Verdict
Head-to-head · Best Compact Induction Cooktops

Cuisinart ICT-60 Double Induction Cooktop vs Nuwave PIC Gold Induction Cooktop

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Cuisinart ICT-60 Double Induction Cooktop comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.1 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Compact and kitchen-free spaces, dorms, RVs, boats, patios, or a small countertop, where you want genuine two-burner cooking in a 24-inch-or-less footprint and can use the 1200W left burner as your workhorse and the 600W right burner for simmering or warming, all from one 120V outlet. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Cuisinart ICT-60 Double Induction Cooktop
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Compact Induction Cooktops
Cuisinart ICT-60 Double Induction Cooktop
$170

The Cuisinart ICT-60 is a portable double-burner induction cooktop that fits the compact (24-inch-or-less) brief at 23.5 inches wide, making it a credible two-pot solution for dorms, RVs, boats, patios, or a small kitchen overflow. Its standout design choice is an asymmetric 1200W/600W burner pair that, unlike many dual portables, lets both burners run at full power at once without robbing each other. Reviewers generally praise the fast induction heat-up, simple per-burner controls, glass surface, and 5-year warranty, though several note the 600W right burner is really only suited to simmering or warming. Reliability appears mixed, with scattered reports of uneven heating, warped pans, and weak customer support. Overall a sensible compact pick for cooks who want genuine two-burner flexibility and accept that one zone is the 'small burner' of the pair.

Strengths
  • Two independently controlled induction burners fit a 23.5-inch-wide countertop footprint, giving real two-pot cooking in a compact, kitchen-free space
  • Asymmetric 1200W and 600W burners can run at full power simultaneously, so raising one burner does not throttle the other (no power-sharing penalty)
  • Each burner has its own on/off, heat level (8 left, 5 right), and 150-minute timer with automatic shut-off
Watch-outs
  • The right burner maxes out at only 600W with 5 settings, so reviewers treat it as a warming/simmer burner rather than a true second high-heat zone
  • Combined draw is 1800W on a single 120V circuit, the ceiling for both burners together; heavy simultaneous high-heat use is constrained
  • Some owners report uneven heating, warped induction pans, early failures, and complaints about Cuisinart customer service
Nuwave PIC Gold Induction Cooktop
Ranked #5 in Best Compact Induction Cooktops
Nuwave PIC Gold Induction Cooktop
$139.99

The Nuwave PIC Gold is one of the cheapest ways into precise portable induction cooking, pairing a 1500W element with 52 temperature steps from 100°F to 575°F and three selectable wattage levels in a roughly 5-pound, sub-14-inch footprint. For the money it heats fast, runs comparatively quiet, and brings real safety features like auto pan-detection. The trade-offs are equally consistent across reviews: a relatively small 8-inch coil that hot-spots under bigger pans, occasionally wobbly heat-hold, and a ferrous-cookware-only limitation. It appears to suit budget-minded and space-constrained buyers more than anyone chasing professional-grade evenness, where pricier 1800W models like Nuwave's own Pro Chef pull ahead. Treat it as a capable value pick within the compact-induction category rather than a top performer.

Strengths
  • Inexpensive entry point into induction cooking, with a manufacturer MSRP around $139.99 and frequent street prices below $100, far cheaper than most precision portable burners.
  • Genuinely fine temperature control: 52 temperature settings from 100°F to 575°F in 10°F increments, with six pre-programmed presets for common tasks.
  • Selectable wattage (600W, 900W, or the default 1500W) lets you dial down power for gentle simmering rather than just cycling a single element on and off.
Watch-outs
  • Works only with ferrous (magnetic) cookware; glass, ceramic, aluminum, and copper pans will not heat at all, so you may need to buy new pots.
  • Reviewers and owners repeatedly cite hot-spotting and unsteady heat hold ("not one of them holds a constant heat"), with uneven results on foods like bacon.
  • The single 8-inch coil concentrates heat at the center of the 12-inch surface, so larger pans cook unevenly toward the edges.

How they stack up

Cuisinart ICT-60 Double Induction Cooktop

The Cuisinart ICT-60 is the only two-burner portable in this guide, trading the deeper single-zone power range of the Duxtop 9600LS for the convenience of running two pans at once. Unlike the built-in True Induction TI-2B and Empava EMPV-IDC24, it just plugs into a standard outlet, so no electrician is required.

Nuwave PIC Gold Induction Cooktop

The NuWave PIC Gold is the cheapest way into induction here, but the Duxtop 9600LS holds low simmers more steadily and the Cuisinart ICT-60 adds a second burner for not much more. It is, however, the lightest and most travel-friendly unit in this guide.

Specs side-by-side

SpecCuisinart ICT-60 Double Induction CooktopNuwave PIC Gold Induction Cooktop
TypePortable countertopPortable countertop
Burners / Zones21
Total Power1800W (1200W + 600W)1500W (600/900/1500)
Power Levels8 (left) / 5 (right)52 temp / 3 wattage
SurfaceGlass-ceramicCeramic glass (12 in; 8 in coil)
ControlsTouch + LEDTouch + 6 presets
Timer150 min/burner; 30s auto-offDelay + 1-hr resume
Voltage120V120V
Dimensions23.5 × 14.25 × 2.5 in13.8 × 12.4 × 2.5 in
Weight11.6 lb5.15 lb
Warranty3-year limited1-year limited
Temperature Range100–575°F (10°F steps)
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