Is there a more comforting way to spend a chilly afternoon than with a good book, your favorite movie, or a dear friend? Add a hot cup of tea from a tea kettle to the picture and you have perfection. Tea is loved the world over, not only for its taste and the warm feelings it evokes, but also for its health benefits. Sticking a cup of water and a tea bag in the microwave doesn’t do it justice. To make a “proper cuppa,” you’ll need a tea kettle. Pronto’s Tea Kettle Buying Guide will help you choose the tea kettle that can unlock the charms of this beloved beverage.
More »
Different types of teas require different amounts of water and varying water temperatures. Choosing a tea kettle is partly a matter of finding one that’s best for the kind of tea you like to drink.
Stovetop tea kettles
Traditional stovetop kettles are available in stainless steel, ceramic and glass that are easy to maintain and impart no flavor to the water. Copper is the most efficient at heating, but like cast iron, it can flavor the water. Enamel tea kettles typically have cast iron interiors and should be dried thoroughly after each use to prevent rust from forming.
Electric tea kettles
Both corded and cordless electric tea kettles need to be plugged into a wall outlet, but a cordless kettle detaches from its base for easier serving. Anodized metal interiors make electric tea kettles easier to clean. Choose an electric tea kettle with an auto-shutoff that cuts the power if the kettle boils dry.
Size
Choose a one-quart tea kettle for personal use or a larger tea kettle if you plan to entertain. Look for maximum fill lines that let you know how much water is safe to add. For a high-end tea experiencing, choose an electric tea kettle with gauges that let you choose the precise amount of water needed for different tea types and number of cups.
Features
If you’re not a fan of whistling tea kettles, look for electric models that play music or opt for a quiet tea kettle. Look for nonslip handles that don’t conduct heat and steam guards to protect your hands while pouring. As their name implies, automatic spouts open automatically when the tea kettle is tilted, offering another measure against steam burns.
We like the OXO Uplift Brushed Stainless Steel Kettle (71190), a two-quart stovetop tea kettle with a bright, polished stainless steel exterior at home in a well-appointed kitchen of any style. This tea kettle continues OXO’s tradition of safer, more ergonomic kitchen tools with a soft, heat-resistant grip, a spout that opens automatically when the kettle is lifted and an easy-care interior accessed through a large, removable lid.
We like the OXO Uplift Brushed Stainless Steel Kettle (71190), a two-quart stovetop tea kettle with a bright, polished stainless steel exterior at home in a well-appointed kitchen of any style. This tea kettle continues OXO’s tradition of safer, more ergonomic kitchen tools with a soft, heat-resistant grip, a spout that opens automatically when the kettle is lifted and an easy-care interior accessed through a large, removable lid.
less
Real Simple—“Oxo’s eight-cup Uplift Tea Kettle—steel coated in enamel (nine colors and two finishes available)—offers a rubberlike handle that keeps its cool, a spout cover that lifts when you tip the kettle (so escaping steam doesn’t scald knuckles), a whistle that starts out softly, and a wide top for easy cleaning.” Source: Realsimple.com
Slate.com—“Think of all the time you've wasted waiting for water to boil. You could have saved half that time by switching to this kettle [Bodum Ibis Electric Cordless]. They say a watched pot never boils, but a watched electric kettle does in less than five minutes!” Source: Slate.com
celebrity buzzWhat tea kettles are the celebrities using?
OXO products are a common sight in well-appointed kitchens, which may be why sharp-eyed viewers can spot the Oxo Uplift Brushed Stainless Steel Kettle in the kitchens of Bree Hodge and Gabrielle Solis on ABC’s hit series, Desperate Housewives. Source: Seenon.com
You’ll find no shortage of stovetop, corded and cordless electric tea kettles at affordable prices and smaller capacities. Look for concealed heating elements and automatic spouts.
Midrange tea kettles give you a wider choice of materials, including copper and stainless steel. Look for anodized finishes that resist corrosion and are easier to clean. Electric tea kettles in this range should offer faster heating times and higher capacities.
$$$
Expensive stovetop tea kettles offer sleek designs and fashionable metal finishes, but their performance is about the same as lower-priced models. Electric tea kettles in this range offer multiple fill gauges, the ability to heat precise amounts of water and automatic shutoff when the kettle is removed from the heating base.
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Anodized
A metal, such as aluminum, that has been exposed to an electrically charged chemical bath. This improves the corrosion and mineral build-up resistance by creating a layer of oxidation on the surface of the metal.
Automatic shutoff
A feature on an electric tea kettle that turns off the power after a period of time or if the kettle starts to boil dry.
Cordless tea kettle
An electric tea kettle with a heated base that plugs into a wall and a removable kettle for easy serving.
Fill gauge
A line that is drawn, molded or etched into the side of a tea kettle (or the water fill on some electric tea kettles) that tells you how much water the tea kettle can heat without boiling over.
I love my Braun electric tea kettle! It is a much easier and faster way for me to enjoy my tea. It is fast and it boils water in about 3 minutes. I much prefer my Braun tea kettle to regular stove kettles. My biggest tip? Get a tea kettle that automatically shuts off.
