temperature on one of them: the other burner will compensate by lowering its temp. You have to keep this in mind when you cook on one of these units, and learn to adjust temps accordingly.
The Cuisinart ICT we review below handles this issue differently. It has one burner that has a max setting of 1200W and a smaller burner that has a max setting of 600W: this means both burners can operate at maximum power without draining energy from the other one. This may or may not appeal to you, depending on how important power is to you. 1200W is still fairly powerful, but it will never boil a pot of water as fast as an 1800W burner.
Overall, unless you routinely need two pots of liquid to boil as quickly as possible, power sharing shouldn’t be a big concern. Most cooking is done in the medium power range--max power on induction units can burn food and warp pans--so two burners going at 900W will get most jobs done satisfactorily. And if you’re boiling water for pasta while simmering spaghetti sauce on the other burner, you’ll still get boiling water--just not quite as quickly (although still pretty fast).
If you want more power, you will probably want to look at commercial grade units or full-sized built-in cooktops, both of which run on a 240V power supply, which can supply more than double the wattage. There will still be power sharing going on, but it will be far less noticeable because you have so much wattage to work with--if you've never noticed it on your full-sized range or cooktop, you wouldn't notice it here, either.
Burner Size
The burner sizes in most double induction cooktops are the same as in single portable induction burners: somewhere around 6 inches in diameter and able to accommodate pans with bottom diameters between 5-11 inches (give or take). However, in order to fit two burners into a portable induction burner, there may be some sacrifice in cooking area. You may not be able to use two large pans at the same time, for example, because the space is just too small. Unless you’re cooking for a crowd, this shouldn't be an issue.
One really cool feature of double induction cooktops is that you can use them for oblong and rectangular pans such as griddles. The seamless glass surface makes this easy--but for best results, you should use cookware with excellent heat induction properties to compensate for the cool spot between the burners.
Temperature Control
Because these double induction cooktops are designed to replace full-sized cooktops, they generally have good temperature control. Most have a standard temperature range from 140F-460F. We prefer more granular controls for more precise temp settings, but to get that would require spending quite a bit more.
Having said that, the Duxtop has 20 temp and power settings and low settings of 100W or 100F, which is great. The True Induction TI-2B has just 10 power and temp settings with low settings of 200W or 150F, but it does a pretty good job of holding a simmer temp.
The Cuisinart accomplishes simmering by having one burner with a max setting of 600W, but its lowest power of 200W, it's not the best choice if you want to do a lot of low-temp cooking.
Best Overall: Duxtop 9620 LS LCD Portable Double Induction Cooktop
About $230
This is a fairly new offering from Duxtop, having been released the end of 2018. This is a portable induction cooktop with two hobs; it is not a replacement for a built-in cooktop. However, it has a lot of great features, and it's a very nice double portable induction cooktop.
See also our comprehensive Duxtop induction burner review.
Duxtop makes some of the best inexpensive portables, and this double cooktop is no exception. It has the same powerful features as Duxtop's single burners, including an excellent temperature range and 20 power and temperature settings for precise control. We also love the 60 second delay shutoff that's hard to find on portables. You can remove a pan from the burner and it won't shut off for a full 60 seconds. If you've ever dealt with a portable burner that doesn't have this feature, you know how frustrating it can be to have to reset the burner every time you move a pan.
CHECK OUT REVIEWS ON AMAZON FOR THE DUXTOP 9620LS DOUBLE INDUCTION COOKTOP
Features
- Standard 120V outlet
- 1800W
- Great Duxtop features including auto safety shutoff for overheating (above 460F), high/low voltage warning, and error code message system
- Child Safety Lock
- Digital readout shows temperature, timer, and error codes
- Power sharing to automatically adjust power levels when both burners are being used
- 60 second-delayed shutoff when pan is removed
- 20 temp settings from 100-460F
- 20 power settings from 100-1800W
- 10 hour timer, settable in 1-minute increments (will run for 10 consecutive hours)
- One-touch Boil and Keep Warm shortcut buttons
- Pan sensor: unit won't switch on if no pan is detected
- Cooling fans run continuously while in operation
Controls
The 9620LS uses power sharing to automatically adjust power levels when you're using both burners. Here's a diagram from Duxtop explaining how this works, with a table of the power to each burner:
The left burner has a maximum power of 1,800W and the right burner has a maximum power of 1,000W. If you increase power to one burner the power available to the other burner decreases.
This is a common feature on double induction cooktops; with a maximum total power of 1,800W, this is how they keep power shared between the two burners.
The 9620LS LCD has Boil/Keep Warm shortcut keys. The Boil shortcut key shuts the burner off after 10 minutes.
Both burners have individual timers that operate independently, settable up to 10 hours of run time.
If no timer is set, both burners have an auto shutoff feature after two hours of run time.
SEE THE DUXTOP 9620 DOUBLE INDUCTION COOKTOP ON AMAZON
Specifications
1800 Watts total power, with power sharing feature not to exceed 1800W
Left burner: max 1800W
Right burner: max 1000W
Plugs into standard 120V outlet
Dimensions (LxWxH, inches): 25 x 17.3 x 4
Approximately 5-inch burner ring (both burners)
Weight: 14.6 lbs
Power cord length: 5 feet
Sensor touch digital controls on angled panel
20 temp levels from 100F - 460F
20 power levels from 100W - 1800W
60 second delayed shutoff pan sensor
Up to 10 hr timer settable in 1 minute increments
5 ft. power cord
1 year warranty
ETL approved.
Safety Features
- Auto pan sensor
- Auto shutoff (60s delay if pan after pan is removed; 2 hrs if timer is not used)
- Lockable settings
- Error code display.
Pros
- Wide temp range (100-460F) and power range (100-1800W)
- 20 temp and power settings
- Sensor touch control panel (no plastic keys that could melt).
Cons
- Plastic housing
- Only one burner with 1800W--the other has only 1000W
- Power sharing automatically adjusts power when using both burners.
Recommendation
Duxtop makes some of the best portable induction burners on the market. The build quality isn't as good as True Induction and other higher-priced brands, but you shouldn't expect that at this price point (about $230). The controls are better than True Induction and at a much lower price. If you need a lightweight double burner that's easy to move and has a surprising amount of power, Duxtop is a great option.
Buy the Duxtop double Induction Burner on amazon now:
Best Counter Inset: True Induction TI-2B Double Induction Cooktop
See True Induction TI-2B at Wal-Mart
See True Induction TI-2B at Home Depot
About $300
If you want a double cooktop for a permanent installation, the True Induction TI-2B is one of the few on the market designed for this. It's more expensive than the other models we picked, but True Induction gets high levels of customer satisfaction and has better low temperature control than other induction cooktops at this price point.
The TI-2B looks great, too:
It has a sleek design and a simple-to-operate control panel. The glass-ceramic surface is chip and scratch resistant and easy to clean, with no crevices to collect food and grease particles.
The power sharing is different from the Duxtop double cooktop in that both burners can go the full 1800W. As you turn one up, the other automatically goes down to always equal a total 1800W.
True Induction is also the cooktop of choice for the Winnebago RV manufacturers, who use the TI-2B counter inset model in their motor homes. All True Induction products have a two-year factory warranty, as well as a 60-day free trial period. The company is known for its excellent customer service.
Features
The True Induction double induction cooktop is the choice of the Winnebago motor home company for their electric cooktops. These double induction cooktops have a number of special features that make them our number one pick:
- “Power-Sharing” technology that allows both burners to get up to 1800W (although not at the same time, as described above in the Power Usage section)
- Quick Touch (“EZ touch”) controls that are easy and intuitive to operate
- Scratch, chip, and shatter resistant glass-ceramic surface
- All-glass surface which is very easy to clean
- 858 UL certification
- 2-Year limited warranty.
Controls
Each burner on the True Induction double induction cooktop has separate but identical controls. Both have “EZ” touch controls on the glass surface, with a digital display that shows which mode it is in (heat, temperature, or timer). There are buttons for each mode, and +/- keys to scroll through settings in each model.
A digital display shows the current setting. It is a straightforward and easy-to-use cooktop.
Specifications
Power: 1800W, 120v / 60 Hz (standard U.S. wall outlet)
Power Sharing: Max power of 1800W shared between the two burners.
Temperature Range: 11 temperature levels:150F, 180F, 210F, 240F, 270F, 300F, 330F, 360F, 390F, 420F, 450F. Default temp (when you turn unit on) is 300F.
Power Settings: 10 power settings: 200W, 400W, 600W, 800W, 1000W, 1200W, 1400W, 1600W, 1800W. Default power (when you turn unit on) is 1000W. When both burners are in use the max power level will equal 14; when you increase power on one burner it will decrease on the other accordingly, for a total power level of 14.
Timer/Run Time: Timer/Max run time 150 minutes, timer settable in 5-minute increments.
Cooktop: Glass ceramic
Optimal Pan Size: 4.5" - 10"
Dimensions (Cooktop): 24.5" x 15" x 3"/23lbs.
Dimensions (Inset): 23.6" x 14.125" x 2.3"
Installation
The TI-2B manual provides detailed measurements and instructions and includes an installation kit.
Safety Features
- Auto pan sensor
- Auto shutoff after 150 minutes (must turn back on if you want to use for longer)
- Overheat shutoff over 450F
- Voltage sensor
- Error code display
- Child safety lock.
Pros
- Power-sharing technology makes both burners easy to use
- Simple controls
- Easy to clean
- Pretty good low temp control for the limited number of settings.
Cons
- 30-degree temperature increments are less than ideal
- More expensive than other double induction cooktops.
Recommendation
If you want a cooktop to install, the True Induction TI-2B is one of the few on the market. True Induction has limited power and temperature settings, half what the Duxtop double induction cooktop has. This means less granularity of control. However, the cooktop works well at low temperatures and can hold a steady temp. With temperature settings of 150F, 180F, and 210F, you should be able to get a decent simmer.
The cooktop looks great and gets mostly positive reviews, with a few complaints about early failures and poor customer service.
BUY TRUE INDUCTION TI-2B COOKTOP (INSET) AT home depot:
BUY TRUE INDUCTION TI-2B COOKTOP (INSET) AT WAL-MART:
Best Non-Power Sharing: Cuisinart ICT60 Double Induction Cooktop
About $200
Cuisinart bought this double induction cooktop from Waring Pro; Waring Pro has a lineage that goes back several decades and is known for its quality appliances. It gets mostly positive reviews, with a few users complaining about early failure and bad customer service.
This cooktop doesn't use power sharing like most other double induction cooktops. Instead, each burner has a maximum power that together adds up to 1800W, so you can run both at max power. One has a max of 1200W and one has a max of 600W.
If you're thinking that 600W isn't very powerful, that's true. However, if you think of this as having one powerful burner and one burner for lower heat cooking, then you get the idea of the best way to use this double cooktop. It's much like the big and small burners you'll find on a full-sized range or cooktop.
We like the 30 second delay in shutoff when you remove a pan, and we actually like the non-power sharing design. Yes, it will take longer to boil a pot of water at just 1200W, but the cooktop is still surprisingly fast.
One drawback of the Cuisinart is that there's no option for setting a burner by temperature: you are relegated to power only. This is most important for low-temp cooking, but Cuisinart accomplishes decent low temp control by having a small, 600 watt burner; the lowest setting is 200W, however, which is a little strong for a gentle simmer.
CHECK OUT THE CUISINART ICT60 REVIEWS ON AMAZON
Features
The Cuisinart ICT60 double induction cooktop is a durable, no frills, simple-to-use double induction cooktop. It features:
- Simple control panel with 8 settings on the left burner and 5 settings on the right one
- 1200 watt and 600 watt burners, which means both can be used at max power simultaneously
- 30 second shut-off delay when pan is removed from burner
- Even heating with no hot spots
- Limited 5 year warranty.
Controls
The control panel looks like this:
- Separate controls for each burner
- Each burner has a Power button, Timer button, Heat button, Up/Down arrow keys, digital display
- Since the total wattage equals 1800, the settings will not decrease on one burner if you increase the setting on th other
- 150 minute timer on each burner.
Specifications
Left burner 1200W max with 8 power levels: 200W (1), 300W (2), 450W (3), 600W (4), 750W (5), 900W (6), 1050W (7), 1200W (8)
Right burner 600W max with 5 power levels: 200W (1), 300W (2), 400W (3), 500W (5), 600W (5)
Power: Standard 120V outlet plug-in
Cooktop: Glass-ceramic cooktop
Dimensions: 23.5" x 14.25" x 2.5"
Weight: 11.6 lbs.
Safety Features
- Auto pan sensor
- Auto shutoff for overheating
- Auto shutoff after 180 minutes.
Pros
- Simple to operate
- Can use max settings on both burners simultaneously
- Different sized-burners (much like a regular-sized cooktop)
- 30 second delayed shutoff when pan is removed
- 5 year warranty.
Cons
- Max of 600W on one of the burners may be a drawback for some people
- No option to set by temperature
- Some reviewers complain of failures early on and poor customer service.
Recommendation
We like the Cuisinart ICT60 double induction cooktop for its ease of use and straightforward controls. With its big burner and small burner, the ICT60 is designed more like a full-sized cooktop. The 600W burner is capable of most cooking tasks, it may just do them a little more slowly. The 30 second shutoff delay when you take a pan off a burner is a great feature (you don't have to turn the burner back on when you put the pan back if it's less than 30 seconds).
If you're looking for a reasonably priced double induction cooktop for portable use and prefer the non-power sharing burners, the Cuisinart ICT60 is a great choice.
BUY CUISINART ICT60 DOUBLE INDUCTION COOKTOP ON AMAZON:
Final Thoughts on Double Induction Cooktops
Double induction cooktops can do full time duty in RVs, tiny homes, and other small spaces, or they can serve as extra burners when you need them. All of these models are 1800 watts and use a standard wall outlet, which makes them convenient to use, yet powerful enough to provide good performance. The Duxtop, True Induction, and Cuisinart are all good choices depending on what you're looking for.
Thought or questions? Let us know in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading!
Help other people buy wisely, too! Please share this article:
I'm looking for a dual burner induction cooktop that aligns vertically for a small counter top (vs side by side burners).
Can you recommend any high quality models?
thanks..
Hi N Leon, I don’t know of any off the top of my head, but I did a google search and found a few. They are all 240V, so need to be wired in; couldn’t find any that were 120V/1800W.
Here are the links to the ones I found:
https://amzn.to/3RSatwn
https://gaslandchef.com/products/7348108001447
https://sovrn.co/l5vo5ax
I hope that helps. If you’re looking for an 1800W model, I wasn’t able to find one.
You might try an appliance dealer if you need more help.
Good luck.