Simply plug-in and start cooking, this portable induction hob is a bargain

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob is a little fiddly to master. The LED display is bright and easy to read, but the controls are not intuitive. However, once you get used to the quirks, you will discover a powerful portable hob that would be great for those after a temporary additional cooking space. It’s reasonably priced and comes with a two-year warranty.

This hob has some nifty features, and unlike some of the other best induction hobs, has an integrated timer, lock function and a smart sharp-edged design, giving the hob a slender look. However, this model is deceptively large and too big to fit in a kitchen cupboard. It has two cooking plates and a max power of 2800W, and can accommodate large pots. Although powerful for the price, it was less impressive when handling lower temperatures, and a more gentle setting would be a useful addition. It was very good at distributing an even heat and responsive to temperature adjustments.

I did some tests to put this induction hob through its paces: although it struggled to make a chocolate sauce, it did produce perfectly evenly cooked pancakes. Depending on what you’re looking for, this might be the hob for you!

VonShef Dual Induction Hob

Unboxing the VonShef Dual Induction Hob

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob is delivered in a cardboard box with polystyrene padding. Delivery takes 1-3 working days, or next-day delivery is available for a fee in the UK mainland.

It was simple to set up as it just requires plugging in and is ready to use. However, you may wish to consult the manual before you start cooking, I found the controls a little confusing.

The quality seems a touch flimsy, but it has a 2-year warranty to cover you if anything goes wrong.

Who would the VonShef Dual Induction Hob suit?

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob would suit someone with a larger kitchen space looking for an occasional additional cooking area. This model is too large to fit in a standard kitchen cabinet. Therefore, it wouldn’t be suitable for compact kitchens where the intention would be to put the hob away between uses.

It could also work well as a temporary solution or in a space that needs a hob for light use, such as a kitchenette. It’s certainly much cheaper than installing an induction hob. The cable is just over one metre long, so it needs to be positioned close to a socket. The angular design creates an illusion that the hob is flat on the surface, so it looks more like a built-in hob than other models, great if you want it to look like a permanent fixture.

What is the VonShef Dual Induction Hob like to use?

Reviews from customers on the VonShef website mentioned the buttons being an issue. I also found them hard to use; they didn’t always respond when pressed. However, after a little use, I mastered the jabbing action required to activate them.

I was also confused by the display, although the bright LED display is easy to read, there are two ways to control the cooking power, and I’m still not sure what the difference is. Both seem to adjust the power, one with controls ranging from 200 to 2800W, the other from 60 to 240˚C.

I was able to use the VonShef Dual Induction Hob on my wooden countertop without the risk of damaging it as the cooling fan is powerful. However, this means it’s excessively loud when in use (and for about 50 seconds after it’s turned off). On full power, the fan noise reached 60Db (a noise sufficient to breathe a sign of relief when it stops whirring). Another mildly frustrating factor was that when the hob doesn’t have a pan on it, the control panel flashes, even if you’re using the other hob.

A useful feature is the timer, which can be set for up to 180 minutes. However, it seemed to reset when the other settings were changed and turns off after a single beep, so probably most useful for short stints where you intend to stay close by. It also has a lock function that you can engage while the hob is on so you don't accidentally change the settings.

The power is max 2800W, which is shared across both plates - so only one can be on max at a time. Which is good for a portable induction hob in this price range. It can accommodate induction pans size 12cm-26cm.

Test 1: Bringing water to the boil

To test the efficiency of the transfer of heat I timed how long it took to bring one litre of water to a rapid boil. At the maximum power setting it took 3 minutes 45 seconds, which is quite rapid.

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob has a max wattage of 2800W. Many built-in induction hobs are more powerful and have a boost setting for boiling water. But this still seemed faster than using my built-in electric hob. Of course, the time this takes will depend on the efficiency of the pan used.

It was impressive that this hob kept constant power and didn’t cycle on and off as some cheaper and older models do. This would be useful if you need to keep a consistent high heat, for example, when searing meat.

Test 2: Simmering chocolate or sauce

To test how successfully the hob can hold a low steady temperature, I made a chocolate sauce. Chocolate is a delicate ingredient; if overheated, it will burn and the sauce will split. The lowest setting on the VonShef Dual Induction Hob is 200W. To make the sauce I melted 50g of chocolate and 50g milk together in a pan with the hob set to the lowest setting. If the chocolate melts slowly, it will emulsify with the warming milk to make a smooth sauce. Unfortunately, even at the lowest setting, the VonShef hob was too powerful. The milk boiled very quickly, and the chocolate burnt in the pan.

It would be possible to keep a sauce warm without it catching in the pan by using a bain marie. However, not being able to gently heat things would be frustrating. For example, I used the lowest setting to melt butter, but the high temperature caused it to splatter and bubble, making a mess.

Test 3: Cooking pancakes

To asses the hob’s transfer of heat and how evenly it cooks I made pancakes. It’s possible to see a visual representation of the distribution of heat by looking at the browning of the pancake. This is where this model excelled. The pancakes were evenly browned all over, showing that it is good at even cooking. When adjusting the heat, the hob responded quickly.

Portability and storage

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob weighs 4.4kg and is easy to pick up and move. The size is easy to handle. However, the width is 59cm, which is too large to fit in a standard kitchen cabinet and requires a large counter space.

The power cord is 110cm long, so if your sockets are on the floor, it will need to be positioned close to a socket. For countertop power, you will have a little more flexibility.

It doesn’t come with anything for storage other than the cardboard box.

Cleaning

This induction hob was easy to wipe clean. Due to the high gloss of the ceramic plates and dark colour, dust and grease marks are very visible, but the flat surface is easy to wipe clean. I suggest first wiping and then using a microfibre polishing cloth. There are a few crevices around the control panel and the plates that, over time, may collect grime and require the attention of a cocktail stick to clean them.

How does the VonShef Dual Induction Hob compare?

The IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob is a similar model. It’s around the same price and power and would be more suitable for those with a small kitchen looking for a hob that can be put away. The IKEA model is also better for cooking at a lower temperature. If space is an issue, VonShef also sell a single hob version with a similar design that’s cheaper and more compact. The VonShef Single Induction Hob is slightly less powerful and half the price.

If you are after a more powerful portable induction hob for regular use that could work in a professional setting Buffalo are a good brand, the Buffalo Heavy Duty Double Induction Hob 7kW has two burners like this one, but at eight time the price of the VonShef Dual Induction Hob it’s considerably more expensive.

Should you buy the VonShef Dual Induction Hob?

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob would be good for those who require a temporary hob or an alternative to a built-in hob for light use. It’s competitively priced and comes with a long warranty. The neat design is easy to wipe clean, and it’s lightweight, so it's easy to move around. If budget allows, you may wish to opt for a more powerful model, but I would for the price and a temporary solution, this does the job.

How we test

At woman&home, we like to test every portable induction hob that we recommend to you. It's important that our tests cover the versatility and everyday use cases for the hob, but we also need consistency across the board so that we can compare between different models.

All of our portable induction hob reviews are carried out by experts, namely the woman&home food team. That's because the portable induction hobs get a lot of use on a whole range of recipes. They're also the experts when it comes to cooking and they'll pick up on nuances that other people might take longer to notice.

We have a whole page dedicated to how we test portable induction hobs, but if you want a mini tour of what we test, we have three core tasks. The first is boiling water, where we use water from the tap at 22C and the same pan with the lid off. We set the hobs to the highest setting and then time how long it takes for water to boil. This is really a power test. Next, we will simmer sauce or melt chocolate to test the induction hob's ability to be gentle. For the Tillreda, we made chocolate sauce from 50g of dark chocolate and 50g cold milk, at the lowest setting. The last test is pancakes, because this will show us how evenly heat is distributed across the pan from the portable induction hob. They're simple, but very telling tests.

You'll spot that we also talk about cleaning, packaging, value for money, and we'll offer up comparisons too. That way, you'll get a really clear idea of what the portable induction hob is like to use and whether it's the perfect one for you.