We are on the record as loving our electric kettle. It boils water in a fraction of the time needed to heat water on the stove or in the microwave, and it's earned precious countertop space because we use it at least three times a day. We're curious about your kitchen tech setup and whether an electric kettle has earned a spot there too. More about electric kettles and our favorite model, after the jump.
Our current favorite kettle is Adagio's UtiliTEA kettle (pictured above on the right), which gives some control over the temperature. We like to heat water just under boiling for coffee and some teas, so this control is nice. We would love a kettle, though, that gave more precise control and that had an actual temperature display somewhere.
The pretty glass kettle pictured above on the left is this one:
• Capresso Electric Kettle, $59.95 at Sur La Table.
Here are some of our past discussions and reviews on electric kettles:
• Best Product: UtiliTea Electric Kettle
• Buying an Electric Kettle
• Home Cooking: How Do You Boil Water?
Do you own an electric kettle? This is one place where Americans and Europeans seem to differ markedly; nearly every European home we've visited has had an electric kettle. Americans, on the other hand, seem to use them less. If you have a model or brand that's worked well for you, tell us!
it won't let me vote, but since buying one, we use it multiple times a day.
view Ryane's profile
Wish they'd let me plug stuff in at work; that's where I need one. It's frigid in our row and I drink about four cups of tea a day.
view whytephoenix's profile
We will never go back to a stove top tea kettle-ever.
Love our electric kettle.
view phizzingtub's profile
Who makes the one on the left?
view LauraII's profile
How fast exactly does it boil water? If I'm just making one cup of tea, it's under three minutes in the microwave. Faster than that?
view Peggasus's profile
Ah, forgot to add the link to the glass kettle. It's now edited in, Laurall!
view faith's profile
Peggasus, I think they typically take about a minute.
view LauraII's profile
I have a Breville and it's very good. According to what I've read, electric kettles are more energy efficient than stove top models.
It used to be that electric kettles/tea kettles were a very Canadian appliance. Based on my assumption that most of your readers are likely American, I'm surprised to see so many electric kettle lovers on this site!
http://danamccauley.wordpress.com
view Dana McCauley's profile
We have a Krups that we got as a wedding gift. It's awesome! No temperature control, but it does automatically shut-off once it boils, so we just let it sit for a minute before using for tea and coffee.
view geogneiss's profile
I used to have one in my college dorm room, and it was mostly used to boil water for ramen, International Blends instant coffee, and other collegiate gourmet crap. So when I moved up in the kitchen world, I never considered getting one. But maybe I should! Because FAST is now very important to me.
view cmcinnyc's profile
The Breville was the Christmas gift of the year with my family.
view art's profile
I have Braun Impressions and can't imagine using a stove-top kettle again. First of all, to have a kettle sitting on the stove is a waste of a burner (my kitchen is small so moving it elsewhere when not boiling water is not an option). Second, electric kettles are a lot more efficient and offer the advantage of automatic shut-off. And third, most of the electric ones I've used pour much better than the traditional ones.
view bubble's profile
Dana, I assumed they were an English thing - my husband's mom is English so they have one and we have one and whenever we go visit the relatives in England they ALL have them. We use ours several times a day in the winter, less in warmer weather. Not that I was able to put that in the survey or anything.
view Anne (in Reno)'s profile
I use the microwave (I didn't vote in the poll, since none of the options worked for me). Does an electric kettle use less energy if you only make a mug a time? I also like having less things in the kitchen.
view Pixie's profile
We have this one
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000667GV
which I purchased based on strong Amazon reviews, and I confess I'm a little disappointed in the speed. I did tests and it was 4 min electric vs. 6 min stovetop for boiling the full capacity of the kettle. That being said, I do like having all four burners open on the stove, no kettle to move around.
view Katie in Berkeley's profile
i have an electric kettle, a nice chrome cuisinart one, but i use a stove top kettle at home. i got the electric one for my old sewing studio. it was great there, but i really prefer using the stove when i am home. i like to hear the water in the kettle start to boil and i like the whistle too. the one thing i don't like about the stove top kettle is how dirty it gets just being on the stove.
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view cassiopia's profile
I have the UtliTea kettle based on the recommendation of this site and I LOVE it. Wanted one that wasn't plastic and that didn't cost a ton and this fit the bill. There are various settings depending on the type of tea you're making. We use it a couple times a day. Love love love.
view mangosteen's profile
I love my glass kettle (no whistler) from Adagio. The only tea I really drink at home is ginger/honey/lemon, which needs to be slowly simmered - not boiled. I tried a traditional kettle once, but the ginger ended up tasting burnt.
Also, since it's glass I can see the color of the tea and know when it's done, and visually it doesn't take up space.
view 2T's profile
I have had one forever and love it. I'm thinking of upgrading to a ZOJIRUSHI hot water pot, soon.
My question for the electric kettle manufacturers is:
WHY can't you develop an insulated carafe type of electric kettle?
It seems like such a no-brainer that an insulated kettle would be desirable!
view JenPDX's profile
Kitchen gadget/appliance space is limited. I'd have to give up something to add an electric kettle and I don't want to give anything up.
Darn.
view Aldyth's profile
"I used to have one in my college dorm room, and it was mostly used to boil water for ramen, International Blends instant coffee, and other collegiate gourmet crap. So when I moved up in the kitchen world, I never considered getting one. But maybe I should! Because FAST is now very important to me."
Same for me. I had one back in college because it was the only appliance allowed. I had it for a year or two afterwards, but the handle broke and I never bothered getting a new one. I drink a lot of tea, but it's just that it's not worth the counterspace to have one.
view mandarinmarie's profile
I used to have an instant-hot faucet which I loooooooved. It always had hot water (just under boiling, perfect for tea) available at any time I wanted it.
But then it broke and they want $200 for a new tank, so instead I bought a Breville kettle, figuring I can also take the kettle with me when I move eventually. I like the kettle, but I really miss the instant hot.
view ltmommy's profile
I'm an American, and I LOVE my electric kettle. I've had it for many years -- the result of a trip to Toronto's beaches community. Since then, I've bought electric kettles for my mother and mother-in-law who both use theirs now every day.
view Deb Schiff's profile
Everyone I know in Europe has one. I was making tea in London a few years ago and commented to my friend that I wished I had an electric kettle like the ones everyone there seemed to have -- it seemed to me very exotic at the time to boil water this way. She looked at me as though I had just told her I didn't have a stove: "What? If you don't have a kettle, then how do you boil water?!?" I explained to her that I put it on the stove to boil.
It was funny, but it prompted me to go out and buy an electric kettle, which I now use at the office, and I love it!
view gibbette's profile
I just boil my water is a regular old pot on the stove. Like other posters, I've thought about an electric kettle, but I don't have the counter or storage space for it.
view jyw's profile
i have a zojirushi hot water pot, but i only keep it out/on in the winter when i drink a lot of tea/chai/cocoa.
view squiggle's profile
I have two electric kettles one at home and one at work in my classroom. the one at home is a dualit and I love it. I have had it for ages and it has held up very nicely. I use them each once a day--the one at school for my morning cuppa and the one at home after I get home.
and in terms of space, my kitchen is tiny and I very carefully thought what I would use. I don't have a microwave or a coffee maker, but my electric kettles get daily use.
view lcg's profile
Yes, I use a Cuisinart electric kettle and wouldn't do without it. We were convinced while living in Ireland for a couple of years where everyone puts on the kettle as soon as company arrives. Last year, I gave one to my parents for Christmas, and they use it daily as well but probably wouldn't have thought to buy it themselves.
view Elvira's profile
I love my kettle from Adagio. I have the old style of the UtiliTea, but it's held up beautifully and I haven't seen a good reason to upgrade yet. Perhaps if I figure out a way to justify a milk/others kettle and a water-only kettle?
view seidhr's profile
I'm from the UK where almost everyone has an electric kettle but having a not too large apartment, I have opted for a Prestige porcelain red whistling stove top kettle which I can put away when it's not in use more easily than with an electric one and it looks a damn site better, particularly with the lack of cables.
view ChrisA's profile
There seems to be a big British/American divide on these. For some reason they just haven't caught on in the US the way they have in the UK. Not really sure why though.
view CallieKoch's profile
I prefer the stovetop kind, but aren't drip coffeemakers sort of the American equivalent of the electric kettle?
We have an electric kettle at work (no stove) and it is very handy there for tea, noodles, etc. It does seem to be a little bit faster, but it is smaller, and generally an extra 2 minutes on my tea is not a big deal to me.
view matchbookhymnal's profile
I LOVE my electric kettle. I couldn't imagine life without it. I have a Black & Decker that's seen better days...it still works, but I'm going to have to replace it in the next year or so I'm sure.
I would rather give up my microwave than give up my electric kettle.
view Shana Lee's profile