Cozy home - How to choose an electric kettle

For many of us, an electric kettle is a device without which it is difficult to imagine our life. Simple, convenient, safe: fill it with water, turn it on and forget it. Ease of use suggests that the design of the electric kettle is not too intricate.

When you need to buy a new kettle, you involuntarily ask yourself: what to choose there? We buy the one that suits the price and appearance. But in fact, modern electric kettles have a whole set of characteristics that it would be useful to take into account when buying. Let’s try to understand them in more detail.

Main technical characteristics

First of all, buyers study the main parameters of an electric kettle: how much water is placed, how quickly it heats up, and so on. Let’s consider these characteristics in more detail.
Electric kettle power. One of the key parameters on which the rate of boiling water depends. Varies in the range from 500 to 3000 watts.

Low-power devices of 500-1000 W are usually designed to heat water with a volume of 0.5-1 l. Models from 1000 to 1800 W will cope with 1-1.5 liters of liquid without putting an excessive load on the electrical network. Finally, electric kettles with a capacity of 1800-3000 W are suitable for a large family and office. The boiling speed of one liter of water can range from 3 to 7 minutes, depending on the power.

Volume. From 0.5 to 2.5 liters of liquid can be poured into the electric kettle. Should be chosen based on the amount of boiling water consumed and the size of the family. For one person, a kettle of up to 1 liter is usually enough, and for a large family or office, a 1.5-2.5 liter device may be required.

Weight. Devices without water weigh between 0.9 and 2 kilograms. Correlate this parameter with the volume of the flask. For example, a kettle weighing 2 kilograms and a volume of 2.5 liters fully filled will weigh more than 4 kilos, which may cause some inconvenience when using.

Body material. The convenience of operation and the service life of the electric kettle directly depend on this. Most modern electric kettles are made of metal, glass and/or plastic. Only the ratio of materials changes. Therefore, speaking about the material of manufacture, we first of all mean what the flask (container) for water is made of.

The most affordable are plastic electric kettles. In addition, such models may have an unusual shape, differ in a variety of colors, and have numerous decorative elements on the case that affect its overall attractiveness. Plastic kettles are relatively easy to care for.

They are distinguished by sufficient structural reliability and, unlike glass teapots, are able to survive a fall from a small height.

However, there is one tangible drawback — we are talking about a possible unpleasant odor. The case itself can smell when heated, and the water in the kettle. As a rule, this happens immediately after the purchase and passes quickly. However, if you are attentive to the quality of water, we recommend not saving and choosing not the most budget models made of high-quality plastic.

Metal kettles have a durable and reliable body, which, unlike plastic, does not collapse over time under the influence of steam. The disadvantage of metal kettles is the hot surface of the case when water is heated. It’s easy to get burned on it. For buyers with small children, this will be especially true. In rare cases, low-quality models can also change the taste of water or leave streaks, especially if the manufacturer has saved on metal.

To prevent burns, developers embed a plastic handle and additional inserts on the case. This adds convenience in use, but subjectively reduces the effect of the external appearance of the model. Metal kettles are more expensive than plastic ones and weigh more.

A popular option is electric kettles with a glass flask. Such models have an attractive appearance, a high level of environmental friendliness and allow you to visually observe the volume of water without any measuring windows. However, glass teapots also get very hot and brittle, so they need to be handled with the utmost care.

As a more exotic option, we note electric kettles made of ceramics. External attractiveness is combined in them with fragility and heavy weight. Such models can heat water longer, spend a relatively large amount of electricity, but they retain heat for a long time. It is sometimes more difficult to track the rest of the liquid in them due to the lack of transparent inserts on the body. Ceramic teapots are an option for an amateur, but not without advantages.

Double walls. An important option for families with children or small pets, such as cats, which can touch a hot kettle. The main advantage of double walls is that the outer case does not heat up and remains cold. A kettle that has just boiled is safe and it is impossible to burn yourself on it. In addition, thanks to the double walls, the water cools down much more slowly.

Design features

There are several key elements in the design of the kettle — a flask, a heating element, automation, and also a stand comes separately. Each of them has its own nuances. Design features of the heating element. There are two main options for placing the heating element: open and closed.

Visually, the open heating element looks like a Soviet boiler (spiral), which is attached to the bottom of the kettle’s container. The closed heating element is made in the form of a metal plate covering the bottom of the device. It is she who comes into contact with water when heated.

An open heating element is installed in budget models, since it significantly reduces the cost of production. Electric kettles with an open heating element often heat water very slowly. For them, the concept of a minimum liquid level is relevant — the heating element must be covered with water so as not to fail.

The closed heating element has clear advantages. Such kettles are easier to clean from scale and wash, and the heating element itself will last longer, because it does not come into contact with the liquid. However, kettles with a covered heating element tend to be more noisy in operation.

We recommend to pay attention to the closed design. This option, even taking into account the difference in price and noise level, seems to be a better solution both from an aesthetic point of view and taking into account consumer characteristics, as well as the level of security.

Case shape rarely has a clear impact on consumer performance. It is easier to pour water from teapots of a certain shape, it is more convenient to hold them in your hand. But that’s a matter of personal preference. Therefore, the search for the best option should be carried out taking into account your own opinion.

Lid mechanism. Splashing of water during boiling is prevented by the lid of the electric kettle. It may have a different design. The simplest and most reliable option is a completely removable cover, manually inserted into place. It is usually more durable, but less convenient in everyday use. For some models of electric kettles, such a cover can be removed / inserted more and more difficult over time. As a result, consumers begin to fill the water tank through the spout or use other tricks.

A more popular option is an automatic lid that opens after pressing a button. With undoubted advantages in terms of convenience, it also has disadvantages. Over time, the lid opening mechanism wears out and fails.

Backlight. Electric kettles with the function of highlighting water or body elements look quite impressive. There is such a feature and advantages in use. Luminous electric kettle controls are visible even in low light indoors. It is easy to set the desired operating parameters or turn off the device almost in the dark. Also, the color of the lighting can show the current water temperature. Finally, illuminated teapots sometimes function as a night light.

Filters. Most models of electric kettles are equipped with a coarse mesh filter. It retains relatively large debris along with water when pouring. Advanced models can also be equipped with additional fine mesh filters that work to retain scale. However, the best recommendation is to fill the kettle with water of suitable quality, and not rely on built-in filters.

Power cord length. It can be from 0.5 to 2 meters. A long cable is relevant in cases where the outlet is far from the location of the kettle. So you can eliminate the use of extension cords.
Internal brewer. The design of the teapot may have a special compartment under the lid — the teapot. Relevant for those who drink tea often and a lot — this way you save time, because tea is brewed in parallel with boiling water.

Protection against accidental activation, automatic shutdown. The first function prevents accidental switching on of the device if there is no water in it. In practice, it is often enough to choose a model with a good location of the power button, excluding its accidental pressing.

The second function is the standard for modern electric kettles, without which it is already difficult to imagine them.

Foundation (platform). Electric kettles can be parked on the platform arbitrarily around its axis or in a certain position. The choice of the optimal option depends on the future location of the electrical appliance. We also recommend paying attention to the automation that is used in the platform and the kettle itself. Leading manufacturers are Strix and Otter.

Liquid level indication. The body of the kettle can be marked with both marks of the volume of water in generally accepted units of measurement, and symbols (for example, the number of cups). The presence of a measuring window allows you to quickly determine the water level, but it is also one of the vulnerable elements in the design of plastic and metal kettles. Over time, the measuring window may begin to leak, so it is especially important to check the tightness of the assembly of the entire structure.

Leak protection. In some cheap models of electric kettles, the case quickly becomes unusable due to temperature changes and poor quality materials and begins to leak. More expensive electric kettles, in addition to high-quality materials, boast additional sealing elements and other tricks of manufacturers against possible leaks.

The problem is that the cost of the chosen model is not always a guarantee of quality. Moreover, on sale you can find a number of electric kettles with specific design features. A completely solid model can, for example, accumulate condensate that will drip when using the device. Such an unpleasant feature often becomes known after the purchase. The only way to insure against disappointment is honest advice from a store consultant and user reviews.

Functionality

The thermostat allows you to set the temperature of water heating and even maintain it at a certain level due to the periodic switching on of the electric kettle. Such a function is relevant, for example, for tea gourmets who understand that different varieties of their favorite drink can open at different water temperatures.

The presence of a thermostat is also convenient for lovers of drinks of a certain temperature, as it eliminates the need to dilute them with cold water or wait for cooling. Modern electric kettles with a thermostat often support a choice of heating temperature within the range from 40 to 95 ° C.

Delayed start is convenient when hot water is required strictly on schedule. For example, pouring water into the electric kettle in the evening, you can enjoy your favorite drink in the morning without wasting time waiting.

Remote control from a smartphone. Some modern models can be turned on or configured using a smartphone or other mobile device. To do this, you need to install a special application on it and connect gadgets via Bluetooth. So you can start the electric kettle for heating in the morning without getting out of bed.

Selection Tips

For summer cottages or office use, plastic models of sufficient volume and power are suitable. They are easy to buy, easy to replace if necessary.

For a large family, glass or metal models of considerable volume and power will be a good choice. Metal devices are quite reliable, and glass ones easily fit into the sophisticated interior of the kitchen. If there are small children at home, curious cats, or you just care about safety, choose a kettle with double walls.