Get perfect hot drinks with an electric kettle
What is an electric kettle?
An electric kettle boils water for tea, instant coffee, hot chocolate, or other hot beverages, without needing to be placed on the stove. Instead, they come with a power base that functions like a heating pad.
Plug the power base into the wall, place the filled kettle on top of its base, and the self-contained and concealed heating until inside the kettle will turn the energy into heat and boil the water. Once the water reaches a pre-set temperature or starts to boil, the kettle automatically shuts off.
Because heat can't escape and pressure rises faster, electric kettles heat more quickly than stovetop.
What types of electric kettles are available?
Electric kettles come in all shapes and sizes, from tall and cylindrical to wide and rounded, and in various colors like black, silver, or white, modern pastels like blue and green, and vibrant red.
The two most common materials used are stainless steel and glass. Stainless steel is durable, doesn't discolour, and doesn't retain taste or odour. But stylish and elegant glass kettles, made of thermal shock-resistant treated glass to prevent breaking, let you see, not just hear, the water boiling.
Wattage ranges from about 1,500 to 1,800 watts, allowing a kettle to boil water in anywhere from 2-5 minutes. Electric kettles also come in different sizes, from as small as 0.8L to as large as 1.8L. How many cups do you typically need to make at a time? A 1.7L kettle can boil enough water for about seven cups.
What should you know about an electric kettle?
An electric kettle offers lots of advantages over a stovetop kettle. You don't have to turn on a burner and keep an eye on the water with an electric kettle, and they are really stylish, making a nice addition to your countertop.
Some of them have useful features, like pre-set temperatures should you like piping hot water for some things but only want lukewarm for others. Keep in mind that while you could technically heat other liquids in an electric kettle, like milk, it's not advisable to do so. Milk could not only very easily burn, but it also makes cleaning the kettle much more difficult.
The best electric kettle is made using BPA-free materials. Keep in mind that you do need to clean it every 4-8 weeks or so and should descale an electric kettle at least four times per year to remove heavy deposits and water minerals. Some have removable scale filters that make the job a bit easier.
Other useful features to look for include a backlit water window on a stainless steel model to see inside, a water level indicator, a Keep Warm function in case you get caught up with other chores before being able to go make your cup of tea or coffee, a soft opening lid or precision-shaped spout to prevent spills, multi-directional power base, and a non-slip and stay cool handle.