Two seemingly similar induction cooktops from the same manufacturer: Duxtop 8100MC and Duxtop 9100MC.
We said “seemingly” because at first sight they appear the same, with the 9100MC having a black stainless steel frame and a beveled control panel area, whereas the 8100 is a frameless, all flat cooktop.
However, there are more differences between the two than beats the eye. In what follows we’ll go into some details about what the two induction cooktops have to offer, in what they differ and which one to choose.
Overview of Duxtop 8100MC
The first cooktop in our comparison is a single element lightweight induction cooktop with a black shiny finish that looks good in any kitchen.
The cooking area is quite large and can accommodate cookware with a maximum base diameter of 8”. Made of ceramic glass, the surface of the 8100MC is easy to clean, but it requires extra care when handling cookware and cooking utensils, as it can be scratched or damaged quite easily.
The Duxtop 8100MC can put out as much as 1800W of power and can heat up to 460°F, with ten power and temperature levels which can be easily adjusted using the control panel at the bottom. The power/and temperature levels are suitable for any kind of cooking, and can be set as follows:
Power levels: 200W, 500W, 800W, 1000W, 1200W, 1300W, 1400W, 1500W, 1600W, 1800W
Temperature levels (degrees Fahrenheit): 140, 180, 210, 250, 280, 320, 360, 390, 430, 460.
It is worth mentioning that the default power level is 5 (1200W), while the default temperature level is 8 (390F). Also, the power and temperature settings work independently, that is you can choose a higher power level for fast cooking when you do not need a specific temperature. Should you need a specific temperature, you can set it without having to worry about the power level (it will be adjusted accordingly).
One other useful feature of the Duxtop 8100MC is the adjustable count-down timer which lets you set up the time up to 170 minutes, with one minute increment for precise adjustments.
Speaking of controls, the digital control panel is conveniently placed at the bottom of the device and is quite intuitive to use. There are buttons for the three functions – power, temperature and count-down settings, all of which being shown on the digital LED display.
Also, the Duxtop 8100MC has light indicators for each setting, including the power on light indicator, so that the user can easily notice what is going on with the device.
For the safety concerned users, we should let you know that this model has an internal error and troubleshooting system that displays the most common errors (and the user manual offers some solutions to those errors).
There is also an automatic pan detection sensor that prevents the appliance from turning on if the cookware is not suitable for induction cooking or it is not properly placed on the cooking surface.
To protect the device, the manufacturer has built in three extras sensors which will warn the user that damage to the device can occur.
The two overheating sensors will monitor the internal heat level and the cooking surface temperature and will display an error message indicating that proper measures must be taken in order to correct the malfunction.
There is also a sensor that will warn the user when the supplied voltage is too high or too low; if no action is taken by the user, the unit will turn automatically off after one minute.
One thing that this unit lacks is a control lock/child lock button, which would have been a nice safety feature, but let’s keep in mind that this is not a high-end cooktop, so our expectations should not be too high.
That would be a bird’s-eye-view of the Duxtop 8100MC, its strong points and its weak points, with a focus on settings and safety features. Let’s see now what its counterpart has to offer.
Overview of Duxtop 9100MC
The second cooktop of our comparison comes from the same manufacturer, but it’s a higher model: 9100MC.
With an all-black matte finish, a ceramic cooking surface and a beveled control panel area, this unit looks a bit more elegant than the 8100MC.
The control buttons and the digital LED display are very accessible and easy to use, due to their large size and imprinted symbols. You can adjust the power and temperature levels or the count-down timer with a simple press on the +/- buttons and the corresponding controls for each feature.
The 910MC lets you choose among 15 power levels (200W, 300W, 400W, 500W, 600W, 700W, 800W, 900W, 1000W, 1100W, 1200W, 1300W, 1500W, 1600W, 1800W;) and 15 temperature levels (140°F, 160°F, 180°F, 200°F, 220°F, 240°F, 260°F, 280°F, 300°F, 320°F, 340°F, 370°F, 400°F, 430°F, 460°F).
Much as the 8100MC, the power and temperature levels work independently, you can use either one, depending on your cooking needs. Should you need a specific cooking time for your meal, the automatic built-in count-down timer lets you adjust the time up to 170 minutes, with a 1-minute increment for extra precision.
The Duxtop 9100MC has all the safety sensors mentioned for the 8100MC: the automatic pan detection sensor, the overheating sensors and the too low/too high voltage sensor to protect the device. It also lacks a child lock function or a control lock button to prevent accidental overriding the settings during cooking or cleaning the unit.
Installation of the unit is quite easy, the 9100MC is a lightweight cooktop requiring a 120V/60Hz/15A power source which is the standard in most homes. With only 6 pounds of weight, the unit can be carried around the house or even taken outside for an outdoor cooking session.
Conclusion
To conclude with, the 9100MC and 8100MC are two affordable, easy to use induction cooktops.
But, which one is best?
To decide that we’ll to talk a bit about the differences between the two.
Apart from the looks and price (the 8100MC is $10.00 cheaper than the 9100MC), there are some features that make the second cooktop a better choice, despite the slightly higher price.
The 9100MC has five extra power and temperature levels which offer a more convenient and precise way of cooking.
Also, the surface is a bit larger, which means larger cookware can be used, despite the fact that the heating elements of the two cooktops are roughly the same size (8” in diameter).
For a more detailed side by side comparison you can have a look at the table at the end of the article.
All in all, if money is not a problem, the Duxtop 9100MC
is definitely the choice for you.
| NAME | 8100MC | 9100MC | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| MANUFACTURER | Duxtop | Duxtop | |
| FEATURES | |||
| Destination use | home | home/industrial | |
| Cooktop Surface | ceramic glass | ceramic glass | |
| Cooktop Burner Type | electric | electric | |
| No. of elements | 1 | 1 | |
| Minimum cookware base size | 4” | 4” | |
| Cooking surface size | 10”x10” | 10”x10” | approximate size |
| Power output | 200-1800W | 200-1800W | |
| Power levels | 10 (200-1800W) | 15 (200-1800W) | 9100MC has 5 extra levels |
| Control Type | digital | digital | |
| Power Indicator Light | yes | yes | |
| Power Cord Length | 6ft | 6ft | |
| Temperature range | 10 levels (140°F – 460°F) | 15 levels (140°F – 460°F) | 9100MC has 5 extra levels |
| Programmable timer | Yes (1-170 min, 1 min. increment) | Yes (1-170 min, 1 min. increment) | |
| Display | digital LED | digital LED | |
| SAFETY SENSORS | |||
| Child Lock System | no | no | |
| Error Message System | yes | yes | for easy troubleshooting the most comon errors |
| Pan Detection System (E0) | yes | yes | 30 seconds the reset (change cookware or properly place it on the heating area) |
| Internal overheat protection (E1) | yes | yes | due to the internal fan malfunction or other reasons |
| Cooking surface overheat protection (E2) | yes | yes | occurs when temperature exceeds 460°F. Either switch to temperature mode, or let the unit cool after unplugging it |
| Too Low/Too High Voltage Sensor (E3) | yes | yes | Check the wiring/power source and/or use other outlet |
| APPEARANCE | |||
| Color Appearance | black | All black | |
| Frameless | yes | no | 9100MC has a thin blakc frame |
| WEIGHTS & DIMENSIONS | |||
| Approximate Shipping Weight | 6.5lb | 7.4lb | |
| Cooktop Size (inch) | 11.4x13x2.5 | 11.4x14x2.5 | 9100MC is 1 inch larger |
| Net Weight | 5lb, 12oz. | 5lb, 12oz. | |
| POWER / RATINGS | |||
| Power/Amps | 120V/60Hz/15A | 120V/60Hz/15A | |
| WARRANTY | |||
| Parts Warranty | Limited 1-year entire appliance | Limited 1-year entire appliance | |
| Labor Warranty | Limited 1-year entire appliance | Limited 1-year entire appliance | |
| PRICE | |||
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