I Tried an Electric Tea Kettle and I Can’t Imagine Life Without It Now
Updated: Jan. 31, 2022
Life is better with an electric tea kettle.
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Every morning, I heat a pot of water to make a cup of pour over coffee. And every morning, I waste a precious 10 minutes fretting about the tea kettle on the stove. In an effort to save time, stay safer and keep boiling water hot for a longer period without leaving the stove on, I bought an electric kettle. I’ve been using it every morning (and most nights) for the last three months. I don’t know if I can ever go back to the stove.
What Is an Electric Kettle?
An electric kettle is exactly what it sounds like. It’s basically a teapot that you plug into the wall. A heating component on the bottom of the kettle uses electricity to quickly boil water. You might have already encountered an electric kettle in a luxury hotel room, or seen them in your European or Asian friend’s kitchen (electric kettles are a necessity in most of the world).
Thankfully, my electric kettle is silent. I don’t appreciate the shriek of a teapot warning me that scalding water is about to spill all over the place. I don’t need that kind of adrenaline rush before 7 a.m. My electric kettle automatically and quietly flips the on switch back up when it’s done boiling. Other electric kettles play a little jingle, change color or simply ding to alert you that the water is hot. All of those options are better than the shriek.
There are some important elements to keep in mind when shopping for an electric kettle. Size, shape and color are personal preferences. But for safety, you want to make sure your electric kettle has an automatic off switch. Other features to keep in mind are heat-resistant and anti-slip handles. Some kettles have boil-dry features that turn off if they detect there’s no water inside. Temperature displays and pour windows are nice features to have if you want to immediately see how hot the water is, and how much water is in the kettle.
Why I Love Using an Electric Kettle
After I get up, I fill the electric kettle with tap water and take my dog out. By the time we’re back five minutes later, the water is boiled and safely waiting on the kitchen counter. If I don’t get to making coffee right away, the water stays hot for another 20 minutes. I don’t have to babysit the kettle, worry that I left the stove on or rush to use the water before it cools.
I knew I would love using an electric kettle for morning coffee and nightly cups of chamomile, but I didn’t realize it had so many other helpful kitchen uses. Cooking pasta, blanching veggies and diluting concentrated soup stock are kitchen chores made faster and more efficient with an electric kettle.
Any time I need boiling water, I reach for the electric kettle. I used to wait 15 minutes to start boiling fettuccine—now I can get to making pasta al dente in about five minutes. Electric kettles are also the most energy efficient way (unless you have an induction stove) to heat water. It takes less energy and is much safer than boiling water in the microwave.
Another electric kettle pro? It isn’t confined to the kitchen. I can plug my electric kettle in near my work desk, next to the bed…anywhere where there’s an outlet. I love that it’s portable. And I really love not having to worry about turning the stove off.
Where to Buy an Electric Kettle
Electric kettles are available at big box stores and on Amazon at a variety of price points. I spent a bit more for a Smeg electric kettle because I really liked the Italian aesthetic and matte black color. Since the electric kettle usually lives on my kitchen counter, I wanted the appliance to look nice. I get lots of compliments.
If you’re looking for something more affordable with similar features, KitchenAid has a really cute electric kettle line that comes in fun colors like pistachio and hot sauce. The Willsence electric kettle lets you control the temperature, which is ideal for precision coffee making. Hamilton Beach electric kettle is really affordable and the kettle is cord free for easy serving. So long, stovetop.
Originally Published: April 07, 2021
