You don’t need to warm up water in the microwave or on the stove. Electric kettles are cheaper than ever, and they can help you make the most out of your tea or coffee drinking experience.
Electric kettles are now more of a necessity than a luxury in most kitchens. They’re easy to use, and they boil water a lot faster than your stove top. Because all electric kettles come with auto-off features, you don’t have to worry about burning the house down in a moment of forgetfulness. Some electric kettles have temperature control features, which makes it easy to create the perfect pour-over coffee or cup of green tea. Not to mention, they’re great for cooking pasta, blanching vegetables, or making some instant noodles.
But not every electric kettle is created equal. They come in many shapes and sizes, and some lack features that you may not be able to live without. That’s why we’ve picked out the best electric kettles that you can buy right now. There’s something for everybody here, whether you’re a tea-addict or a ramen noodle chef. Also, we’ve avoided any kettles that have plastic elements or lining, because the taste of plastic happens to be both disgusting and terrible for you.
Cuisinart 1.7L Programmable Kettle ($76)
Point-blank, the Cuisinart programmable kettle is a consistent and straightforward electric kettle. It has six labeled temperature settings, so you can effortlessly heat water for different situations. It also has a keep-warm feature that can run for about a half an hour, and an attractive steel and glass construction.
The Cuisinart is easy to clean because its 1.7-liter body is big enough for you to fit a hand in. It also has a washable scale filter (the mesh that keeps calcium buildup from getting in your drink). Hot tip: boil a mix of water and vinegar in your electric kettle to make cleanup easier. Just remember to rinse out the kettle afterward, or else you might end up with hot vinegar in your morning coffee.
The Cuisinart’s pre-set temperature controls make it easy to find the correct temperature for your cup of tea or coffee. But you can’t punch in an exact temperature, so you’re limited to the options that are on the kettle. If you just need a low-maintenance electric kettle that can quickly heat water to a few common temperatures, then you should consider the Cuisinart. If you think that you’ll need to bring water to odd or specific temperatures, like 90 degrees or 175 degrees, then you consider some of the other kettles in our roundup with more precise controls.
Doctor Hetzner 1.2L Programmable Kettle ($34)
Here’s an electric kettle that can bring water to specific, user-programmed temperatures. The Doctor Hetzner electric kettle has a little LCD screen that displays the target water temperature. You can adjust your desired temperature to anything between 104 and 212 degrees, which should fill any of your cooking or drink making needs. The Doctor Hetzner also has a keep-warm function, but it only runs for about a half hour.
The Doctor Hetzner has a sleek and utilitarian design. It’s made almost entirely of stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about breaking any glass. It also has a goose-neck, which ensures precise and spill-free pouring (unless you get impatient and turn the whole kettle upside down).
