Best Electric Kettle

When it comes to electric kettles, the look and feel of the kettle itself is going to be one of the biggest selling points. Many modern homeowners would prefer to own a kettle from metal or glass due to the aesthetic appeal, but did you know that the material you’ve picked out is going to have long-term implications not only on performance but on water quality?

There are three primary types of material used by electric kettles – plastics, glass, or stainless steel and other types of metal – two of which are featured on the products we’ve chosen here. When it comes to plastic kettles, affordability is going to be the primary focus. These options are often the cheapest and offer durability that’s certainly higher than glass or steel, as you won’t need to worry about shattered glass or broken bits if a fall were to happen. Plastic is known, however, for containing microplastics like BPA that can leak into the water supply. The research into the dangers of these microplastics remain ongoing, but due to the overall risk factor, we’ve opted not to feature plastic kettles on our list.

Next up are glass kettles, which remain best-in-class in design and overall aesthetic appeal. Glass electric kettles blend into modern homes and kitchens most easily and don’t come with the same issues that plastic kettles do. Glass kettles are the most fragile overall, though, and one accident could quite literally shatter your investment. Glass kettles are also typically the most expensive of the group and tend to be the heaviest. Style does come ahead of functionality here, but it is worth noting that few products will be as sanitary as a glass kettle.

Finally, stainless steel options seem to offer the best of both worlds. Stainless steel kettles are more affordable than glass options and more durable as well. Stainless steel kettles also do not release microplastics, and most come with limescale filters to prevent buildup due to the contact of the water to metal. Some stainless steel kettles struggle to keep their handles cool, which can make handling difficult. Regardless, for a middle of the road option, we greatly prefer a stainless steel option.

Other features, such as LED lights and indicators, are going to be more common with some materials than others. For a complete overview of what you can expect from each material, we recommend consulting the following table as you make your decision:

Since electric kettles utilize a nearly entirely closed design and don’t rely on steam to let you know when water is completed, light and sound indicators are some of the most important features to look out for.

Others operate as a simple “on/off” indicator and glow either when the kettle is turned on, or water has reached a boiling point. Likewise, sound indicators, such as beeps or chimes, can be found on the PerfecTemp and other similar electric kettles and inform when the kettle has hit a specific temperature to remove the guesswork out of making temperature-specific drinks.

Speaking of temperature specificity, aiming to have a kettle with accurate temperature control can be very beneficial if you plan to make more than simple teas. Many herbal drinks or brews require water at specific temperatures that are better for steeping. At the same time, you may only need hot water for specific uses—not boiling water. Products like the Cuisinart PerfecTemp or the Bonavita Gooseneck kettle provide ways for you to have total control over the temperature of your water.

At the same time, temperature control isn’t always going to be something you need to have. If you’re simply trying to brew tea, temperature control can be too complex or too superfluous to justify it’s asking price. In these cases, we usually recommend opting for a more affordable or one-touch option, such as the AmazonBasics or Secura kettles.

How light your electric kettle is and how much water it’s going to be able to hold overall are also very important aspects of your electric kettle to consider. When it comes to weight, you’ll need to consider that water is already heavy enough—a little over two pounds per liter, to be precise (or a kilogram if you’re using the metric system). The excess weight of a kettle (even disregarding the heating base) can make for a seriously unwieldy product that can cause spills and problems in and of itself.

At the same time, you need to make sure that you’ve got the size you need for any occasion. We recommend staying well over one and a half liters when opting for a kettle that’s going to be used by multiple family members or most often when guests are over. This makes it a bit of a balancing act to find a kettle that holds the water you need without taking up too much counter-space or being too difficult to lift.

Generally speaking, the kettle with the highest overall capacity relative to its weight may be the best solution for you. And while opting for a plastic kettle may seem better initially for weight, the risk of plastics leaking into the main water supply can be enough to dissuade most (including us) from recommending them.

• Why shouldn’t I let plastic touch my water?

• Most people go back and forth or whether or not plastic should be in contact with water, but the general consensus is that plastic—no matter how durable or well-designed—does tend to release chemicals into the containers that it holds.

  When boiling water in plastic containers, certain micro-plastics will be released. The extent of damage to the body is not quite clear; while some argue that hormones are affected, others discuss how there’s little to no damage done at all. In either case, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and boiling in stainless steel and similar containers don’t come with the risk factors associated with plastic construction, which is why our picks are made up primarily or entirely of non-plastic materials.

• What size kettle do I need for one person? For two people?

• Generally speaking, one liter of water should be enough for about one person, or two if you’re only working with a cup of tea or a small bowl of soup. Otherwise, for larger families or big meals, getting a kettle with a capacity closer to two liters would be preferable. While one liter is essentially the bare minimum, sticking at or above one and a half liters for larger families is going to be better to ensure that you don’t need to run your electric kettle any longer than necessary.

• Will my electric kettle hiss or beep to inform me that the water is boiling?

• In most cases, electric kettles are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. That means that instead of loud sounds, beeps, or hisses, you’ll often be looking at flashing LED lights that often shine when the kettle is turned on and when the water reaches its desired temperature.

  Some electric kettles, however, like the Cuisinart PerfecTemp, will beep as well as shine LED lights. If an audible cue is important for you, we recommend paying close attention to which kettles we’ve noted come with alarms and sounds. Otherwise, indicator or no indicator, each of the kettle picks on our list will get your water from cool to boiling in just a few short minutes.

• Can I place tea, soup, or other liquids into my electric kettle for heating?

• While each kettle is made differently, and while you may not immediately cause damage to your kettle by placing other liquids within it, it is not recommended that you place anything other than water into your electric kettle. Doing so means running the risk of voiding your warranty and possibly causing long-term damage to your electric kettle.