Duxtop 1800-Watt Portable Countertop BurnerRequires induction compatible cookware. If a magnet sticks well to the bottom of the pan and it is between 5-inches and 12-inches, it should be compatible.Digital control panel.Built-in count-down digital timer with 1 min increments up to 170 minutes.10 power levels from 200-1800Watts; 10 temperature range from 140 Degree Fahrenheit to 460 Degree Fahrenheit.Lightweight and compact for easy handling and storage.Safety features include auto-pan detection, over-heat protection with a diagnostic error message system and a low and high voltage warning system.120V 15 amps – compatible for use in all homes.ETL approved.
Countertop Burners
Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner, Gold 8100MC/BT-180G3
$4.40
Not Me –
Placeholder –
A big advantage is that this does not get ‘ hot’ unless the pan is on the induction top. So you are much less likely to have a ‘ warm’ kitchen from the heat of the cooktop and also there is a better safety feature. The heat settings work well. I find I will cook an omelet on “3” and if I am simmering vegetables I’ll start at 4 and then reduce to 2 or 1 for simmering. The cooktop is immediately responsive to the setting on the heat and will reduce or add heat right away. My only negative comment is that at the higher heat settings of 7 and above, you may hear a high pitched background sound if you are noise sensitive. I cannot use the settings above 7 as it hurts my ears! You may not notice that at all, however. A good safety feature is the cool down fan after you turn off the cooktop. The fan stays on for a few minutes and is a reminder that the surface is cooling down. As guidance for use: Periodically look UNDER the stovetop and remove with a damp cloth any dust that has accumulated around the fan. Also, the feet on this cooktop can leave black smudges on the countertop. These do not stain and the marks come off easily with soap and water. Overall an excellent purchase and a very reliable stovetop. Nice generous size on the heating area. I especially like the fact that the top is fully waterproof. The buttons are entirely enclosed an no chance of spilling liquids into the electronics. A very good purchase and I would buy again from this company.
bricevine –
I absolutely could not be happier with this cooktop.
I set out to specifically purchase a different brand based on recommendations that I had read on several cooking sites. But as I compared features, specifications, prices, and the ergonomics of the design… the Duxtop appeared to be the better choice.
My order arrived sooner than scheduled. Yea! I’m not a patient fellow, so it was test when I prepared that evening’s meal. The one and only induction ready pan I accidentally own proved in the first dish that I would be delight with this new, to me, methodology. As soon as I mastered it!
Electric ranges have been on my dirty list since leaving the country. (No gas to be had in the city here.) I was fed up with the lack of heat control and the delayed responses to adjustments. When one lady discussed induction as her favorite tool when commenting on her recipe cite, I liked the sound of it.
Thus I began researching the method and perusing recommendations. Those all leaned towards two other brands; one being what I had read about on the lady’s recipe page. Duxtop was not on the lists. Why? It looked to significantly be a better product than the two big-name brands.
Almost a month now of cooking with it for at least two meals a day, and I could not be happier! I still have only that one induction pan, but I have lots of cast-iron that I love. [The cast-iron is ideal for this device because the heat goes into the food, not the pan, I am often done with a dish before the handle even gets warm.] This Duxtop cooks so well that I can, and do, frequently prepare two dishes per meal on it.
The heat control is exactly what I desired. And, the food heats almost instantly. Because of this I’m finding it hard to keep up, as I was used to having time to do other things or just idle myself waiting on the electric range. Now I have to be on my game or things will be cooked before I’m ready to add the next ingredient!
I have yet to even need to set to the highest temperature. The cooktop comes on at medium, and I find that I most often lower that to medium-low. Only when using the 5 and 6 quart pots or the 12" skillet (all cast-iron) have I needed to set it to medium high.
The controls are simple, with a sensible layout, and properly located for ease of use. They are large enough for a man’s fingers and the markings are easily legible to my old eyes.
Clean up is a cinch, just a swipe with the dishrag. Done.
One absolutely wonderful aspect of induction cooking is that the heat goes into the food… not the kitchen. No sweating over a hot range now. That also equates to less energy usage and I am sure to see that when the electric bills come. With the amount I cook, I expect to see a savings payback in less than a year!
The Duxtop sits precisely over a small burner on the electric range, so I have not had to give up any precious countertop space, with the added advantage of being able to use the range hood fan to draw away the steam of cooking.
If I can squeeze another purchase out of my Social Security, I won’t need the range at all. A large board over that to hold two Duxtop cooktops will even provide me a net increase in work space.
I have not once found any item to fault; this product has exceeded my expectations and thus a well earned 5 Stars!
That was in July 2015, it is now October 2015. Did I say I could not be happier? Well I really do mean that!
The heat of summer has passed, without overheating my kitchen with the big electric range that I hate.
This Duxtop burner has cooked everything I’ve asked of it. And done so flawlessly. At this time, I don’t know if I’d even go back to using a gas range. I’ve used timer and temperature setting features a lot, and love ’em. The highest (10) power has never been needed, and 90% of my cooking has been done in the 2-7 power ranges when not using the direct temperature control.
I have added a couple of new induction compatible stainless steel pans to the one I accidentally had, but my cast-iron is still my usual go-to first cookware. I’ve just learned to slowly pre-heat them first for better performance. And the Duxtop is still faster than waiting for the range’s coils to heat up!
I did cover the electric range with a piece of counter-top. Although I only laid it there so as to be easily removable, I have yet to need the range. I now have two induction burners and more counter space. I’m in heaven!
Now I have to admit, sadly, to finding one single thing to fault: The control panel is level with the cooking surface. I carelessly moved a 12" cast-iron skillet onto part of the control area and left a slightly melted semi-circlular mark across it. Shame on me! But, the Duxtop suffered my ill abuse without any ill effect in operation. Hint to Duxtop: slope the control panel to protect it from people like me
Is 5 Stars all I can give this item? It deserves more!
JR –
OK, I just received this cooktop and was excited to start cooking with it. I checked all my cookware 1st to see if they had magnetic bottoms and they did. I wanted to use it for my stovetop coffee percolator and boiling large quantities of water. Other reviews have said “nothing boils water faster.” It also has a 180 degree temperature setting that would be almost perfect for a small stovetop percolator.
The 1st thing I tried was my 6-cup stainless steel percolator. Instant error message. I was pissed because I would have used it daily just for coffee alone. The second thing I tried was hard boiling eggs in my T-Fal stainless steel “magnetic-bottom” 4-quart pan. No error message this time but no boiling either. It kept shutting off before the water even simmered. Next I tried boiling water in my 22 quart stainless steel magnetic stock pot (10″ bottom and 12″ over all. Again no error message but it too couldn’t bring the water to a boil with only 2 quarts of water in the bottom.
I once again tried my 6-cup percolator and it began to boil the water half full of water. (no error message this time). At that point and after reading the entire instruction booklet, I KNEW my stovetop was defective! I immediately put in a return through Amazon and chose a UPS pickup then re-ordered another one. I’m going to give this thing one more try. I will update my review right afterwards. It won’t be until Monday (4 more days) before I get a replacement. Yes, I’m pissed off with my bit of bad luck after reading all the favorable reviews, but sh*t happens once in awhile! This is only my 2nd failure after dozens of orders. Amazon has been great!
UPDATE>>>>>>> I just found out why this stovetop isn’t working correctly. The fan on the bottom doesn’t spin. It overheats very quickly. I verified this by blowing air towards the bottom with my portable fan. Once I did that, it worked perfectly. I won’t be able to use the small percolator on it though. The cooktop only senses it once in awhile. The bottom is only 4.5 inches and I found out that a 5 inch diameter is the minimum from a poster here. I’m sure the next one will be OK. I will add 3 more stars when I receive a working one.
UPDATE #2>>>>>>>> I received my 2nd one on Saturday instead of the following Monday. KUDOS again to Amazon! It works GREAT! It senses my small percolator until I put the tube and basket inside, then I get an error message. (weird) since the basket is magnetic SS also. I purchased the Ilsa Gas Ring Reducer, 5-Inch, Cast Iron http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZHQ1Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to see if it would work on it but it failed BUT it works well on the stovetop to keep the heat JUST RIGHT for percolating on the lowest setting without steaming! I can perc my coffee for 7 minutes without the water becoming too hot and causing a bitter taste, yet strong flavor, which I love! This cooktop meets all my other expectations I had for it. It WILL handle a 10-12 inch Stock Pot (22 quart) and bring the water to a boil faster than my gas stove. I’m giving it 4 stars for the small inconvenience of returning and waiting for the 2nd to arrive. I think the damage probably happened during shipment. The small fan was probably jarred during rough handling. This appliance should NEVER be dropped!
Leo Volont YouTube Messiah –
Wow! Finally the Technology Age has brought forth something truly efficient, useful, and even fun to use — Inductive stove-top ‘burners’. I really needed something like that. My old stove has been slowly dying, and now only one small burner was left alive, but it was only a matter of time before it too would die, and I would have to call in the landlord… who probably isn’t aware that I added to my collection of kitty cats… I now have six, which is probably about five more than he would approve of. So when I heard about Inductive cookware, it intriqued me, and of course one can buy anything at Amazon.
I read up at Wikipedia how Inductive cookware works. You need a magentic frying pan or Wok, or a flat iron or steel interface disk that will get hot which you can put your regular pans on. What happens with magnetic pots and pans is that the electric current from the Inductive Heater flows in ordinary magnetic fashion along the very surface of the pot or pan where resistance is significant enough to impede the current enough to create heat. all the heat is captured by the pot or pan and none lost to the surrounding air and pot handles and such. Very efficient! But with regular pots, the current goes deep into the metal of the pot and pan and there is so little resistance that there can be very little heat but a huge electronic load on the Inductive Heater, which tells it to flash an Error Message, I think "E0" which means you do not have the proper cookware.
It turns out I did not have the proper cookware. Hmmmm, so it needs to be magnetic, but how does one know whether or not something is magnetic if one does not have a magnet, and I couldn’t find a magnet readily anywhere, but honestly, most electric motors and every electronic speaker has a magnet, and so I went to my closet full of old computer junk and found one of those old speakers that used to come included with the old PC Towers. I got a big carpenter’s claw hammer and put on protective goggles and tried smashing into that little plastic computer speaker thing to get to the speaker itself. I thought the thing would shatter, but sometimes plastic will surprise you. But I was able to finally beat the thing apart and extract the speaker and its Magnet. Yes, none of my pots or pans were magnetic. How could that be? Aluminum is more expensive than steel, or so I thought. Why in the Age of Cheap Crap has Steel and Iron been replaced by Aluminum? Or they must have discovered some Even Cheaper Metal… I’ll have to re-check the Periodic Chart when I have a chance, for a new metalic element called "Crapium" or something. But, I had to go Shopping first. First K-Mart — a million pots and pans, but my little Broken Speaker did not stick to anything. Oh, there was a set of three iron frying pans — the largest was barely big enough for one pancake, and the other two were even smaller…. for what!? Toy frying pans for Barby’s First Cook Set!? I live on a beautiful but Retail-Limited Island and so it was off to, Thank the Good Lord, Macy’s, as long as you can afford it, They also had thousands of Mystery Metal pots and pans that left my poor little magnet completely insensitive, but finally found these nice glimmering silver colored stainless steel frying pans with clear covers that my magnet clunked onto. And large black colored woks.
I got home and played with my dinner. The Inductive Cooker can be set for temperature and time… no more starting dinner to be alerted only by the smell of smoke and fire that one has left it ‘on’ too long. Honestly, in the Old Days one could not close a door on the Kitchen without inviting disaster. Now one can set a stew for a low temperature and a half an hour, and go off and do what one does and fetch dinner when one is ready for it.
And it is efficient! the Island People had already taught me keep the Water Heater turned off all the time except for 6 or 7 minutes before one wants to take a shower… and that saved me ‘Tons’ of money on my electric bill. I can’t wait to see how much my electric bill declines because I will only be cooking food now instead of super-heating the kitchen and burning half of my meals.
Also, I should add that this Duxtop 1800 is very sturdy looking, with a large enough looking cooktop. It is intuitively easy to use. Honestly, I really do love it… and getting the necessary pots and pans was, well, not so much an inconvenience, as an opportunity for bonding with my new stovetop miracle thing, and improving my education in mettilurgy, electronic engineering and thermal dynamics, not to mention the fun I had in hammer-smashing some old computer junk…
Kindle Customer –
A quick update. I have been using this induction cook top for 6 months now on a daily basis, it is the only cook top I use. I am still as happy with it as I was when I first started using it. Getting use to the heat settings did not take long and it does hold true to the temperature. I most certainly recommend this product to others. Am very happy with my investment.
I just received my Duxtop induction cook top from Amazon a few days ago. I have to say, this is a wonderful cook top and I am glad that I made this purchase. I purchased it because my regular gas cook top was no longer safe to use and I needed a burner desperately. I did my homework on several of these cook tops and I found this to be the best option in its price range. There is a slight learning curve in using it as the heat settings are accurate and of course you have to use the preset heat ranges, they increase or decrease by 20 degrees and are not quite what you would expect them to be — I would like it better if you could increase or decrease by 10 degree increments, and if low went a little lower, say to 120 degrees. I am not sure that on my regular cook top I ever actually cooked at 350/360 degrees even though I thought I was.
I did read in other reviews as to the sound of the fan — not even as bad as indicated — and the red “on” light remaining lit — not a problem and you know you have your appliance plugged in — I am glad that the light stays lit and you can tell the difference between it being plugged in to power and the unit actually being on — it is not rocket science — with the light being on I can remember that I need to unplug it, as anything electrical from a TV etc. can start a fire if left plugged in and you have a faulty plug you might not know you have. I unplug everything when I leave or just when I am not using it — I have all my electrical items on surge protectors so it is easy to “disconnet” them by just shutting off the surge protector switch. (you might want to consider purchasing a meter to check the working condition of your electrical outlets and then you can replace a faulty outlet before it can cause a problem (fire) — they are inexpensive, you do not need to be an electrician to check the outlets and the device just plugs into the outlet and lets you know if the outlet is working properly or not — a great safety device that will save a house fire.)
An induction cook top reguires pans that have a magnetic bottom on them, so you do need to use a magnet to see if it adheres to the bottom of your pans. I mostly use Calphalon pans and they are not magnetic, but I also use cast iron pans (which I actually prefer except for the weight, but now I have found they are making light weight cast iron pans) which are. Also, be sure to take a magnet with you when you shop for pans for your induction cook top. I found I did have a couple of stainless steel fry pans that were magnetic, but I have no sauce pans that are and will need to purchase a couple or invest in the special magnetic round (amazon sells this) to put on the cook top between the cook top and non-magnetic pans so that you can use them. At $34.99 it is pricy for what it is – but if you do not want to have to purchase new pans and yours are not magnetic you will need to invest in one.
As always, I was very pleased with the order processing and handling and had my unit within three (3) days. I am a Prime Member, if you are not and you order from Amazon on a somewhat regular basis you might want to consider becoming a Prime Member, AND NO I am not an Amazon employee — their program just has great benefits including the 2 day shipping.
Anyway, you can not go wrong purchasing the Duxtop and I am going to not replace my cooktop, but am going to keep on using this one and will purchase an additional one and then go with a stand alone convection oven. I would not hesitate to recommend this unit to my friends, and have done so, that they purchase this unit.
I will say, you do not want to purchase an induction cooktop, or any kind for that matter, that is rated below 1500-watts (regardless of what they give you free along with it, you will not be happy with its performance, plus you will have paid excessively high shipping and handling costs both ways and for that cost you could have purchased two of these — I am sure you have seen the infomercials a well known company has running whereby they will send you two for the price of one — they obviously know the worth of their unit and that you will be returning it and they will not refund the shipping and handling cost — so think seriously about how what appears to be a good bargain but is not!
I also want to add that I live full time in an RV and the Duxtop works beautifully and does not take up too much space — I have it on top of my non-working unit, I just put a cutting board over the top of my stove and set it on that. Hope this helps if you are contemplating the purchase of one of these units.
Anne –
I NEVER LEAVE feedback on AMAZON before, the reason is it is always no issue, not at all with amazon, this time is also not with amazon, but with the 3rd party itself.
I have been purchase things online for years on amazon, target, walmart, newegg, GAP many many others, but this is the FIRST time in my life ever had this bad customer experience, that I DONT know where is those 4 start of this product come from.
I did purchase this due to the stars that it has but it shows to me I am worng.
here is what is going on:
1- I purchase it and it arrives on some Wednesday afternoon, I immediately test it and it is not working, the fan positions is not correct so it causing huge noise as the fan might touching some place – you need to know that that is not normal fan noise from the induction cooker – I use it for years for my old one, and no issue at all, this one is not and it is not heating it might be the fan itself is not working
2- I immediate trying to print the return label from amazon,com that want to return it (not replace it ), as I know this product is not trust able anymore. But I didn’t noticed that before that this is not sold from amazon but from other 3rd party sellers, then all I have to is to call amazon customer support
3- Amazon told me they are contacting the seller for a return label to send me that i can return it, amazon sent them an email then after a day (noticed that after a day when night in US) they replied me (I noticed after that they always reply in the night or mid night PDT time ) so they are not in states. with the following
Hello,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your Duxtop Induction Cooktop.
Are you receiving any type of error code on your units display?
Lafraise.
4- Then I reply to them telling them the fan is not working and the cooker is not heat up; ( I was surprised to see they asking so details without send me a shipping label right away, normally others do i dont need to mention the reason I can return with any reason – then I lost one day, and what they reply again
Dear Anne,
Thank you for confirming the issue you are experiencing.
You may either return the unit for warranty repair or you can cut the power cord (unplug first) close to the base of your unit and email us pictures. One picture of the top of the unit with the power cord cut and one picture of the bottom of the unit showing the rating label with the power cord cut please. Once verifying the unit is no longer functioning we will then ship you a replacement unit.
Please confirm your current shipping address.
Lafraise.
5- I was angry _ this unit I want to return the second day and you are only for repair, I dont want to waste my money and time as there is friends coming in the weekend for hot pot; and I have already got one from new egg, I dont need this , then I told them again I want to return not troubleshooting, not repair. That is my right as a customer and for a non-working unit within 2 days I DONT WANT TO REPAIR, it not worth it
Then I telling them what I write above the replied
Hello,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your Duxtop Induction Cooktop.
Is there a specific issue you are experiencing with your unit?
Lafraise.
6- See it is like a machine answer, then I mailed them again
the replied
Hello,
Thank you for contacting us.
Please cut the power cord (unplug first) close to the base of your unit and email us pictures. One picture of the top of the unit with the power cord cut and one picture of the bottom of the unit showing the rating label with the power cord cut please. Once verifying the unit is no longer functioning we will then issue you a full refund.
Lafraise.
7 – i have no chice but send them pics
and they replied
Hello,
Unfortunately we are unable to verify the power cord is cut in the attached two pictures. Please email us pictures showing the units power cord has been cut as instructed below.
We will then gladly be able to issue you the refund you have requested.
Lafraise.
7- Then it is about 2 weeks gone and I am still strugging on that return, which is my right and now it is not with their customer care
– I got money back from amazon from their protection plan, thanks but I would like to let you know that this is not something you want to trust, never, VERY bad customer experience, never take your time and money as a way that they cares customers, I WONT buy anything from them, thanks for listening.]
Lee G –
I have only had it a week, I found a favorite stainless pan that works wonderfully, So I fixed the handle to it. I tried mac & cheese, the water boils quickly, I spilled some food on the cook top, but it was cold, so it wiped away.
I have always appreciated electric frying pans, they hold a lot of food, & they have temperature control, So cooking with this induction over is not much different, because I tell it the temperature, & it always cooks it right. I made a couple eggs so far.
I use the @2 setting to toast the bread in the pan with butter, & add ham & cheese & cook the egg, then I put the egg on the bread, . I love the resturant style, because they always taste better that way. I tried the temperature setting, but with eggs & sandwiches, the pan gets too hot, too fast, before the temperature gets regulated, but with larger dishes, I prefer the temperature control better.
If the butter burns the bottom black, on the carbon steel pan, that is a good quality, that makes the pan slippery, & the eggs won stick. I also tried sausage in the pan, & if you burn the sausage to the pan, just splash about two teaspoons of water in the pan & scrape it a bit with the pancake turner & take out the sausage before it gets too dry again. When you are finished, you can wipe out the pan with a towel, If you wash it with water. You need to dry it with a towel, so it does not rust & add oil & wipe it out with a towel.
I have heard many people complain about the fan noise, My hearing is as good as anyone else, & it was very quiet to me, a little fan, much like one in the computer, is all you hear, & is a very quiet wind noise.
I did make one mistake, I had a little stainless mixing bowl, I had the burner set on high, took off the big pan & for 3 seconds, I left the stainless mixing bowl on it. I never thought it had time to get hot, but it almost burned me.
I think its great, no heat around the pan, only the pan & the food gets hot.
If this thing works forever, I will never have a complaint against it.
I made some french fries in the carbon steel pan that I just bought, I can tell you that the cooking process of frying, made more noise than the fan did, for a second, I thought the fan was not running, until I turned off the cooking cycle.
I made some mac cheese for grandson, but with vegetables & extra cheese, I turned up the heat to #10, to heat the water quickly, when the water boiled, I turned it to 210 degrees, The stove top then goes to its normal #5 setting. This is good,& since water will not get hotter that 212 degrees, but to steam up the house. I let stove top watch the temperature until it was done.
I only enjoy two pans on the stove, the one carbon steel pan for frying, & the stainless for things that could affect the pan seasoning. Cast iron is great, but I dont want to lift them anymore.
I tried making popcorn in the carbon steel 12 inch pan with lid, it worked wonderfully, I worried about scratching the stove top surface, but had no problems, a little oil bubbled out of the pan & lubricated the bottom of the pan & it slid so smoothly, & when the pan is at 390 degrees, I believe it is when the e2 error command comes on, telling me that it is done anyway. The 390 degree limit protects the pan & the food, It also happens to me sometimes when I do my stir fries. When it happens, you dont need to cook it any more, it is done.
I took a towel & wiped the stove top, & it still looks like new.
I could not find a good stainless wok, that would work on the Ductop stove, so I got some two gallon stainless mixing bowls, They heat evenly on the magnetic inductive stove, So now i can make soups & spagetti too.
I tried them & they work fine, just remember to use a hot pad to move the pan when cooking in it, a dry folded washcloth will work,they can get as hot as 212 degrees as long as there is food with water in them.
Well it has been about 6 months since I bought this tuxtop magnetic induction stove top, almost everyone is using it now, no hot stove, no smelly smoke, the pan gets hot, & it cooks the food. Lately I ran low on food, grandson always like egg ham & cheese sandwiches, but he always leaves the crust. I decided to make pancakes, we have bisquit mix, self rising flour, margarine & eggs, So i took a couple slices of ham & two slices of cheese, chopped them up, & put 1/2 cup bisquick mix, 1/2 cup self rising flour, two eggs, some bacon bits( more flavor) stirred it up & put it in my favorite stainless pan, one that the magnet sticks to. I heat the pan until the butter begins to smoke. I had it on #10 & turn it down to #6 & make pancakes until the mixture is gone. 3 pancakes to each pan (12 inch pan)
Grandson loves them, they are nutritious ( don’t tell him that) easy & quick.
We add a little syrup, He goes wild on sugar, so we are very conservative on that. He loves them, they are a cheap breakfast, & he is not hungry all the time.
If you like them, change styles, you can use hamburger, sausage, Try a cheap sausage that is good for you, make hamburger, sprinkle a little sage on your hamburger while cooking it, It does not have as much fat as bacon or sausage & costs nearly half the price.
I bought this Tuxtop 3 months ago, it served me well, despite some misuse, be cautious of overheating it. It shows that I did abuse it a bit. The bakelite top is connected to the button display pannel, in case of overheating, the display could slightly separate from the stove top, a leak could cause malfunction,& drip water on the display pannel.
I took mine apart, dried up the water, checked for any other damage, then put it together & used JB weld quick a (350 degree epoxy),on the top to seal the leaky crack,to avoid additional malfunction. It still works properly, after time to dry out. I finally epoxied a small ridge in front of the control display, to keep the water out of the controls, it works well since. I make mostly french fries, grilled ham& cheese, stir fries, & popcorn.
After a year of owning it, I dont think I could ever be comfortable without it.
It is like any computerized appliance , water in the wrong place can cause malfunction. Even though my pans are big enough, moisture still runs over the sides of the pan during the cooking process.
I bought a pop up camper, gas cooking can be very hot in a little space, but with the duxtop, all the heat goes into the pan & the food. We cook coffee & vegetables inside, but meats are messy & smokey, so we put a little table outside for the Duxtop under the awning, & cook the meat products there. Its a life saver for us campers.
After two years it is still working, I turn it on, press plus until it is on #10,I boil water mostly for coffee, Great for beans, it heats quickly on #10 then I put the lid on it & cook on #1 setting, I think it automatically shuts of in an hour, I may turn it on again for a while. Makes soups, back to #10 til it boils, then back to #1 with a lid on it. I now use steel porcelain pans, they are at every thrift store in NC, I love them. I got a griddle lately & use the Tuxtop mostly for liquids & remind wife that it does not need to boil wildly, In NC at 2000 alt the water boils at 208 degrees no matter how high you turn it on, due to boiling point of water.Then I turn it on #1 with a lid.
The griddle heats left overs, temperature is constant, it cooks hamburgers, warms up ready cooked fried chicken. makes toasted cheese sandwiches. BUt I will take the Duxtop camping or where ever I go, I take the griddle too & the portable gas grill, in case I can’t get electricity.
I bought another one, even though the old one still works too. I received this Magnetic Duxtop in fine condition & on time. My last one, I got was 4 years ago. I really abused it by cooking french fries on it. On setting #10 = 1800 watts, it cooks fast, but as it gets close to finish, the heat needs to be reduced to # 4 = 1000 watt or # 5 . This keeps the Magnetic Inductive stove from exceeding the safe range before shutting down. That mistake slightly melted the plastic below the bakalite table. I have cleaned the fan, Removed dust a few times & because of the abuse I gave it, I had to use JB weld to patch up the problems that I caused. . If it is new, all the functions will work, But, if you want to turn on your coffee & walk away to warm it up, it would be best to turn it On, press Temperature setting, & click on Minus untill you reach the 180° setting, then it will turn off when it reaches 180° temperature, & you will not have to clean out the burned coffee, from the coffee pot, when you get back. Where I live, we get good porcelain steel coffee pots for $3 at the thrift store. If you do not live near the Carolina’s, this may not be so available. Shortly after I got my first Duxtop, we went camping, we cooked about everything in it for the next six months. We moved into a rental house, their stove was no good, we didn’t care, our Duxtop worked just fine, even for camping, most campsites have electricity.. I did buy a Magnetic Steel pan ( flat bottom wok ) this is good for cooking greasy things. Do not wash those with soap, unless you want to re- oil it again. They are more sensitive to rust than cast iron, then I also bought a good stainless steel frying pan, But do not get tefflon, this will get hot enough to burn the teflon off.
I have cooked pop corn, but you do need to be careful, not to run it into shut down. Like the problem I had with cooking french fries. When you buy Kettles, do not forget your magnet. If the magnet does not stick, don’t buy it. My friend came from Florida & loved mine, so he went back to Florida to find one in a garage sale. This is the most incredible stove top that you can buy, but you have to follow the rules , if you want it to work for you. Some people returned theirs, just because they did not have Magnetic Inductive pots & pans. You can use cast iron, but they are heavy & take more time to heat up. I had to buy new pots for mine, but I love it anyway. I love cooking this way, you never feel the heat. The pan gets hot, & the food gets hot from the pan. If you spill something on it, you can lift up the kettle & wipe the stove with a moist wash cloth without interrupting the cooking process.
C. Dutoit –
I swear by gas stoves. Wouldn’t buy a house that didn’t have gas. It was my ONLY show-stopper condition when we were house shopping. I was flexible on everything but that.
I cooked A LOT. The only reason I bought an induction cooktop was because I wore out both sides of the inserts on my [brand name] gas cooktop (they rusted to bits from constant use) and since I wanted time before I decided what my replacement would be, I ordered one of these to tide us over. We had the grill insert, so with one “burner” and a double grill, I’d have time to think.
I was shocked at how great the Duxtop induction cooktop was. I was a tough sell, but they won me over.
Water (for pasta) came to boil faster than my gas stove ever did. Peanut oil, for frying chicken, was also ready faster than anything I’d ever experienced with gas, and it stayed hot (I burned the first batch!). It has also been marvelous for wok cooking, and that’s what made me a total convert. I’ve had to learn how to cook with it, but that hasn’t been too difficult, since the results have been worth it.
The heat is so hot that I ruined a wok with a non-stick coating and had to go for the old-fashioned, steel kind instead. I like that! You’d think that would have turned me off of induction cooking, but just the reverse. Stir fry is SUPPOSED to be hot and quick (that’s how you get cooked through veggies that maintain their color). I spent $25 on an all steel Wok at the cooking store with the initials W&S, and I’ve been making the best stir fry to ever come out of my kitchen. If for no other reason, getting one of these cooktops is worth it just for that (just don’t use your non-stick coated wok with it–it WILL get too hot). Be sure to buy a wok with a flat bottom, and it has to be steel, of course, or the induction won’t recognize it, and it won’t turn on.
I was enjoying all of this so much, I ordered a second Duxtop cooktop, exactly like the first one.
The other thing that’s been fun is cooking wherever I want in the kitchen (or where there is an outlet). There’s a nice spot, right next to the sink, where there’s great light in the kitchen. This is where it has been best to stir fry, near the sink (as I don’t have a pot filler tap next to my stove), and having water close to a steel wok for quick rinsing between dishes is a good idea. No problem if I spill a bit, and it is close to where I’ve cut all the veggies. No walking back and forth to the stove. (Made me realize even more how badly laid out my kitchen is–as if my husband needed me to have more of a reminder of that!)
All of this has made me rethink my stove replacement. Maybe I don’t need to do anything other than buy a replacement drop-in for the exact same cooktop I already have, and continue using the Duxtop Cooktops, as I’m using them now. Maybe we should all rethink how we cook in our kitchens, eh? Some of us have multiple sinks and dishwashers now. Why not multiple cooktops, in different cooking zones?
And no, I’m not a shill for Duxtop. It just makes sense to think about cooking zones in the same way we’re thinking about other zones in our kitchens.
This is not to say I’m a total convert to electric cooking. It still has its downsides, as always. I can’t scramble eggs with it without burning them or overcooking (or anything that requires medium or subtle heat, or with copper bottom pans–which is unfortunate), but induction cooking does bring something to the party that ordinary electric cooking never had: Higher, quicker heat. Did I say quick? I mean IMMEDIATE! Electric cooking is always going to have the same problem of hot zones that it always had, and these are not going to solve that problem. With gas heat (especially with copper bottom pans) the heat spread is even, and spreads evenly up the sides of the pan, covering the bottom. With electric, the heat is going to be hotter where there is a coil. Induction improves on that a bit, because there are no coils, but there is still a cooking center. (I found that if I move the pan so that it doesn’t have a chance to get too hot in any one place, I burn the food less.) All of this takes practice and experience. I’m sure that people who have more experience with electric cooking burn food on gas stoves, so it is what you are used to–so this isn’t a magic bullet, but it is certainly better than the old-fashioned coils. But, as I said, the speed at which you can boil, or bring heat to other dishes is well worth the learning curve, where it wasn’t worth it before.
These cooktops have two methods of setting the temp: either a numeric setting of 1 to 10 or a kind of high/medium/low, but in a setting of 1 to 4 (I think, I never use that setting). I prefer the 1 to 10 setting (giving the greatest control). I set to 10 when I want to bring water to boil, but then quickly change the setting to about 3 to keep things boiling, and 2 to maintain a simmer (for things like sauces), or 1 to keep things warm.
It’s my belief that every house needs at least one of these. They’re handy for parties (when you need an extra burner), for emergengies (if the gas stove breaks), they’ll be great for the summer for boiling corn (take it outside and put near the grill), and there is no way to get this kind of high heat for stir fry or quick boiling without upgrading your gas pipe to 3/4″.
You don’t have to be as crazy as me and buy two, but at these prices, it isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Party, table cooking (for shish kabap or steak on “stone”) will be great this summer too.
I’d recommend these to anyone… and I’d recommend two. Just avoid buying the interface disks (the products sold so you can use pans other than steel). Those ARE a waste of time. They don’t work (they get too hot, causing the cooktops to shut off). Spend your money on a few extra steel pans instead… because you can’t have too many pans EVER.
UPDATE 2/2012: I’ve had these a year now. I continue to use them, meaning they haven’t ended up in the dead/bored appliance part of the pantry. Most of the time I keep one by the stove (that I still haven’t fixed) and one by the sink. I’ll move them around, as needed. I’m still not a very good electric-stove chef, but they continue to work, as advertised. If the food doesn’t turn out properly, the fault is definitely with me. They were a saving grace during the Holidays: 3 burners were enough to get us through Thanksgiving and Christmas. The advice above, to allow the pan to warm up a bit (to setting 5) before blasting it (at setting 10) has prevented other non-stick pans from losing their non-stick coating, and having it flake off on the food. Not a good thing at all.
Alien Nomad –
Looking to revolutionize your cooking experience? The Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop Burner is a game changer. Here’s why it’s become my kitchen favorite:
Sleek and Portable Design: This cooktop combines elegance with functionality. Its sleek black and gold design adds a touch of sophistication to any kitchen counter, while its compact size makes it perfect for small spaces or as an extra burner for larger gatherings.
Powerful and Efficient: With 1800 watts of power, the Duxtop induction cooktop heats up quickly and cooks food evenly. From boiling water to simmering delicate sauces, it handles every task with precision and efficiency.
Precise Temperature Control: One of the standout features is its precise temperature control. You can adjust the temperature in increments, ensuring precise cooking from gentle simmering to high heat searing.
Safety First: Induction cooking is not only fast but also safe. The Duxtop cooktop features a built-in timer and overheat protection, giving you peace of mind while you cook.
Easy to Clean: The smooth glass surface is easy to wipe clean after use. No more scrubbing or messy spills—just a quick wipe and it’s ready for the next meal.
Versatile Cooking: Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned chef, this cooktop offers versatility. It supports various cookware sizes and types, including stainless steel, cast iron, and magnetic bottom pans.
Energy Efficient: Induction cooking is known for its energy efficiency, as it heats only the pan and not the cooktop surface. Save time and energy without compromising on cooking performance.
Great Value: The Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop is an affordable investment in your culinary adventures. It delivers professional-level cooking results without the hefty price tag.
Overall: I can’t recommend the Duxtop 1800W Portable Induction Cooktop enough. It’s sleek, powerful, and makes cooking a joy. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen or need an extra burner, this cooktop is a winner!