Learn all you need in this Electric Kettle Buying Guide
Are you looking to buy an electric kettle for heating water, but you’re not sure where to start? Electric kettles quickly and safely serve up hot water for your instant coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or ramen noodles. HowToBuyA will give you the information you need to pick the best electric kettle for you. We’ll also share some links to some of the best electric kettles. Want to skip the How-To and get straight to our electric kettle suggestions? Click here for some HowToBuyA – Electric Kettle Suggestions.
Affiliate notice: When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Sections of this Electric Kettle Buying Guide
Why Buy an Electric Kettle
Electric kettles can boil water in minutes, more rapidly than a kettle or pot on the stove. Unlike stovetop kettles that continue to boil until you shut off the stove, electric kettles have an automatic shut-off feature that stops the heating process when the water is ready. This feature not only saves electricity but can prevent fires from occurring on the stove from forgotten kettles. Electric kettles are small and portable, so they can be used anywhere there is an outlet. Most kettles are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $20 to $70, a good value for their convenience.
How an Electric Kettle Works
Most electric kettles these days have a stainless-steel bottom that conceals a heating element, sealed away from the water to prevent rust and corrosion. Electricity for the kettle is provided through a base unit with a cord. The kettle sits on the base while heating and can be easily removed from the base by simply picking up the kettle, allowing for cord-free pouring and easy movement around a room. Some kettles, especially travel versions, have removable cords that plug directly into the kettle. The on/off switch for electric kettles can be located on or below the handle. Some kettles have the on/off switch and other control keys located on the base unit.
Features to Look For in an Electric Kettle
Capacity – The capacity for electric kettles ranges from 0.5 liters (about 2 cups) for travel-size kettles to 2.5 liters (about 10 cups) for large kettles.
Wattage – 1500 watts is standard for most kettles. A lower-wattage kettle would take longer to heat the water.
Time to boil – The time it takes the water to boil will depend on the temperature of the water beforehand, how much water is in the kettle, and the wattage. Expect it to take anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes, but it should be faster than using the stovetop.
Easy-to-clean design – The wider the mouth of the lid, the easier it will be to clean. Cleaning often will help prevent the build-up of mineral deposits from hard water and can help prevent rust.
Auto shut-off – A standard feature that will prevent your kettle from needlessly boiling away water.
Dry shut-off – This is another standard safety feature that will shut the kettle off if no water is detected in the kettle.
Material – The container holding the water in most kettles is made of glass, stainless steel, or both. Food-safe silicone and BPA-free plastic parts may also be used. Even with BPA-free plastic, some consumers are concerned about plastic leaching into the water, so they will avoid buying kettles if they have plastic parts that come in contact with the heated water. Even plastic lids or hinges cause concern for some. For glass kettles, look for borosilicate glass, which is better able to endure temperature changes and less likely to shatter than other types of glass.
Easy pour spouts – Some spouts make it easier to pour the water without spilling than others.
Water-level indicator – 
It’s important not to overfill a kettle, or it may leak. It’s also nice to know how much water remains in the kettle after pouring some out. All glass kettles have markings that indicate the water level. Most stainless-steel kettles use a plastic window to show the water level inside the kettle.
Temperature settings (for the perfect cup of tea or coffee) – Different teas and coffees brew better at specific temperatures that are lower than the boiling temperature of water, 212°F. Green tea, for example, does better at around 170-175°F. Some kettles have temperature selections to suit your specific tea or coffee.
Hold Temp / Keep warm – Found on some higher-end kettles, this function will keep your water warm for 30 or 60 minutes if selected.
How to Avoid Rust in an Electric Kettle
Stainless steel should be rust proof, but if you live in an area with hard water or near the ocean (because of salt in the air), your kettle will be more likely to get rust spots. Every kettle has complaints about rusting in their customer reviews on Amazon. It is not a universal issue among customers, though, with many customers stating they have no problems with rust. If you have hard water, drying your kettle with a cloth after each use will help prevent rust.
Cleaning and descaling your kettle regularly will also help keep mineral deposits from building up, which will also help prevent rust. To descale your kettle, fill it with 1 cup of vinegar or lemon juice and 2 cups of water. Turn the kettle on to bring the liquid to a boil, and then let it sit for 2 hours. Rinse the kettle out with clean water and dry with a cloth. Stainless steel can become discolored from heat; this is not rust related and can usually be removed by cleaning with vinegar.
HowToBuyA – Electric Kettle Suggestions
Now that you know what to look for in an electric kettle, here are some some links to some of the best. Take a look at these suggestions for glass and stainless steel electric kettles.
Affiliate notice: When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Glass Electric Kettles
Most glass kettles are made primarily from glass with stainless-steel bottoms. The seal between the glass and the stainless steel is food-safe silicone. Plastic might be found in the lid or the lid hinge. Borosilicate glass is a stronger, safer type of glass that better resists shattering from temperature changes.
Swipe or scroll right if needed to see more electric kettles.
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| Brand | Mueller | Cosori | Amazon Basics | Hamilton |
| Model Number | M99S | GK172-CO | F-625C | 40930 |
| Capacity in liters | 1.8L | 1.7L | 1.7L | 1L |
| Wattage | 1500W | 1500W | 1500W | 1500W |
| Material | Borosilicate glass, stainless steel, plastic lid | Borosilicate glass,stainless steel, plastic hinge for lid | Glass, stainless steel, plastic | Glass, stainless steel, lid is plastic |
| Auto Shut-off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dry Shut-off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Water-level indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Settings | No | No | No | No |
| Hold Temperature | No | No | No | No |
| More Info | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
Stainless Steel Electric Kettles
Stainless steel kettles usually have a plastic window used to indicate the water level and may have plastic in the lid. Only the Cosori model #CO108-NK is 100% stainless steel with no plastic parts.
Swipe or scroll right if needed to see more electric kettles.
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| Brand | Cosori | Amazon Basics | Hamilton | Cosori | Cuisinart |
| Model Number | B07FP5PHG4 | MK-M110A1A | 40998 | CO108-NK | CPK-17P1 |
| Capacity in liters | 1.7L | 1L | 1L | 0.8L | 1.7L |
| Wattage | 1500W | 1500W | 1500W | 1200W | 1500W |
| Material | Stainless steel, plastic rimmed filter on pour spout | Stainless steel, plastic | Stainless steel, plastic | Stainless steel | Stainless steel, plastic |
| Auto Shut-off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dry Shut-off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Water-level indicator | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Temperature Settings | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hold Temperature | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| More Info | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
Travel-Size Electric Kettles
Most people will just use the microwave if they only need one or two cups of hot water. Some people, though, enjoy having a smaller travel-size kettle when they travel. Unfortunately, the travel-size electric kettles don’t fare quite as well as the larger kettles do in customer satisfaction. Currently, there aren’t any travel kettles that stand out above the rest. That’s not to say there aren’t any worth buying, but you will have to use your best judgment, as always, to find one that suits your particular needs. Take a look here for travel-size kettles. If you find one that you like, please let us know.
Wrap Up
We hope you have enjoyed our product rundown on electric kettles. Let us know which kettle you purchase and why in the comments below.
1 comment
Be Be
This was an easy site to use. Thanks for the heads up “)