Choosing and Buying the Right Kettle

Buying a kettle may seem like a task requiring little consideration, but bearing in mind that your kettle may be the most used item in your kitchen, buying the best model with the features you need can turn boiling water from a chore into a pleasure (or at least make it a little more pleasant).

Here are a few features that you should consider.

Corded or Cordless

Many kettles sold today are cordless. The actually means that the power chord is attached to a base, which the kettle sits on. You'll still have to place the base close to a power socket, but once the water's boiled you're free to move around the kitchen with the kettle, unrestricted by chord length.

Capacity

Many kettles can hold around three pints of water. Considering that a large up of tea is often just under half a pint of water that's adequate for over 6 cups. You might want to think about a kettle with a reduced capacity if kitchen space is limited.

Power Rating

The power rating of a kettle determines how quickly you will be able to boil a quantity of water. The higher the rating, the less time is needed. Most kettles have power ratings from 2.2kw to 3kw and higher. Any kettle with a power rating of above 3Kw is classed as a rapid boil kettle - better for those in a rush.

360 degree base

A 360 degree base is simply a base where the kettle can be placed in any direction. This is better for ease of use; it saves you needing to look and find out which way the kettle should be aligned. however, it's worth pointing out though that manufacturers state that kettles need to be removed from the base before you fill them with water.

Concealed element

A feature of a concealed element is that the water is separated from the element, meaning the kettle is a lot easier to clean. This is a feature that most modern kettles have.

Boil dry protection

This is a valuable feature to have in that it turns off the kettle if there isn't enough water inside.

Make

There are many makes, and premium makes of kettles such as Le Creuset kettles may come with more features or better quality.

Quiet boil

This is a feature that you may see on some kettles. What constitutes 'quiet boil' is down to the manufacturers interpretation. If a quiet kettle is important to you you may want to search for specific decibel measurements (and not buy a whistling kettle).

Water Gauge

A clear gauge which allows you to view on the exterior of the kettle how much water is contained. Only boiling as much water as is required is important to avoid wasting money and energy.

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