Choosing a kettle for your kitchen

A teapot is one of those kitchen items you just can’t do without. It’s incredibly inconvenient to make tea and other hot drinks by boiling water in a pan every time and there are some very inexpensive kettles available to buy so there’s no reason not to have one.

There are basically two main types of kettles you can buy: electric, which plugs directly into the main electricity, and stovetop, which is heated on the kitchen stove to boil water. Most people these days prefer the convenience and speed of an electric kettle, but a kettle looks great in a traditional kitchen and packs a novelty value, especially if you choose one with a whistle.

Many electric kettles are now cordless, which means that the socket that provides electricity is connected to a separate base so that you can freely lift the kettle and carry it across the kitchen without unplugging it first. Modern kettles should be safe to leave plugged in all the time, as they have an automatic shut-off that kicks in when the water boils or drops below the minimum level.

Stovetop kettles are the more traditional type and are often fitted with a whistle that alerts you when the water is boiling. They can be cast, aluminum or enamelled steel. Many people think that tea tastes better when it is boiled in a traditional teapot.

If you are on a big budget, you may want to consider one of the modern designed teapots. These look amazing in your kitchen and have some really useful and fun features like fast boiling, transparent sides, and even color change. There are also some lovely kettles made of chrome or stainless steel that look great in modern kitchens.