OXO 1479500 Good Grips Classic Tea Kettle, Stainless Steel, Silicone, Silver

Product Information

The most popular method to clean a tea kettle uses simply water and white vinegar. Just fill your kettle with equal amounts of both, bring it to a boil, and then dump out the water-vinegar mixture. Once the kettle is cool, scrub the inside with a non-abrasive cloth or brush. Finally, rinse the kettle thoroughly (or boil plain water in it) until all traces of vinegar are gone. This process is suitable for both electric and stovetop kettles and removes any potential limescale buildup. It’s important to thoroughly clean inside a kettle at least once every three months; otherwise, mineral buildup can alter the taste of your tea or coffee, and it may prevent some electric kettles from working properly. Other household products like baking soda and lemon juice are effective descaling agents, too, and many household cleaner brands sell descaling solutions in liquid or powder form. Chantal Anniversary Enamel on Steel Whistling Tea Kettle: This stovetop kettle has a similar look and is available in a similar assortment of colors as the Le Creuset model, which was our top choice, but at a lower price. However, it performed somewhat worse on our tests. And the quality of your tea kettle can affect how your tea tastes. Shunan Teng, the founder and CEO of Tea Drunk, told us that an incorrect water temperature is one of three main brewing mistakes that prevent tea from reaching its best flavor. The other two mistakes are, first, brewing for too long or too short and, second, using too much or too little tea.

Oxo Brew Cordless Glass Electric Kettle: This glass kettle heats up fast, and its lights look neat, but we found it bulky and somewhat awkward to use. It also didn't hold its heat as well as other kettles we tested. Another slight criticism we have, and one that more directly affected our experience, is that the handle can get too hot to touch depending on the stovetop temperature. The brand recommends using low to medium heat to best protect the kettle and, presumably, to ensure the handle doesn’t get too hot. We typically used medium-high or high heat when boiling water, however, and a significant amount of customers would likely do the same. On high heat, the water reaches a boil at almost exactly 10 minutes on both a gas burner and electric burner.

The Best Electric Kettle, Overall: Oxo Brew

The pouring spout is pretty much “best in class”. It’s the same one they use on their stovetop kettles and its a winner. You can do a lot of precise control over the water flow, to the point of getting a straight drop from the spout, or an angled pour for higher volume, higher velocity water flow. The capacity is more than I need, but I have an electric stove, and the bottom of the OXO Classic is the same size as my smallest burner. (One should not put it on a burner that is bigger than the pot - read the directions.) Some customers say the kettle is on the heavier side, so consider if that will be an issue before buying. Apart from that, the only other downside is that the base is a little on the flimsy side. But, for the price, this kettle is hard to beat. Chantal Vintage Tea Kettle: This was the only kettle that dripped (a lot) when pouring, which is a cardinal sin when it comes to spout design. Despite that, the handle stayed just cool enough to handle during all boil tests. Unlike the Chantal Anniversary, the spout can be opened with a plastic switch (not metal) that's easier to lift without hurting your hand—although we were still burned one time by the escaping steam. You also have to tilt the kettle quite a bit to pour all the water out.

Of course, all those lovely features (along with the Zwilling brand name) are things you have to pay for. The kettle also can't go in the dishwasher like many stovetop models, though its stainless steel interior is easy enough to wipe down with a soapy sponge. I have been using the OXO daily ever since, typically twice a day to make tea or heat water for drip or instant coffee, and find it a satisfactory replacement for my old kettle, and in a couple of ways better. Mr. Coffee Flintshire Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle: This kettle was the cheapest and the lightest of the bunch (it weighed a mere 4 lbs, 9.7 ounces when full). Speed-wise, it came in second to last in the 1.5-quart boil speed test, but jumped up to fifth place when heating the .75 quarts. It glugged a bit when pouring at half capacity, but the water did come out in a nice spiral. However, there were stains and discoloration after just 4 boils, both of which we couldn't scrub away. Pouring at Full Capacity: We boiled another 1.5 quarts of water in each kettle over medium-high heat using the same-size gas burners. Once each kettle reached a boil, we poured eight ounces into a cup and determined how easy the kettle was to hold and pour from, whether or not the handle or spout lid became hot to touch, and how the water flowed out when the kettle was at capacity.OXO make superb kitchen utensils, but they’ve applied their expertise to a wider range of household products too. Particularly their selection of OXO food storage containers. Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear. This piece was updated by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of coffee products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. He typically uses non-electric coffee makers at home, alternating between the Bialetti Moka Express and the Bodum Brazil French Press. This is a highly functional kettle, but a downside we found is that the lid can be difficult to remove. It's certainly more expensive than average, but we think it’s a worthwhile splurge, especially because of its durability and the brand's five-year guarantee to cover manufacturing defects. Other pros to the Cosori kettle include the pleasing blue light that glows while the item is in use, as well as the fact that both sides of the carafe are clearly labeled for easy measuring. Customers also say the water boils fast, so you won't have to wait long for a delicious cup of tea.

Ease of use: As we performed the heating tests, we noted any difficulties with filling and transporting the kettle, as well as with the controls for electric models. We specifically evaluated pouring by using a full kettle to fill a mug on the counter. Models that splashed and spilled lost points, and more accurate spouts gained them. The SCAA only certifies home brewers that meet their rigorous technical requirements to brew a Golden Cup of coffee. According to the SCAA: This electric kettle boils water fast and can be set to six specific temperatures, each one suited for a different variety of tea. Made of durable glass, it holds 1.7 liters of liquid and has an auto-shut-off function for safety. You can serve hot tea or other beverages directly at the table; the kettle lifts off of the base easily, and you won’t have to worry about it being attached to the cord. There’s also a mesh filter built into the spout, a wide opening for easy cleaning, and a handle that won’t get hot. You'll always know when the kettle is running, too, as it illuminates a soft blue light when on. Note that this product is a tea KETTLE, not a tea POT; it is really not intended for making (i.e. steeping) tea, or for heating soup or other foods, etc. It is best used just to heat or boil water. That's what I use it for. I either make the tea or coffee in a cup or a ceramic pot.Users are not advised to heat milk in a kettle, whether it’s a stovetop or an electric model. Milk often leaves residue inside kettles that is difficult to clean and prone to an unpleasant smell. It can also damage the heating elements of an electric kettle and, in some cases, void the warranty. Heating milk in the microwave or in a pot on the stove are better options than using your kettle. The OXO Classic, does fairly well solve these problems, although it is still best to take it off the burner a few seconds before pouring. The lid O-ring seal does a good job of sealing the lid except under extreme boiling (unnecessary and unwise anyway to use more heat than necessary). And it is best not to remove the lid until the pot cools down. Taste Test: After three rounds of boiling and discarding water, we boiled another batch in each kettle and tasted them, one by one, to see if there were any off-flavors present. We tasted no difference in the water. The spout opening is oval and the whistle spout lid is round, so the lid isn't a good fit for the spout, and when the water is really boiling, some steam leaks around the edge. The design-forward Zwilling Enfinigy Electric Kettle Pro looks like it came from an art museum, but it's also highly functional. Its impressive six different temperature settings range from boiling all the way down to 104 degrees for warming up baby formula, as well as a keep-warm function that can hold a temperature for 30 minutes. Other electric kettles we tested heat up faster, but this one's big advantage is its double-walled configuration, which keeps the outside cool to the touch no matter how hot the inside gets. If you've got inquisitive kids around the kitchen (or if you're a little klutzy), it's a nice safety feature.

If you use loose teas, make sure you store them in a sealed container in a cool dry location. Otherwise, they will absorb the moisture from the air. When crafting Good Grips tools, OXO focus on the turning, twisting, pushing, pulling and pouring actions they’re put to, and come up with the ingenious, reliable, soft-grip handles that put you in control even when your hands are wet. You really have to get your hands on an OXO Good Grips utensil to appreciate how wonderfully designed they are. OXO Good Grips kitchen utensils This kettle has a unique shape that suits both retro and modern kitchens, and the brushed stainless steel fits any decor. We also found the material to be truly stain-resistant, and according to customers who have used the kettle for long periods of time, it's rust-resistant, too. While there are some more affordable kettles out there, this is an excellent value for money overall. Leaving an unattended pot on a stove, especially a gas stove with open flame is never a good idea, whistle or no whistle. It doesn't take that long to boil water.The construction of the kettle is solid and secure. It does not feel cheap at all. It’s all stainless steel save for the base and the silicone insert in the lid and the handle. Where the Bonavita always felt a bit thin and cheap, I don’t get this feeling from the OXO: ON kettle at all. I have been using the kettle daily for 6 months and recently have experienced what seems to be a weakening of the "spring" (a flat metal strip) that holds the whistling spout cap up when you depress the lever. As a result, the cap sometimes flops down when I'm pouring, and that splatters hot water. It doesn't seem possible even for bigger hands than mine to hold the kettle and the spout latch with the same hand, and besides, with when pouring, some steam does come out the spout too, and also around the cap hinge, so you don't really want to be holding the cap latch lever, even if you can use both hands while pouring, which is very awkward. A more positive latching mechanism is needed to keep the cap open while the kettle is tipped for pouring. The Cuisinart PerfecTemp tops our list thanks to its fast boiling time, sleek design, and ease of use. As a cheaper alternative, the Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle is another worthwhile option with six preset temperatures options as well. What to Look for in an Electric Kettle Features Be careful of teapots that sputter water before you open the spout. The water will be hot enough to scald your skin. Simple ideas are often the best. And for kitchens, bathrooms and everywhere else throughout your home, you can bet there will be a tried and tested 'good grips' solution from those clever people at OXO.