The Vollrath Mirage Pro is better than most other portable induction cooktops on the market. But is it worth the higher price?
What sets it apart? What makes it so much better than other induction cooktops (even some that cost hundreds more)?
Read on to find out the pros and cons of this amazing portable induction burner.
The Mirage Pro At a Glance (Comparisons)
Here's a table comparing the Duxtop 9100MC (one of Amazon's most popular consumer-grade PICs), the Mr. Induction 183C (another commercial-grade brand), and the Vollrath Mirage Pro:
Note: Comparison table may not be visible in mobile view.
Duxtop 9600LS
| Vollrath Mirage Pro | |
|---|---|---|
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 13.7 lbs |
Temp Range* | 100F - 460F | 80F - 400F |
No. of Power Levels | 20 (100W - 1800W) | 100 (50W - 1800W) |
No. of Temp Levels | 20 (100-460F) | 32 (10-degree increments) |
Coil Diameter | about 4.5 inches | 6 inches |
Fan Type | Sleeve bearing (noisy) | Ball bearing |
Noise | Buzzes with some cookware | Quiet |
Simmer Capability | Mediocre | Excellent |
Max Run Time | 10 hours | Unlimited |
Type of Controls | Digital | Digital display, manual dial |
Housing | Plastic | Stainless/aluminum |
Warranty | 1 year | Contact Mfr. |
*This is the official temperature range, but most induction cooktops will get hotter than this--up to 500F or so.
For the price, the 9600LS is a great PIC. With 20 power levels and 20 temperature settings, it has more than almost every other PIC under $100. If you want an inexpensive PIC, the 9600LS is one of the best options available. (See our review of Duxtop Induction Cooktops for more info.)
The Mr. Induction PIC is another commercial model, so its build quality is closer to the Mirage Pro, but notice that the power and temperature controls are closer to the Duxtop 9600LS.
In fact, no other PIC on the market, and not even many full-sized induction cooktops, can boast 100 power levels, or a low heat level of 80F. Add to that the excellent build quality, large coil, and manual control dial, and you can start to see what makes the Mirage Pro such an excellent PIC.
CHECK OUT THE MIRAGE PRO ON AMAZON NOW
A Quick Primer on Portable Induction Cooktops
This section provides a quick lesson on how induction works. You can skip to the next section if you don't need to read this.
How Does Induction Cooking Work?
This 30 second video from Vollrath quickly explains the induction concept:
What Is Heat Pulsing and How Does It Work?
Induction burners control heat by pulsing, or turning the heat on and off, on and off, on and off at different rates until the set point is reached. (Actually, they're not turning heat on and off, they're turning a magnet on and off, with the end result being heat.)
You don't have to understand all the technology behind heat pulsing, but you do have to know that this is how induction works, because:
The ability to pulse heat well is what sets an expensive induction cooker apart from an inexpensive one.
Inexpensive PICs pulse mainly full blast or off, full blast or off. So they'll run at their full 1800 watts until they reach the set point, then they shut off (0 watts). When the temperature falls below a certain level, they switch on full blast again to achieve the setting, which usually results in overshooting the setpoint again, shutting off to cool down, and so on until they hit the setting. Then they shut off, and the cycle continues.
The more expensive PICs (and full-sized induction cooktops) have "smarter" electronics than this. They can blast heat just as quickly (probably more quickly), but when they get close to the set point, they lower the rate of pulsing, and/or adjust the wattage level of the pulsing, rather than just shut off and switch back on again when the temp goes too high or falls too low.
They still pulse, but they're able to pulse at many different rates and many different power levels in order to maintain temperature equilibrium.
This is why with cheaper units, you get a lot of scorching of food and the inability to hold a simmer--the full blast/off, full blast/off cycle makes it almost impossible to hold a precise cooking temperature without wild fluctuation--especially at low temperatures.
So, what's the upshot? If you simply want a PIC that gets very hot very fast and you don't care about a lot of precision, any PIC will do and you shouldn't spend more than $50-100. (And this is certainly a nice thing to have, even if you use it primarily to boil water or heat up leftovers.)
On the other hand, if you want something that can hold a constant temperature without scorching, particularly a low temperature, you're going to have to spend a little more than that. For temperature precision, the Mirage Pro is your best bet by far.
The biggest difference between an inexpensive PIC and the Mirage Pro is that the Mirage Pro can hold a constant setting without vast fluctuations which result in scorching or other undesired results--even at very low temperatures.
Portable Induction Cooktop Pros and Cons
Portable induction cooktops have a number of advantages:
- Induction cooking is more efficient than conventional electric, and much more efficient than gas cooking. Most of the magnetic waves go right into the cookware, and there is very little ambient heat lost to the atmosphere. This can result in lower energy bills (although honestly, the difference may be too small to notice) and a cooler kitchen.
- Speed. If you know anything about induction, you, know that it gets super hot, super fast. It heats faster than gas and much faster than electric. An average induction burner can bring a cup of water to a boil in about 90 seconds--that's fast! Speed isn't always what you want in the kitchen, but when you do (pasta water, for example), nothing does it better than induction.
- Responsiveness. Induction cooktops react instantaneously to changes in temperature settings. They are so quick, in fact, that many people find there's a bit of a learning curve in using induction. You don't need to preheat pans, for example. And never, ever walk away from a hot pan until you're familiar with the settings, because you're almost sure to burn whatever you're cooking.
- Safety. Induction cooktops don't get hot, so they are inherently safer than gas or electric cooktops. They also have several safety features that add to this inherent safety. They won't turn on without an induction-compatible pan on them, and they shut off automatically after a pan is removed (times for this vary from a few seconds up to a minute--the minute delay is a great feature found on more expensive models).
- Portability: PICs are lightweight enough that you can use them anywhere--out on your deck on a hot day, on a buffet line if you're doing a Sunday brunch; a dorm room; you can even take them camping. They are an excellent extra burner whenever and wherever you need one.
- Easy cleaning. Because the surface itself doesn't heat, induction cooktops are super easy to clean. Food won't cook onto the surface, and you can just wipe the burner off after cooking. You can also put newspaper or paper towels down underneath the pan to catch splatters--because the unit works with magnetism, the (non-magnetic) paper won't burn.
Here's a short video demonstrating cooking with a paper towel:
Portable induction cooktops also have some cons, including:
- It can be tricky to find accurate information on them, so it can be hard to know that you're buying one you'll be happy with. (Check out our article on How to Buy a Portable Induction Cooktop.) Specs given on Amazon and even on manufacturer sites can be sketchy. And how the heck do you figure out the difference between a $50 PIC, a $150 PIC, and a $450 PIC (or, for that matter, a $900 PIC)? If you don't understand all the terminology, it can be really hard--and the bestsellers on Amazon aren't necessarily the best way to go, especially if you're looking for precision, durability, and longevity.
- Low-cost PICs have notoriously poor temperature control, especially at low temps. They get very hot very fast, but because of how heating is controlled (with the on-off pulsing described above), they do poorly at lower temps. This means that it can be difficult, and in some cases impossible, to hold a constant simmer. (This is not the case with the Mirage Pro, and one of the key features that sets it apart from less expensive PICs.)
- If you want a top quality portable burner, the initial cost is also going to be fairly high--the Mirage Pro is around $500 (although the price can vary from $450-550). This is ten times what some PICs go for! But for that price, you get everything: durability, precision, longevity, and ease of use.
- You need induction-compatible cookware. (See our induction cookware guide for more info.) Cast iron works and most newer stainless clad cookware works. Aluminum, copper, and non-magnetic stainless are not compatible with induction cooktops. (Although clad cookware with layers of copper and/or aluminum will work if it has an induction-compatible stainless exterior.)
If you're not sure whether or not your cookware will work with induction, test the bottom with a magnet: if it sticks, then the cookware works with induction. (And the stronger the stick, the better the cookware will work with your PIC.) - If you buy a commercial grade PIC like the Mirage Pro, you may not be able to get a factory warranty with it. Many makers, including Vollrath, won't honor a warranty for home use. You can get around this by buying the buyer protection from the dealer (such as Amazon). Also, be sure to use a dedicated circuit so as not to accidentally damage the unit.
If a magnet sticks to the bottom, the pan will work with induction.
Check out Induction Cooktop Pros and Cons for a more detailed discussion about the good and the bad of induction cooking.
Can Induction Cooking Be Dangerous?
As far as safety in the kitchen, induction is hard to beat; in fact it's the safest cooking technology known to man. But there are a few other areas of concern: 1) Pacemakers, and 2) Electromagnetic radiation.
Pacemakers
Some pacemakers can be affected by the magnetic operation of an induction cooktop. This isn't because induction cooking is dangerous; it just has to do with the frequencies of the pacemaker and the cooktop.
Most pacemakers are NOT affected by induction, and of those that are, the pacemaker typically has to be in extremely close proximity to an operating burner to be affected.
Nevertheless, if this is a concern for you, consult with your cardiologist before purchasing an induction burner. It is always better to be safe than to be sorry.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a more complicated subject. And while there are a lot of differing opinions about the safety of electromagnetic waves in general (and induction in particular), the scientific consensus is that non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation is safe. In fact, using your induction stove is safer than being out in the sun without sunscreen. This is because the sun's radiation causes skin cancer, while the induction cooktop's radiation does not.
For a detailed discussion on this topic, see Is Induction Cooking Safe?
What Features Should I Look for in a Portable Induction Cooktop?
Here are what we consider the most important features of a portable induction cooktop:
Feature | Why It's Important |
|---|---|
No. of Power and Temp. Levels | The more power levels, the more control you have over the cooking process. The more temp levels, the more control you have over the cooking process. (Having said that, holding a constant temp is hard for most PICs with poor electronics, so price is actually a better indicator of how well the PIC can hold a constant temp.) TIP: Read power level specs carefully! Some PICs claim to have way more settings than they actually do. They do this by counting programmable levels and/or shortcut buttons (e.g., "Simmer" and "Sear") as additional levels when they're really just different ways to use the same levels. |
Temp Range | This mostly applies to the low-end temperature range, as all PICs are good at getting very hot (around 525F even though the highest temp given is usually 400F-450F). A good low-end temp range indicates better internal temp control. |
Weight/Housing | The weight is an indication of how well-built the unit is because weight is an indication of how durable the internal components are and of how durable the housing is. |
Coil Size | The larger the coil, the better the PIC will be at heating large pans. More expensive PICs tend to have larger coils (burners) but sizes only vary between 4-6 inches. |
Fan Type | Cheap PICs have sleeve bearing fans that are loud and not very durable. Expensive PICs have ball bearing fans that are quiet and durable. |
Noise | Some PICs are noisier than others. Cheap PICs tend to be noisier because of cheap internal components. They are also more prone to buzz/squeal with some cookware. |
Simmer Capability | This goes back to temp control. Good simmering = good internal components. Cheap PICs tend to scorch food because of their on/off pulsing. |
Max Run Time/ | Run time is only important if you want to do long simmering projects, but some PICs will only operate for a certain time and then shut off automatically. The time can vary from 2 hours to 99 hours, so be sure to check before buying (it can be frustrating to have a PIC shut off when you weren't expecting it to!). |
Type of Controls/Control Panel | The easiest controls to use are dials. This may not be important to you but more expensive PICs tend to have dials, while cheap ones are all digital with menus to scroll through. |
Warranty | Mfrs. may not honor a warranty on a commercial PIC purchased for home use. ALWAYS BUY THE EXTENDED AMAZON WARRANTY ON A COMMERCIAL PIC, including the Mirage Pro. |
Price | Price is the best indicator of quality. You have to spend upwards of $300 to get a PIC with great performance, sturdy build, good coil size, etc. Even then, you have to do your homework, because features vary considerably. |
Features of the Vollrath Mirage Pro 59500P
The Mirage Pro has all the best of the features in the table above, plus some great extras.
These are the features listed on the Vollrath website:
- G4 Engine (from the Vollrath website: Mirage® Pro induction ranges feature the G4 Engine, using four IGBTs so the workload is shared across four parallel switches. This increases the efficiency, control and longevity of the Mirage® Pro induction range.)
- Temperature Mode: Settings of 80F-400F (27C-204C), settable in 10-degree increments
- Power Mode: Power level Settings 1-100 with approximate temperature of 80F to 400F (at highest power setting, will get up to 525F)
- Fahrenheit/Celsius display option.
- Knob control--fast and easy to change settings
- Digital readout and troubleshooting display
- Stainless housing with aluminum underside
- Green LED display
- Setting memory: remembers the last setting used when powered on
- Fully framed ceramic top for durability
- Factory bench tested for ultimate quality control
- "Hot" warning display for safety
- 6' (183 cm) cord and plug
- 2 year warranty (for commercial use only).
But wait! There's more:
- Sophisticated heat control: The Mirage Pro has sophisticated controls that use split-second pulsing as low as 50 watts (unlike the all-or-nothing, 1800W/0W pulsing of less expensive PICs). It also goes as low as 80F. So if you plan to use your portable induction burner for delicate kitchen jobs like melting chocolate (which burns above 105F) or cooking eggs, this is an important feature. It also makes this cooker useful for simmering stock and possibly as a sous vide cooker because it can hold a steady temperature better than just about any other PIC on the market (and is hands down the best in its price range).
- Full Power to Any Size Pan: Another unique capability of the Mirage Pro is its capability to use full (or almost full) power to any pan size. Most portable induction burners use less wattage with small pans, even if you set them to full power, which means slower heating times. But the Mirage Pro uses a full wattage level for any pan size.
You're not going to find these last two points on Amazon or even on the Vollrath website unless you really dig. Why aren't these excellent features highlighted? You'd think Vollrath would shout it from the rooftops, that the Mirage Pro is better than other PICs by a few orders of magnitude.
Maybe Vollrath assumes that people aren't savvy enough to understand how cool these features are. Or maybe they think 100 settings is enough to get people's attention.
In any case, the Mirage Pro is pretty much in a class by itself.
You may not understand all the technology, but you understand enough to know how cool this PIC is, and how different from other PICs on the market--even other commercial PICs.
Mirage Pro Specifications
Vollrath Mirage Pro 59500P Product Specifications | |
|---|---|
Power: | 1800W (standard U.S. 120V/60Hz, 3-prong plug-in, 6-ft. cord) |
Color: | Stainless body, black ceramic top, green button and LED display, stainless manual knob for power/temp level selection. |
Dimensions: | 15 in. x 14 in. x 3 in. |
Weight: | 13.7 lbs. |
Temperature Range: | 80F - 400F (but can exceed 525F at high settings) |
Power Levels: | 100 |
Timer | 180 minutes in one minute increments; shuts off when time has elapsed. |
Auto Shutoff | 60 second delayed shutoff if no pan is detected |
Error/Message Display | Displays "HOT" until surface cools, "ADD PAN" if no pan is detected. |
Cooktop Size: | Approximately 12-inch diameter (despite the website's claim of 14-inches) |
Heating Element: | Approximately 6-inch diameter |
Pan Size: | 4-inch - 12-inch diameter bottoms. (You can use larger pans but may not get satisfactory results depending on the pan's heat induction capabilities.) |
CHECK OUT THE MIRAGE PRO ON AMAZON NOW
CHECK OUT THE MIRAGE PRO AT WEBSTAURANTSTORE.COM
Daily Use (Controls)
The Mirage Pro has a super easy user interface, with just three buttons, a knob, and a digital display:
The Control Dial is awesome! It's an old school, manual control that changes settings almost too fast. If you're in Power mode, it zooms from 1 (lowest) to 100 (highest). If you're in Temperature mode, it goes from 80F up to 400F in 10-degree increments.
Operation works like this:
- Press the On/Off button.
If there isn't a pan, the display will flash "ADD PAN" and the unit won't come on. If there is a pan, it will automatically run on the setting at which you last used it. - If necessary, change the mode (Temp or Power) by pressing the desired button, then turning the knob until the desired setting shows in the display. If it's already in the mode you want, just select the setting by turning the dial until it displays what you want.
- Cook your food.
- Press On/Off to turn the cooktop off. (Or just let it shut off by itself, which it will do after 60 seconds.)
- Do not touch the cooktop surface while the display flashes "HOT," which it does until the surface is cool. (Yes, after it's switched off.)
It doesn't get much simpler than that. And if you use it for the same thing every day, the memory is a really nice feature.
This diagram from the Mirage Pro user manual shows features and operation of the control panel:
About Temperature Control
With all this emphasis on low-end temperature control, it's probably important to talk about it in a little bit more detail.
First of all, when and why would you want to use temperature control? The best example is when you want to hold something to a simmer. If you simply set the power level to a low setting, the PIC will continue to get hotter, just at a slower rate than if it were at a higher setting. So if you want to keep a pot at a low simmer--just under the boiling point, for example--setting the unit between 140-200F will do a better job than if you set it to a low wattage.
One of the problems with using the Temperature settings on PICs is that the temperature sensor is buried beneath the glass surface of the unit. Add to this the fact that the pan, not the burner, gets hot, and you see that the sensor has to read through a few layers. By the time the setpoint temp gets down to the sensor, the burner has already gotten too hot.
On cheap PICs, this adds greatly to the overshoot/undershoot problem: the sensor reads the temperature and turns the pulsing off. Then, by the time the sensor figures out it's cooled down way too much, it turns the pulsing back on. (Remember: full blast/off is often the only control option on inexpensive PICs.) The result is a very uneven heating cycle that produces a full boil, then no boil in turn rather than true simmering.
We've tested the Mirage Pro at how well it holds a temperature setting. And it really does hold a temperature pretty well without a lot of fluctuation. However, because it has the same sensor issue, it does tend to overshoot a temperature setting. Yet because it has more sophisticated electronics, the overshoot is limited to about ten degrees, and the undershoot is even less.
It's really quite impressive--and if you plan for that extra 10 degrees when you use the Temperature setting, you'll get stellar results.
The best way to achieve a constant temperature setting is to start the Mirage Pro on the Power setting and switch to Temperature Mode after it's warmed up. This will ensure minimal overshooting/undershooting of the desired temperature. This is so because in Power Mode, it's not as reliant on temperature feedback to reach equilibrium.
Pros and Cons of the Mirage Pro
Pros:
- 100 power levels
- Excellent temperature control
- Manual control knob
- Durable and well built with stainless housing, ball bearing fan, and smart electronics
- 8-inch diameter coil
- Many extras, including adjusting to pan size, 60-second delayed shutoff when pan is removed, a low temp of 80F, 180-minute timer, and unlimited running time.
Cons:
- Expensive
- Home use may void the warranty. (It must be on a dedicated outlet.)
The warranty might be a deal breaker for some people, and this makes sense. But there is a workaround: Buy the extended warranty from Amazon.
As long as you buy an extended warranty from the seller, you will have some coverage in case anything goes wrong.
Final Thoughts on the Vollrath Mirage Pro
The Vollrath Mirage Pro 59500P is a superb portable induction cooktop. It's powerful, quiet, and has excellent temperature control down to 80F. It is vastly superior to everything else in its price range, and better than some costing much more.
Highly recommended.
BUY THE VOLLRATH MIRAGE PRO 59500P ON AMAZON NOW:
BUY THE VOLLRATH MIRAGE PRO 59500P AT WEBSTAURANTSTORE.COM NOW:
I considered buying the Vollrath, but the option for an extended warranty was NOT offered by Amazon. This is a bit surprising as I get prompted by Amazon with a pop up window to consider extended warranties all the time. No pop up, even when I went to checkout. I searched around but could not see a way to add an extended warranty
Thanks for the comment, Matthew. Agreed, it is disconcerting that there is no option for the extended warranty on the Mirage Pro, which we discovered during our last update of the article a few weeks ago. Interestingly, there WAS a warranty option for the Mirage Cadet, which is just weird as it’s so similar to the Mirage Pro. Maybe this is an oversight by Amazon? I really don’t know.
FWIW, I’ve had the Mirage Pro for going on 6 years and it’s been great. It’s designed for restaurant use, so there’s not a lot that it can’t tolerate for home use. It’s an absolutely stellar unit. I can’t remember if I got an Amazon warranty on it or not when I bought it, but it’s been fine.
I know stuff can go wrong, so I don’t want to try to change your mind on buying it without a wararanty. But maybe you can find a workaround, such as buying with a credit card that has buyer protection, or possibly registering with Vollrath as a business–although I realize that gets into some questionable territory ethically.
In any case, it is really a great PIC, and it’s a shame that it isn’t covered. There is really nothing else on the market that comes close to it for less than about $1500.
As of 2/12/23 the extended warranty IS available for the Mirage Pro. It's almost $100 for 4 years, but its available.
That’s great news! We will update everything to reflect this.
Awesome review. I've been musing about this from time to time, for enthusiastic home use.
It seems quite expensive, but it's actually a great price compared to the alternative, which is to replace a range unit. I can't justify changing a perfectly functional range (electric coil, just indestructible) for a $3000+ one.
Thanks for the tip on warranty for home use. Not very surprising, as I noticed that the user guide said "for commercial use only". There is a "Canadian version", with wattage reduced to 1440W. I suppose it would be a safer option for home use, as I doubt I have such a thing as a circuit with absolutely nothing on it (and, uh… I'm in Canada too). A bit weaker but I suspect the only noticeable difference would be the time to boil a huge pot (I don't think one would crank to 100% in any other circumstance).
I saw that Vollrath launched a whole new generation of cooktops, like the MPI4-1800. Any thoughts on these? Manufacturer says for pan up to 12" (Mirage Pro is 10" 1/4). I look at it and I just think…. game changer!
Hi Philippe, thanks for commenting. Glad you enjoyed the review and yes, the lower wattage Canadian model seems like a great alternative (we will add it to the article). I agree, it may take slightly longer to boil water but you won’t otherwise notice a difference.
Have not looked at the new Vollrath cooktops, but took a quick look at the one you mentioned. Spendy, probably meant to compete with CookTek products. Also probably more durable than the Mirage Pro, but I’m not sure it’s worth that price for anyone who doesn’t have an unlimited budget. FYI, I’ve seen the Mirage Pro advertised as working with a 12″ pan too, and though it will, it’s not ideal. The new one, at 12.75″ wide, just may work with a pan that size, however, what matters most is the size of the induction coil, which is probably around 6 inches diameter. (We would have to take one apart and measure it to be sure, but 6″ is about as big as they get on portables.)
I don't know where you got the idea that the coil in the Duxtop is only 4.5" – that would only work with TINY pans of 6 to 7" or less. Everywhere I've seen it mentioned it is 6" – which is the expected size if its to work with a 10" pan as advertised by the manufacturer. Take a look at it here (its the 8100CM model but I doubt they put a SMALLER coil in their more expensive model).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHIJanz7sUA
You could always contact the manufacturer as an alternative to making unsupported statements.
Also you state the Mirage Pro has an 8" coil here but on this page:
https://therationalkitchen.com/best-commercial-induction-cooktop/
You state it has "about" a 7" coil. It's my understanding the coil in the Mirage Pro is 8.3", which would allow for about a 12" pan. Not sure why you have such a large discrepancy there.
Hi Pye. The manufacturers’ stated coil size does not correlate to the actual heating diameter. (It should, but it doesn’t.) The coil may be 6 inches in diameter (the video doesn’t say, but it looks to be about that), but it doesn’t generate heat all across the whole coil. Rather, the heating diameter is about 4 inches.
As for the Mirage Pro, it has a coil about 8 inches in diameter and generates heat in a diameter of about 4.3 inches.
You can take either unit apart and measure the actual heating area to see what we mean. Or, you can just watch how water behaves in a pan on either induction burner.
A 4 inch diameter is enough to heat a pan with a bottom diameter of 10-inches. Anything larger than that is probably going to heat unevenly. That may sound small, but think about a gas flame: it’s about the same smallish diameter, but nobody thinks twice about a gas flame heating a pan evenly.
We should update all this information to be exact across all of our articles (because it’s unprofessional to not be exact), so thanks for the heads up. But the larger point is that you get about 4.3 inches of heat from the Mirage Pro and about 4 inches from the Duxtop. And these are the best we’ve found on any portables.