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Kettle

Kitchen equipment · Kettle

Kettle

A vessel with a spout for boiling water quickly, either electric or heated on the hob.

Essential in most kitchens · Electric · 32 recipes

Photo: Holger Ellgaard, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

A lidded water vessel with a spout and handle. Electric kettles have a built-in element and switch off automatically when boiling; stovetop kettles sit on a burner and often whistle. Gooseneck kettles have a thin curved spout for precise pouring over coffee; some electric models let you choose a temperature.

What it’s for: Boiling water for drinks and for speeding up cooking.

How to use it

  1. Fill with fresh water to at least the minimum line and no higher than the maximum.
  2. Close the lid and switch on, or set on the hob.
  3. Let it boil, or stop at the chosen temperature for green tea or coffee.
  4. Pour steadily, holding the handle only.

Good to know

Tasks
boiling water for tea and coffee, preheating water for pasta and stock, rehydrating noodles and dried foods, making instant soups, topping up steamers
Cooking methods
Boiled
Materials
stainless steel, plastic, glass, enamelled steel
Care and cleaning
Empty after use. Descale regularly in hard-water areas by boiling a vinegar or citric-acid solution, then rinse well. Never immerse an electric kettle base.
Limitations
Only heats water; do not heat milk or other liquids in it.

Safety

  • Keep the cord away from the counter edge.
  • Do not boil an electric kettle empty.
  • Steam from the spout can scald.

If you don’t have one

  • Saucepan — Boils water on the hob, slower and harder to pour.
  • Microwave — Heats a mug of water; it can superheat, so stir first.

Equipment guide

How it works: Electric kettles heat water directly with a submerged or concealed element and switch off when steam triggers a bimetallic or electronic thermostat. Stovetop kettles heat from the burner through the base. Variable-temperature electric kettles hold water at a set point below boiling for green and white teas or coffee.

MaterialGoodWatch out
Stainless steelDurable, non-reactive, dishwasher-safe, does not hold smells.Can scratch non-stick pans; conducts heat, so all-metal handles get hot.
Glass (borosilicate)You can see scale and the boil; no metallic taste.Breakable; shows limescale quickly.
Plastic bodyLight and cool-touch.Some people notice a taste when new.
Enamelled steelLight, inexpensive, non-reactive and easy to clean.Thin, so hot spots and scorching are common; enamel chips and exposed steel rusts.
Electric kettle
Fastest; auto shut-off.
Variable-temperature kettle
Set 70–100 °C for tea and coffee.
Gooseneck kettle
Thin spout for controlled pour-over coffee.
Stovetop whistling kettle
Works on any hob; no electricity needed.

Buying guidance

Starting out: A 1.5–1.7 litre electric kettle with a concealed element and auto shut-off.

Keen cook: A variable-temperature kettle if you brew green tea or pour-over coffee.

  • Power: about 2–3 kW on 230 V supply, about 1.5 kW on 120 V
  • Capacity: 1–1.7 litres
  • Concealed element (easier to descale)
  • Boil-dry protection
  • Limescale filter in the spout in hard-water areas

No brands or prices — check current reviews before buying.

Techniques:BoilingBlanching

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Recipes that use it

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