Tea Kettles (stovetop)

Hmmm, I'm experiencing Gadget Envy.

trent

I use a kettle with removable whistle. I prefer it over thumb latches. It is all stainless steel and boiled empty many times without damage to stove. It was expensive to start and the only trouble was getting the whistle to seat properly. I never had problems with the steam when removed from the heat. Absentmindedly a couple of times I tried to do that when it was on the stove screaming it's head off. I've had to look for the whistle a couple of times. All boiling kettles have their idiosyncrasies. Mine boils fast without heat transfer through the handle or whistle. It is 2.5qt and pours easy when full. The lid fits snug and tight. It sits in the sink and fill through spout from the faucet not wasting a drop. It's about eight years old and I know I'll have trouble replacing it.

Jim

I own two and I've owned many more over the years.

One other issue I would suggest that you consider is volume. Do you usually just boil water for one "cup" or perhaps a small pot (2-6 cups). But do you often boil water for that cup and at the same time also steep a large pot of iced tea for later (as I do)?

I have a 2 quart (just off of two liter) stainless steel Copco kettle without a whistle. The only downside is that if you have any tendencies toward absent-mindedness, the whistle can come in handy.

I also have a 2.5 quart (about 2.3 liter) stainless steel also by Copco that has a whistle. The handle has a pull that clears away the whistle cap without a problem, although I usually use an oven mitt since the thing gives off a bit of heat and steam as you pour.

Personally, I would not buy an aluminum kettle, which would be less expensive. They seem to fail more readily and they are more likely to be damaged by loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCA) if you forget about the kettle and it boils dry.

Warren

I just got a coppor bottom Corningware kettle at one of their outlet mall stores and have mixed feelings about it: the kettle itself is very nice but the whistle is barely audible.

I also looked at a Farberware traditional design which has been around forever, with a little red knob you press to open the spout. However, I fond the handle to close to the kettle and was afraid my fingers could touch the hot surface.

So, no ideal solution yet. :)

I just got one from a Cornigware store and the kettle itself is nice and works well, but the whistle is barely audible. Do I just have a defective unit? Wish you could try them in the store!

Hey. "products_frame"?

Stupid computer.

I mean this one:

It's not too "mini", being about the size of a Rubbermaid juice pitcher, and about the same look and feel, really.

It does have one niftyish feature: the lid locks down and you can fill it easily through the spout, so you really never even have to open the thing.

I'd have bought one of the more expensive, more featureful models if I'd known how incredibly powerful they are.

I can have 180F water for white tea in about 60 seconds, and a full boil in something under 3 minutes, if I only put about 2 cups of water in it.

An on-off switch and a fill-level window would just about perfect it.

--Blair "Sure boils faster than my CPU does."

I have an Oneida "Immaculate": 2.5 Quart, stainless steel, with a thumb latch (a simple lever with a knob on the end, not the pushbutton you sometimes see) and a semicircular black plastic handle. It has a whistle and was about $20 US at the Winn-Dixie supermarket where I shop. I've used the dogg out of it and it's been very servicable. The lid can be a bit fiddly, and if I am careless I *can* steam my thumb when I flip the lever, but overall I'm happy with it.

I looked all over Oneida's Web site after I got mine but did not see it. Perhaps it's a discontinued model. I'm going for an electric kettle eventually anyway, since I've read a number of positive comments about them; but this one's satisfactory so I'm in no hurry.

That's what we had a few decades ago when I was young. I think mom may still have it. Not being terribly interested in tea, and preferring other means for getting hot water onto my coffee grounds, I may be mistaken. I know it was still in use when the original gas stove was replaced by the fancy self-cleaning-oven'd electric stove.

I use the Melitta electric kettle. Nice, wide spout that doesn't dribble. No whistle, though. It shuts off automatically when it detects steam.

The advantage: Because the heating element is inside, the kettle can be set down on any surface without a trivet.

OXO is a ridiculously overpriced brand for cheapo merchandise imported from China.

Yeah, I'd say yours might be defective - our whistle is pretty loud and shrill and obnoxious, scares the cats sometimes.

brian

I have one of those OXO kettles, and it is great!

The whistle was a little startling, because it has a lower tone, but it is a Good Thing -- not shrill and piercing!

I like the counterbalanced open/close function.

But, it is a heavy kettle. . .

I've been using a Copco stainless steel kettle for about 5 years and find it quite functional. The whistle/cap disengages easily via a thumb lever for pouring and I have never known the handle to get hot or the spout to dribble. The kettle probably holds about 2 litres. There is a lid that can be removed for filling or scrubbing if desired, although I often fill the kettle by pouring water from the Brita filter right down the spout. It's reasonably attractive (certainly attractive enough for a grad student sharing a house with three other guys and a hodge-podge of second-hand furniture) and it cost about $25 if I recall correctly. The sheet that came with the kettle boasted of rapid heating and recommended against heating it on "high" heat, so I usually set the burner to 8.5 or 9 (out of 10). I do the same with my nonstick frying pans. Does anyone know if this is really necessary on the typical electric stove-top?

I think it's the Copco Strata, pictured here:

Jason Blank Pacific Grove, CA

If you are near any of the Le Cruset outlet stores, check out their kettle.

or

Heats fast and if you catch the store at the right time, you can get a good price. I picked up one for $35 around Christmas with their percent off sale and taking the featured color. They may be doing a Memorial Day sale. Scott Peterson

-- The trouble with most folks isn't so much their ignorance. It's know'n so many things that ain't so. -- Josh Billings.

I have a Le Creuset kettle and I don't like it at all, I was very disappointed since I like their other cookware. It dribbles and sputters hot water all over the place when the water in it is boiling or if it's more than about halfway over the inside holes that go into the spout. And if I don't fill it up that high it doesn't hold enough. I'm going to get an electric I think.

Sorry about the similarity in E-mail addys Jason, didn't notice yours when I made this one. Mine's spelled wrong anyway. I'm new to the group, delurking, but have very much enjoyed reading posts.

They do have a number of models. Which one do you have?

If the water is over the inside hole for the spout, I would expect some mess. The steam would have to force it out in order to escape.

Mine doesn't make any mess like that, but I don't fill it that full.

Scott Peterson

-- In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.

Yup, I hated mine too. Could only fill the kettle less then 1/2 full and for a 3 qt kettle that's absurd. And as soon as you poured water spat all over everything when it hit the spout. No vent hole in the lid I suppose. I tossed it and went back to a Chantal with the harmonica whistle. expensive but I love it.

But these look like you could burn yourself removing the spout cap before pouring hot water.