Portable Induction Cooktop Warning

Induction cooktops are all the rage, but I almost found out the hard way would could happen if you turn your back while it’s on. Never leave one unattended.

It never fails when you’re cooking a large feast for a holiday or some event and you run out of burners on your stove. I’ve been wanting an extra burner of some type for occasions like that, or just to use to simmer sauces so the stove burner doesn’t heat up the entire kitchen.

I bought a portable induction cooktop a couple of weeks ago. I used it last weekend to brown some rib tips prior to oven baking them it worked really well. The meat browned very evenly and quickly.

This morning I thought I’d use it again for boiling some Chinese noodles for some quick soup.  What I witnessed concerned me greatly. I turned my back for a few seconds to wash some bok choy and when I turned around the pot of water coming to a boil had moved across the top of the cooktop. I can think of several reasons for that.

1. The cooktop was not on a level surface. I have very little counter space so I placed a cookie sheet upside down over my stove burners and it wasn’t level. The next time I’ll try it without turning the cookie sheet upside down.
2. The bottom of the pot was very slick. I have a set of Fabio Viviani Bialetti Aeternum cookware.
3. The glass cooktop is also very slick. Slick pot bottom on slick glass… just sayin’.
4. The vibration of the fan on the cooktop was enough to cause the pot to go skating across the glass.

Play is safe and don’t leave your induction cooktop unattended.

Cooktop Tip:  If you get an E1 error code when you turn your cooktop on, you forgot to place a pot on the cooktop prior to turning it on. DOH!