The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances & Culinary Innovation Lab gathered the top electric tea kettles. Six of the 10 we tested made it onto this list. We measured how long it took to bring five teas to boil. They also measured how well the kettles kept their temperature in the keep-warm phase. There were 11 other data points that we considered, including temperature and setting options for different types and sizes of teas and coffees, cup size (some kettles can boil up to 2 cups, while others can heat up up to 17), and ease of pouring. We also looked at whether you can steep your tea in the kettle.
How to choose an electric kettle
An electric kettle can be used for both coffee and tea. There are many options available, from simple touch-start buttons to more advanced models that automatically lower the tea basket into water. Here are some key points to remember when looking for electric kettles.
Materials: You’ll first need to choose between three types of electric kettles, namely plastic, glass, and stainless steel.
Electric kettles made of plastic are often marked at a lower price point and offer an easy one-touch operation.
While glass options are more expensive, many prefer to be able to see the water level in the kettle and the boiling time.
Stainless steel kettles are durable and heat well. They also hide any stains or imperfections on the inner heating plate. These stains are normal and result from a buildup in minerals in the water.
A good electric kettle should have an automatic shut-off feature. However, a keep warm setting can be a plus. Many electric kettles have programs that allow you to set the timers or temperature for certain teas and beverages. You can choose to make your tea in a kettle with filters, or one that has baskets that automatically steep your tea. Goosenecks are great for pour-over coffee.
Size: An average electric kettle weighs in at 1.7 liters. Larger ones can hold up to four liters. This is useful for larger parties. You can choose a kettle with just enough water to make two cups of tea, whether you are on the move or prefer to drink it at work.
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Our most recent round was conducted by Anna Helm Baxter. Her previous roles included Deputy Food Editor at Woman’s Day and Country Living. As a freelancer, she is a food stylist and recipe developer. She has written multiple cookbooks including Salad in a Jar and Soups Made Simple.
Nicole Papantoniou is the Culinary Innovation Lab’s Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab leader. Nicole has been leading or supervising GH’s outdoor, indoor and portable grill testing for the past four year. Nicole was previously involved in product development for small kitchen tools and appliances. Nicole holds a Grand Diploma in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute as well as a Certificate in Culinary Nutrition from the Natural Gourmet Institute. Both are now known collectively as the Institute of Culinary Education.