SMEG portable induction cooker PIC11BLMUS (Black) review

The SMEG PIC11BLMUS is the black U.S. finish in a three-color, single-zone portable induction family. The emerald-green PIC11EGMUS and white PIC11WHMUS use the same documented cooking arrangement, so this assessment applies to their common controls; select among them for the exact color and model code, not a presumed performance difference. SMEG's U.S. product pages marked all three OutOfStock when checked on October 23, 2026. That is a stock snapshot, not proof that the models are discontinued or available from another seller.

One pan, with an unusual kind of temperature control

The PIC11 has one induction zone and an 1,800-watt maximum. It offers nine power levels plus Boost, but its public materials do not give wattage values for each level. A shopper who needs a verified low-watt setting cannot use the number of levels as a substitute for a watt table. Nor can the single ring heat a second pan while the first is cooking.

Its strongest difference is the external wired food probe. SMEG describes a Target mode that ends cooking when the probe reaches a selected core temperature, and a Timer mode that maintains the selected probe temperature for a chosen time. The product page lists the probe, a clip and a storage case in the package. This is meaningfully different from a cooktop-temperature mode: the probe goes into food or liquid and measures there, whereas an under-glass sensor estimates cookware temperature. A displayed target is a control instruction, not a guarantee of cooking results; position the probe according to its supplied instructions and use a food-safe target appropriate to the dish.

The exact-model product sheets list a probe range of 104–210°F. They also list Keep Warm, Barbecue and Fry programs; the latter two each have three automatic settings. Treat those as ways to run the one cooking zone, not as separate heating surfaces. The product page's nine levels are not nine documented temperatures, and the probe range should not be presented as a general pan-temperature range. If you want the cooktop itself to regulate a cookware setpoint instead of reading a probe, compare a model with a clearly documented Temperature mode, such as the Duxtop 9600LS/9610LS family or Hamilton Beach 34104; their controls answer a different question.

Check the pan against both published ranges

SMEG's PIC11 product sheets list a 9-inch cooking zone and cookware compatibility from 5 to 10 inches. The EN/FR/ES user manual linked from the U.S. product pages gives a more conservative 12–24 cm diameter range, roughly 4.7–9.4 inches. That manual does not print the PIC11 model code, so its link from the exact U.S. pages is useful evidence but not a perfect model-identifier match. For a cautious fit, stay within the overlap—about 5 to 9.4 inches—and use cookware approved for induction. A magnet is only an initial check; it does not establish that a pan's flat magnetic base aligns with the coil. The maker does not publish a minimum magnetic-base diameter, so an essential small-base requirement remains unconfirmed.

The nine-inch zone mark is not a promise that the center and edge of every pan heat identically. Measure the flat base, center the vessel and follow the instructions supplied with the exact unit rather than treating the glass outline as a measurement of the induction coil.

Supply, counter and timer considerations

The exact U.S. pages specify 120 V, 60 Hz, a U.S./Mexico plug and a one-metre cord. The maximum rating is 1,800 W; the exact circuit amperage and the wattage at each power level are not given in the reviewed page data. Do not infer circuit suitability from a plug shape alone. The linked manual says household use only, prohibits outdoor use and unattended operation, and calls for open ventilation: at least 10 cm at both sides and 50 cm above. Because that manual does not identify PIC11 on its pages, check the booklet that ships with your particular unit before relying on model-specific operating details. It also says not to block the fan or vents and warns that the glass stays warm after cooking.

The product sheet lists a timer up to 99 minutes. This gives a useful upper bound for a timed recipe, but a timer does not replace supervision or make the appliance appropriate for a long unattended cook. Keep the cord routed away from hot surfaces and the counter edge, and allow the unit to cool before moving it. The current product pages contain malformed inch marks in the dimension fields; I have not converted those figures into body measurements. Leave room for the appliance and airflow rather than planning a tight shelf fit from the faulty values.

Which exact color fits?

Choose PIC11BLMUS if the black finish is the requirement; PIC11EGMUS is the emerald-green version, and PIC11WHMUS is white. The gallery images look like clean studio product renders, but SMEG does not explicitly label them as photographs or renders. Color does not change the one-zone plan, probe capability, power rating or published pan guidance in the checked U.S. pages. A finish answer should therefore narrow only the color, while a two-zone answer should remove the PIC11 family altogether.

This cooker makes the most sense for someone who cooks one compatible pan at a time and will actually use a wired probe to stop or hold cooking around a food or liquid target. Pass if two simultaneous pans, a documented low-watt floor, a precisely measured small magnetic base, outdoor use, or a separate cooktop-temperature setting is essential. Stock is presently the practical catch: check the exact model and seller package rather than substituting an EU PIC01 variant or assuming a marketplace offer is the same U.S. appliance. For an eligible exact-model search, use “SMEG PIC11BLMUS portable induction cooker,” and verify the model code before buying.

SMEG U.S. PIC11BLMUS product page · PIC11EGMUS emerald green · PIC11WHMUS white · SMEG-linked portable induction cooker user manual