Your Guide to the Best Electric Teakettles
If you're in the market for a new kettle, make it electric.
If you love a good hot cup (or many) of tea, pour-over coffee, or hot cocoa, an electric kettle is an easy-to-use, must-have device. These self-heating, plug-in kettles can bring water to a boil faster and safer than stovetop kettles can (in as few as 2–3 minutes). Unlike stovetop kettles, many electric kettles have an auto shut-off function (linked to an analog or digital thermometer) that turns off the heat as soon as the water is boiling. You'll no longer need to worry about leaving a pot of boiling water and forgetting about it. In this guide, we break down what makes the best electric tea kettles truly the best, from their capacities to their additional features.
Tip!
Read The Best Tea Kettles You Need to Know for a curated list of our top-rated kettles.
Best Electric Tea Kettle Capacities
The best electric tea kettle for you is one with the capacity to accommodate all of your household's tea-drinking, coffee-making, and other water-boiling needs. In this section, we will be referring to the volume of a U.S. cup (8 fl. oz.) and the volume of a standard cup of tea (5 fl. oz.).
1–2 qt.: Electric tea kettles in this category can hold 4–8 U.S. cups of water, which translates to six to 12 standard cups of tea. This is a good electric kettle size if you and your family enjoy a lot of tea or pour-over coffee. This size is also convenient if you use boiling water frequently for single or double servings of some meals, like ramen, some soups, oatmeal, and more.
2–3 qt.: 2–3 qt. electric tea kettles can hold 8–12 U.S. cups or 12–18 standard cups of tea. These tea kettles (especially those with a keep-warm setting) are amazing for supplying your household with hot water all day long. They're also the best electric kettles for larger recipes involving boiling water.
Stainless Steel: An all-around classic material for top rated electric tea kettles, stainless steel is sleek, elegant, durable, and excellent at keeping the contents of a tea kettle nice and hot. Stainless steel electric kettles are easy to clean and won't imbue your water with any scent or flavor. Their only downsides are that they may be heavy and can get very hot to the touch, so it's important to be careful while using one.
Glass: Shaped out of gorgeous tempered glass, glass electric kettles can withstand the heat required to bring water to a boil. These lightweight, pristine devices are transparent, allowing you to see how much water is remaining in the tea kettle with just a glance. Like stainless steel, glass kettles are easy to clean and won't make your water taste funky. Glass kettles are more fragile than metal kettles – they won't survive a drop to the floor. They can also get very hot to the touch, so it's important to avoid touching the tea kettle's glass body while it is in use. If the handle is insulated against heat, it's safe to touch while the tea kettle is hot.
Plastic: After years of development and testing, plastic has returned as a safe, budget-friendly material for cookware. Many are BPA-free, so you can rest assured that no harmful chemicals will leach into your water. Plastic electric tea kettles are drop-friendly and lightweight, but they won't get as hot as other tea kettles during use. They may be a bit more difficult to clean than more expensive electric kettles in different materials, and they have the potential to imbue your water with a plasticky scent or flavor.
Auto Shut-off: Auto shut-off is an essential safety feature of the best electric tea kettle – it's one safety feature that makes an electric tea kettle better than a stove-top one. The tea kettle's internal thermometers respond to water reaching its boiling point by initiating a shutoff sequence that stops the heating process. This means that you can start boiling water and forget about it without worry. Many of the best electric tea kettles have this safety feature, but to be sure, filter your search to include only electric tea kettles with an auto shut-off.
Tip!
Unlike stovetop kettles, many electric kettles have an auto shut-off function (linked to an analog or digital thermometer) that turns off the heat as soon as the water is boiling. You'll no longer need to worry about leaving a pot of boiling water and forgetting about it.
Rapid Boil: Another claim to fame for many electric kettles is speed; they are superior to stove-top models because they can boil water much faster. Their internal heating elements come into direct contact with the contained water, facilitating combustion and rapid heat exchange that produces boiling water in only a couple of minutes. But not all electric tea kettles can bring water to a boil faster than conventional methods. If this feature is important to you, narrow your search to include only electric tea kettles with rapid-boil technology.
Water-Level Indicator: Oftentimes made of insulating metal, electric tea kettles tend to be opaque. This means that you won't be able to see how much water is left inside unless you open the lid or lift the tea kettle to test its weight. Water-level indicators are little transparent windows, gauges, or digital readings that show you exactly how much water is left inside the tea kettle. They're another feature that make electric tea kettles the ultimate user-friendly kitchen device.
Variable Temperature Control: Some electric tea kettles have one heating function: Heat water until it boils. Other more high-tech models provide you with many temperature settings that allow you to heat water to more precise temperatures. These are the best electric tea kettles for those in search of versatility and the ability to select precise temperatures because not everyone likes their tea boiling hot!
Limescale Filter: Traces of minerals present in tap water can build up in devices that frequently process water. These buildups comprise the enemy of espresso machines, faucets, and tea kettles alike: limescale. Limescale can interfere with the functionality of your electric kettle, rendering it inefficient or damaging it beyond repair. If your water is mineral rich, a good electric kettle to invest in is one with a limescale filter to help catch these trace minerals before they build up.
Cordless: If you prefer to bring your tea kettle to the table, then the mobility that a cordless option offers is ideal for you. While the base of the kettle will remain plugged into a power source, the tea kettle itself lifts off for convenient cord-free serving wherever you please. This way you can serve your hot beverages, provide freshly boiled water, and even take the kettle to the faucet to fill it up with ease.
Tea Infuser: The best tea kettle for steeping aficionados, is one that comes with its own tea infuser. These are usually made from a steel mesh insert in which you can place tea bags or your favorite loose leaf tea. Simply add your favorite brew, water, and boil for a full kettle of your favorite chai, ideal for large breakfast crowds or those chilly days.
Heatproof Handle: The majority of electric tea kettles feature heatproof handles made from thick plastic or ergonomic material to prevent heat transfer from the body or hot water. This way you can rest assured that when you reach out to pour your water, the handle will not burn your hand.
Now you have read our guide to the best electric tea kettles, it's time to get your brew on.
