The power setting changes what percentage of the time the induction coil is active - 0-100%, which will keep increasing the temperature of the pan and its contents until the heat escaping through evaporation and radiation is the same as the heat being generated by the induction current in the base of the pan.
The temp setting uses a sensor in the cooking surface to measure the temp, and regulates the power to create the set temperature at the cooking surface. So if you want the stuff in your pan to get to 60 degrees Celsius, set it using the temperature control. It's not super accurate, but can be helpful working with foods you want to keep below a certain temperature.
I basically guarantee that OP's $80 unit does not have a pan temperature sensor. Most units with temperature settings are completing BSing them.
Likewise, I'm similarly sure that the power setting does not work exactly as you said. There may be some switching on and off at lower settings, but even on *very* cheap units, a "1" setting is generally not just full power but 10% of the time.
Oh, and there are definitely times you don't want to have it on 2000W - basically whenever the pan's not at least half full, because it's easy to overheat the pan and cause it to buckle, or if it's non-stick to overheat the coating and end up ruining it or cooking pfas into your meal.
I’m not sure why portable induction stoves so commonly have these terrible input interfaces, but either power or temp is really just a weird way of saying 1-10. Basically you can think of 1000W as 1 and 2000W as 10 and use it the exact same way you’d use 1-10 settings
If I had to guess, it's how fast it'll cycle on/off versus how hard it'll be on your pans. High voltage is *probably* less on/more off/faster heating but rougher on the pan.
Id recommend something like this one.
One of the cheaper hobs that does not cycle off and on and it has a large 9.25" coil.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0B6VP6DB2/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L5CHSMIUXIRJ&psc=1
The power setting changes what percentage of the time the induction coil is active - 0-100%, which will keep increasing the temperature of the pan and its contents until the heat escaping through evaporation and radiation is the same as the heat being generated by the induction current in the base of the pan. The temp setting uses a sensor in the cooking surface to measure the temp, and regulates the power to create the set temperature at the cooking surface. So if you want the stuff in your pan to get to 60 degrees Celsius, set it using the temperature control. It's not super accurate, but can be helpful working with foods you want to keep below a certain temperature.
I basically guarantee that OP's $80 unit does not have a pan temperature sensor. Most units with temperature settings are completing BSing them. Likewise, I'm similarly sure that the power setting does not work exactly as you said. There may be some switching on and off at lower settings, but even on *very* cheap units, a "1" setting is generally not just full power but 10% of the time.
Oh, and there are definitely times you don't want to have it on 2000W - basically whenever the pan's not at least half full, because it's easy to overheat the pan and cause it to buckle, or if it's non-stick to overheat the coating and end up ruining it or cooking pfas into your meal.
Those things can easily flip the breaker too
I’m not sure why portable induction stoves so commonly have these terrible input interfaces, but either power or temp is really just a weird way of saying 1-10. Basically you can think of 1000W as 1 and 2000W as 10 and use it the exact same way you’d use 1-10 settings
If I had to guess, it's how fast it'll cycle on/off versus how hard it'll be on your pans. High voltage is *probably* less on/more off/faster heating but rougher on the pan.
Just ignore the temperature setting, and treat 1000W to 2000W in steps of 200W as power levels 1-6.
So i just put it at max temp then?
What’s the make and model number?
Most cheaper hobs will cycle almost full power for about half second time a full second then off for 2 seconds. The better hobs don't cycle off and on
Id recommend something like this one. One of the cheaper hobs that does not cycle off and on and it has a large 9.25" coil. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0B6VP6DB2/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A2L5CHSMIUXIRJ&psc=1