Duxtop 9610LS Portable Induction Cooktop (Black) review

The black-finish sibling, not a separate performance tier

Duxtop's 9610LS is the black-finish counterpart to the silver 9600LS. Secura's exact 9610LS product page identifies the model and describes a single portable induction zone; the manufacturer-hosted shared manual labels the two units “9600LS (Silver) / 9610LS (Black).” The same manual assigns both models the same central controls, cookware guidance and operating ranges. Choose this variant because the black appearance or model label matches your preference, not because the documentation promises more heat, another cooking zone or a different temperature system.

One useful difference in evidence presentation is that Secura's 9610LS listing states the 5-foot cord and 120-volt, 15-amp supply directly. For the silver sibling, those details are available in the shared manual instead. Neither makes it a cord-free appliance: you need a nearby appropriate receptacle and room to route the cord safely without draping it across a hot surface or a walking path.

What the controls do, and what the temperature display cannot do

The panel switches between two independent modes. Power Mode has 20 levels, listed in the shared manual from 100 to 1,800 watts. The direct Boil button chooses maximum power with a 10-minute countdown. Temperature Mode has 20 steps from 100°F to 460°F; the Keep Warm shortcut chooses 140°F and runs for 30 minutes. Both shortcuts save button presses, but they are presets rather than sensors that judge whether food is ready.

Secura's temperature feedback is about cookware, not internal food temperature. Its sensor sits below the glass, and the manual says that pan material affects the reading, so the display is an estimate of the pan's temperature. It is useful as a control target, but do not treat “300°F” as a direct thermometer reading in the food or a guarantee that every pan's cooking surface is actually at that temperature. If you require cooking to an internal temperature, choose a model with a real wired food probe and check exactly what its probe mode measures.

The timer can be set in either mode for up to 10 hours; when time expires, the unit beeps and switches off. Do not confuse that maximum setting with a reason to leave a hot pot unattended. The manual also describes automatic shutoffs if cookware is absent or incompatible and after an inactive period. Once cooking ends, the fan can continue as the unit cools and the screen may still indicate heat. Give it time before moving or cleaning it.

Fit the cookware before you buy the black finish

The cooktop will not suit every small pan simply because the pan is metal. The manual calls for a flat bottom made from ferrous magnetic material and a minimum magnetic base diameter of 5 inches. Stainless steel works only when its base is magnetic; nonmagnetic stainless, glass, ceramic, copper and plain aluminum will not heat as induction cookware. A magnet sticking to the bottom is a useful first check, but the maker cautions that weak magnetic response can still be inadequate. Center a compatible pan within the marked circle.

That minimum matters for espresso cezves, tiny butter warmers and other pans with very small bases. If you rely on one, measure the bottom contact area, not its upper lip. The Secura page and manual do not establish a maximum recommended diameter here, so a broad stockpot should be checked against manufacturer guidance instead of inferred from the product's compact body.

Give its vents and electrical load deliberate space

The 9610LS uses a standard 120-volt, 15-amp household circuit, but Secura cautions that another electrical appliance should not share the outlet or circuit. Treat that as a genuine planning requirement, not a suggestion to test the kitchen circuit by trial and error. Its operating manual requires four inches of clearance around the cooktop and a level, stable, dry, noncombustible and nonmetallic surface. Keep the lower cooling intake, rear exhaust and nearby countertop clear. A towel laid beneath or over the machine, a metal counter, or a tight recess would conflict with the directions.

The manual describes the appliance for household use and forbids operation in a wet outdoor environment. A standard plug and portable design do not by themselves establish permission for damp or marine locations, generator power, or commercial use. If your intended setting is outside the ordinary household counter case, confirm the exact unit's instructions with Secura.

When the 9610LS makes sense

It is a reasonable one-pan add-on when you want adjustable power, a separate cookware-temperature mode, quick access to boil and short keep-warm settings, and a five-foot lead to reach an appropriate outlet. It is less compelling if the key need is precise food-probe cooking, if your normal pans have magnetic bottoms under 5 inches, or if you need two burners. The Nuwave PIC Titanium 30291LW includes a wired food probe and three-stage programming, but is also a single-zone cooker and has manual-version differences that should not be glossed over. For the silver Duxtop 9600LS, performance isn't documented to differ from this black 9610LS; compare exact color, current model label and included manual rather than the model number's final digit alone.

There is also a distinct Duxtop model, BT-200T1/8600BI, whose manufacturer calls out built-in and countertop use. The 9610LS review does not cover that installation path, nor does it endorse cutting a counter around a unit not explicitly documented for that job. If a built-in configuration is essential, assess that separate model's exact instructions and dimensions independently.

For the right buyer, the black finish is a straightforward appearance choice on a feature-rich single burner. The conditions matter more: magnetic cookware with the right base, ventilation space, and a dedicated electrical circuit. If those fit your kitchen, the shortcut panel is more meaningful than the broad headline of 1,800 watts; if they do not, a different model or a different countertop plan is the better answer.