Living in an RV can feel like a dream, especially nowadays when it is never been easier just to pack up and go. Unfortunately, space is not something RVs are well known for; neither are they often revered for their kitchens.
Making space for a full stove in an RV can be an impossibility, and many of us have to resort to using smaller, usually portable cooktops. Finding the right cooktop for your RV is a difficult task – especially if you are specifically looking for induction cooktops.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the five best RV induction cooktops in 2021.
Best RV Induction Cooktops Reviews
Here are our top picks for best RV cooktop:
1. Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop
It devotes 83% of its power to heating. With 15 preset power levels (200W-1800W) and 15 preset temperatures (140°F-460°F), this cooktop is ideal for any cooking method. Additionally, Duxtop’s cooktop has a 170-minute timer, automatic pan detection, and overheating protection to ensure perfect, even cooking. The front LED display is large and angled, making it easy to see, even at a distance, and the five-foot cord allows for maximum portability.
The cooktop is easy to clean and scratch-resistant. It is lightweight, making it a breeze to transport and store. The only downside this cooktop has is that the fan can be a little on the loud side. For the price, reliability, and functionality, this is the best overall RV-compatible induction cooktop.
We should note that there are newer (and more expensive) models with LCD screens and safety locks, but not all of them have these features.
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Easy to store
- Cooks perfectly
- The fan can be loud
2. NutriChef Double Induction Cooktop
NutriChef’s cooktop comes with a plethora of features. The cooking features include manual cooking options, preset modes for frying, steaming, boiling, and auto-warming. There is also a built-in child safety lock that prevents any of the settings from being changed by accident.
This cooktop is made of easily cleanable, stain-resistant, tempered ceramic glass that transfers heat efficiently and evenly. It can accommodate pots of roughly 5”-10” in diameter. Each burner has independent controls for both heat and time. The cooktop has a five-foot cord and measures 14.2”x23.6”.
Unlike the Duxtop, the NutriChef has an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen. This is the type of screen used in your phone, computer, or TV. It is generally easier to see. All the buttons are touch-activated rather than push.
The NutriChef runs on 120V so that you can use it in any RV. Like the Duxtop, the fan is a little on the loud side, but overall it is the best portable, two-burner induction cooktop.
- Two burners
- Presets for different cooking settings
- Safety lock
- Can be loud
3. iSiLER Portable Induction Cooktop
iSiLER’s cooktop has 18 power levels from 100W-1800W that can be adjusted in 100W increments or 300W increments with a long press. It also has 17 temperatures from 140°F-460°F. This cooktop also has a lock feature, overheating protection, and a three-hour timer.
It is sleekly designed, with no sharp edges and a wear-resistant glass surface. The display is LED, and the buttons are touch-activated. It is efficient and dissipates heat quickly, if a little noisily. While the surface is easy to clean, it does tend to show streaks.
If you are looking for a compact, portable induction cooktop for your RV, iSiLER’s is your best bet.
- Very compact
- Sleek and durable
- Safety lock
- Noisy
4. Rosewill 1800W Induction Cooker
While this cooker doesn’t have any fancy presets, it does come equipped with eight temperature settings, a three-hour timer, and a safety lock button. The surface is polished crystal, and the display is LED.
There’s not much to be said about Rosewill’s induction cooktop. It is a compact, portable, no-frills cooker that gets the job done. Considering the price tag, the quality is exceptional. It is the best budget option for any induction cooktop.
- Inexpensive
- Safety lock
- No presets or special features.
5. True Induction Single Burner Counter Inset
What makes this cooker unique to most other inset cookers is that it is also portable. That’s two ways to use it for the price of one. It can be used with any RV as it uses 120V. It is made of easy-to-clean ceramic glass that provides the most even cooking experience.
The buttons are True Induction’s trademarked EZ touch controls; simple and intuitive. It can heat from 150°F-450°F and has a timer for up to 150 minutes. It is on the longer side at 15” by 12” wide. Like most other portable induction cooktops, the fan can be a little loud, but if you plan to place it on the counter, that should dampen the sound.
- Can be inset in counter or used portably
- Simple design
- Can be noisy
How We Picked Induction Cooktops
There are many aspects to consider when selecting an induction cooktop for your RV. You have to look at quality, size, brand, affordability, and so much more. It can feel overwhelming at times when you have so much to consider for a simple cooktop.
Not to worry; we’ve done most of the heavy lifting for you already. We have put together a list of the five best induction cooktops for RVs, so now you can just pick by price and preference. How did we pick them? Below are the criteria we used to ensure that only the crème de la crème (a cooking pun) of cooktops were included.
We examined and ranked eat cooktop based on their size, shape, number of burners, functionality, and ratings. With these qualifiers in mind, we delivered a list of the best RV cooktops to you.
Size
We know that living in an RV can be taxing on space management skills. Even the most minimalist person would probably have a hard time making everything work in an RV. We know that every inch of space counts; therefore, when selecting the best cooktops, size was a big (pardon the pun) consideration.
Taking this into account, we chose only the most space-conscious options. While having multiple burners is the most significant influence on size, some single burner cooktops are just unwieldy. We made sure to sort all those out for you.
Shape
If you are looking into induction cooktops for your RV, you’ve probably seen those Roomba-looking ones go by. While the burner itself is circular, having a round cooktop can be rather inconvenient when it comes to saving on counter space – not to mention they’re easier to knock pots off of. For that reason, we have only included rectangular cooktops on this list.
Number of Burners
As an RV owner, you are probably trying to save as much space as you can. Most people can make do with single-burner cooktops, and when it comes to storing them, they are often preferable.
With that in mind, we know that some RVs are larger than others and boast more counter space. As well, if you like to cook, you’ll know just how important it can be to have two pots going at once. Also, just because variety is the spice (more puns) of life, we made sure to include a two-burner cooktop option on the list.
Functionality
Smoke and mirrors do not make up a good cooktop, but added functionality is never unwelcome. A simple, no-frills cooktop is fine, but if you can get one that does more for the same price, wouldn’t you want it? So long as the cooktop cooks well and is fully functional, it can be considered for this list, but cooktops with extra, valuable features generally score higher here.
There’re not many unique functions that can be added to a portable cooktop, but as you will soon see, there is a large variety in the number of options and features that these RV induction cooktops have.
Ratings
We only considered well-rated RV electric cooktops for this list. All items have a 4.5/5 on Amazon among thousands of reviews completed. We want the best for you, so we did all the heavy lifting in ensuring that these cooktops are the best out there. You have our word, the manufacturers’ word, and the words of thousands of people just like you.
How Portable Cooktops Compare vs. Inset Cooktops
It goes without saying that the smaller an induction cooker is, the less powerful it will be. Most portable induction cookers have a 6”-7” induction coil – that is the bit that transfers energy to the pot or pan – while the large burners on full induction stovetops tend to be around 9”. The difference in the size of the coils means that you can use a different range of pots and pans. It also means that energy transfer differs.
You may find it difficult or downright impossible to boil a large pot of water on a portable induction cooktop. If you are looking to add an induction cooktop to your RV, chances are you don’t have room for an entire, full-sized stove and oven. When choosing an induction cooker, it is essential to consider where you will keep it.
If you have minimal counter space, you probably don’t want to sacrifice any of it for an inset cooker. On the other hand, if you lack storage space, an inset cooker can be better.
So, what are the fundamental differences between portable and inset induction cookers? For starters, there is the obvious matter of mobility. While some inset cookers are easily removable, others are fixed. If you want to take your cooker to different places or out camping, a fixed inset cooker might not be for you.
Another interesting difference between portable and inset cookers that most people fail to consider is the noise. While portable cookers can have rather loud fans, the sound is usually somewhat damped if set into a counter. Another benefit of an inset cooker is that you don’t have to worry about a power cord getting in the way of anything.
One more thing to consider is the price. Generally, the cookers are not far off in price, but if your counter does not already have a space for an inset cooker, you will need to modify it. In the end, whether you choose to use a portable or inset induction cooker comes down to a matter of preference. It is your RV; decide what works best for you.
Related Article: Induction Cooktop vs Gas
Frequently Asked Questions
After presenting you with the best induction cooktops for RVs, we wanted to answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding these products. As we were all taught in school, if you have a question, you are not the only one.
And even if you don’t have any questions, well, it is always nice to be well-informed anyways. Here are our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
This one is a particularly confusing issue. We have seen people rate cooktops lower because they didn’t include temperatures in degrees, only power. Other people are confused why most cooktops have both. Others still wonder if you should set them differently.
To answer this quandary, let us first define power and temperature in regards to induction cooktops. In short, power is the wattage of the cooktop. It is the amount of electricity it is using and the amount of energy it is thereby transferring. If the temperature shown is accurate (they’re not always perfect), that means it is a measure of the induction (the temperature of the pot or pan).
What this means is that the food is not actually at the temperature indicated. For accurate readings, you should use a thermometer that you can put in the food. For the purposes of the average user, the power and temperature mean the same thing, and therefore, cannot be set differently.
The temperature indicator on induction cooktops is ostensibly useless; it is just there for show and marketing. For the most accurate control, you should use the power setting rather than the temperature.
An induction cooktop works through the transfer of energy through electromagnetic fields, so while it may look like a hot plate, it is not. Hot plates are either gas or electric. They have open flames or elements that directly heat the pot.
An induction cooktop does not get hot like electric or gas; there is no heat in the coil, only in the pot or pan that the energy is transferred to. Additionally, induction cooktops can only be used with induction cookware and tend to heat much faster than a hot plate.
There are many benefits to induction cooking, especially in an RV. The top three are energy consumption, heat, and safety. Induction cooktops are far superior to gas or electric when it comes to energy efficiency. They will help you save power.
As induction is the transfer of energy rather than heat, not only is the energy not wasted in the transfer, but it also will not heat the inside of your RV as much. Because there is no open heat source and most induction cooktops have automatic pan detection and shut-off, the risk of a fire is significantly reduced.
Yes. Induction cooking is the transfer of heat via electromagnetic fields. For this to work, your pots and pans must all have magnetic bottoms. You can test this with a magnet, but anything with a high iron content should work. Glass, copper, ceramic, and aluminum will not. There are also pan adaptors available if you do not want to buy new cookware.
For most food splatter that gets onto your induction cooktop when you cook, you can merely wipe it away with a damp cloth. Because induction cooktops are flat glass panels, there is no place for food to get trapped and build up.
For tougher residue like oil splatter, try spraying the surface with white vinegar before sprinkling it with baking soda. Leave it for a few minutes and wipe it all off with a damp cloth. For even tougher grit, try a stove scraper and cleaner set; be careful not to scratch the surface, though.
Absolutely.
Final Thoughts
The search is over! Congratulations, you’ve found your new RV induction cooktop. Or, perhaps you are still deliberating. In that case, let’s go over the key points one last time.
If you are looking for the best overall cooktop, try Duxtop’s.
If you want the best two-burner cooktop, we recommend NutriChef.
For the most compact option (and our favorite), iSiLER’s is terrific.
If you are shopping on a budget, Rosewill’s is best.
And finally, if you want a cooktop you can set into the counter and take anywhere, try True Inductions’.
No matter which induction cooktop you chose to bring home to your RV, we’re sure you’ll love it. Induction cooking is a wonderful way to have more precise control over your cooking, and portable cooktops are perfect for RV living; easy to store, easy to clean, and fun to use.
Without a doubt, the RV induction cooker is great medicine for your mobile life. This is a good option as it cooks faster and is more energy-efficient.
If you want a single burner I recommend the Duxtop 8100MC which offers all the basic features at an attractive price. The high-quality glass surface can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
I like that Duxtop turns itself off automatically if it doesn’t detect any cookware for a minute.
Thank you for the article, it brought a lot of useful information to me. I think now I can know enough to find an RV induction cooker for long trips.