How to choose an electric kettle for home - instructions and an overview of modern features

An electric kettle is one of the first household appliances in the kitchen, but modern models are fundamentally different from their predecessors both externally, internally, and in capabilities.

How to choose an electric kettle for a home or small office so that water boils quickly, little electricity is consumed, the design is pleasing to the eye, operation does not create problems, and maintenance is not a hassle. We have prepared for you a useful review and instructions that will help you make a profitable purchase for several years.

External and internal factors of choice

You can probably choose the size of the teapot yourself. Focus on the number of people, whether you need a periodic assistant or the device will work daily in the kitchen. The most popular option is 1.5-1.7 liters, but there are also liter "babies", as well as completely "babies" of 0.6 liters. For large families and groups, look for vessels with a capacity of 2.5 liters.

Types of heating elements and their features

To answer the question: how to choose an electric kettle for your home, you should start by considering the types of heating elements. Today there are three:

• open spiral, located inside the vessel - it is easy to see it by lifting the lid;
• closed spiral, hidden inside the bottom;
• disk electric heater - the most convenient, fast and silent.

The advantages of a closed heater are obvious:

• this kettle is easy to clean;
• the water heater is protected from contact with water, therefore it is not covered with scale;
• a small amount of water can be poured into the vessel without worrying that the boiler will burn out, remaining in the air;
• profitability due to the possibility of accurate calculation of the amount of water;
• safety - the risk of contact with the heater is excluded.

The supports for spiral heaters have a “button” in the center, on which you need to install the device so that the “contact works”. Disc heaters are flat - the kettle can be placed on such a stove in any position.

Kettles with boilers inside are becoming less and less common today. The inconvenience of such models is that they always have to pour a lot of water in order to completely cover the heating element and avoid instant failure.

This leads to excess power consumption. Significant disadvantages - the need to constantly clean the water heater from scale, the difficulty of washing the bottom. The advantages of an electric kettle with a heating coil inside are relatively silent operation and compactness.

Kettles with an open spiral heater can also be equipped with a stand. This is convenient, since the device can be moved without thinking about the cord, and the boiled kettle can be easily removed and taken to any place to pour boiling water into cups. However, such models must always be installed in the same position on delivery.

Carefully inspect the spiral boiler - its durability, resistance to scale, and the rate of boiling water depend on the quality of the alloy. Widely advertised gold-plated spirals are coated with titanium nitride, which prevents corrosion. Experts do not recommend buying such electric kettles if they are very cheap, as the low-quality layer gradually peels off when it gets into the water.

Power is a necessity and a luxury

As with choosing other electrical appliances - a mixer, in order to choose the right electric kettle, you need to know its power. Here it is important to correlate the indicated figures with the volume of the model you like. For example, for a small teapot less than a liter, 650 W power is enough, and for a family or office worker, equipment with a power of 2000-3000 W is needed.

Average, it is also the optimal indicator for most models volume of 1.5-1.7 liters, - 2200 W. With these parameters, the water will boil in 4-5 minutes. With a power of 3000 W, it will be possible to drink tea in 2-3 minutes.

It is important to understand that the higher the power, the faster the water will boil. However, the load on the network will be higher, which can lead to problems in old houses. Refine permissible total power loads! In the end, the water will boil anyway, so you should not overpay for speed.

Water filters - protecting technology and health

Scale is formed from hard water, so manufacturers use different types of filters for cleaning. In the most inexpensive models, this is a small nylon or metal compartment that filters out small particles. In advanced electric kettles, full-fledged filters are installed that not only purify, but also improve the water.

As a rule, activated carbon and ion-exchange resin are included in the filters. Preliminary cleaning removes the unpleasant smell of chlorine, kills microbes, isolates heavy metals, salts and other invisible but harmful impurities that adversely affect the final taste and aroma of the drink.

If you choose an electric kettle with an advanced filter, keep in mind that it needs to be changed periodically. It is convenient if there is an indicator that suggests the need for replacement. The cost of such kettles is more expensive, so if you already have a household filter at home, such a feature may become superfluous.

What body material is more practical and reliable

In how to choose a good electric kettle, the body material plays an important role. Today there are four materials in stores:

• plastic of different thickness;
• stainless steel;
• glass;
• ceramics.

plastic models attract cost, light weight and variety of colors. Do not rush to exclude this option, modern technologies make it possible to make a durable composite material that is not afraid of high temperatures, scratches and other influences.

Stainless steel kettles are, of course, the most durable and reliable, but the metal heats up quickly, which threatens to burn if it touches the walls. In expensive models, multilayer walls are used, special layers protect the outer part of the case from heating, and the internal contents from cooling. The outer surface can be enameled, chrome-plated or powder-coated. Handles are most often made of plastic.

Tempered glass electric kettles they look very stylish, fit into the interior of different directions and fit anyone. Glass is an absolutely neutral material, so you can not be afraid that the water will acquire an extraneous odor. Through the transparent walls you can always see what is happening inside.

Ceramic electric kettles not only practical, but also very beautiful. In this segment, there is technique painted in Khokhloma and Gzhel, as well as with attractive patterns and floral motifs, polka dots and pictures. Ceramics are safe and inert, easy to clean and clean from plaque. The only negative is that there are no transparent inserts in the karmic walls.

Form – from modern to retro

In addition to the traditional cylindrical shape, in the lines of electric kettles there are models in the form of a flask and a ball, as well as copies of classic kettles with a spout and other intricate products. To choose a convenient electric kettle with a cylindrical or non-standard shape, pay attention to its spout.

Too shallow spout will cause water to spill. Experts advise looking for more pointed noses in the form of a corner protruding from the body. However, too narrow slows down the work - the wider the angle, the thicker the jet. Pay attention to whether there is a lid and how it opens. In some models, the possibility of taking water through the spout is implemented. This is where the filters are installed.

Models in the form of a traditional teapot with a long spout are the most convenient in this regard, but there is also a drawback - it is difficult to clean a narrow tube from scale and salts that settle during operation.

Initially, the elongated shape was invented in order for the water to cool more slowly. Modern layered materials and heating functions solve the problem of rapid cooling, so you can choose something more stylish and interesting.

Additional features and useful features

Of course, you can buy an electric kettle that can only boil water. But high competition in this segment forces manufacturers to come up with all kinds of chips that make using an electrical appliance as comfortable as possible. What is worth looking for in the models considered in the store?

• Automatic shutdown - in most modern devices, this useful option is provided. It protects against boiling water, equipment failure and fires.
• Protection against turning on in the absence of water is important if there are children and people with poor memory in the house.
• Shut-off when opening the lid protects against steam burns.
• The indicator light is a nice little thing that notifies you about the work.
• The backlight also informs about the operation and even about the current heating temperature. Glass electric kettles look especially impressive, turning into lamps for the time they are turned on.
• The choice of temperature mode is a very useful feature that allows you to heat water to the desired temperature for different drinks.
• Heating indicator - shows the current temperature.
• A tea basket or a device for hanging a tea strainer in the lid is convenient if you plan to occasionally brew a drink right in this vessel. The strainer is also included. It is found in glass and ceramic flasks, since tea is not brewed in plastic and metal vessels.
• Long boil mode - with this option, the device turns off a few minutes after the start of boiling.
• Remote control - the ability to command the electric kettle from a tablet or phone.

In functional electric kettles, there are mechanical or touch buttons for settings located on the body or on the panel with a heater and informative displays.

New in the family of electric kettles

If you still have not decided which electric kettle to choose for your home, pay attention to the novelties in this segment. For 150 years of existence, popular household appliances managed to acquire worthy "descendants".

Stylish duet - electric kettle and teapot

If you appreciate tea ceremonies, pay attention to the kits, which include a device for boiling water and a small teapot for brewing tea with a strainer inside.

Both devices are located on the same stand with two heating elements, but the disk on which the teapot stands only slightly heats up, maintaining the temperature of the brewed tea, not allowing it to cool for a long time, but not overheating it.

In another type of tea set, the teapot is placed on top. This design is more compact, but it is impossible to pour water without removing the top teapot.

What is a tea maker and who needs it

A tea maker is a special electric kettle in which everything is invented for brewing tea. This fashionable device works on the principle of espresso coffee makers. Inside the vessel is a container for tea, herbs and other mixtures. Boiling water passes through the leaves and is filled with flavor and aroma. The intensity of the drink can be adjusted. The heating platform maintains the temperature.

Do not rush to give up the tea maker if you sometimes need ordinary boiling water. The device will perfectly cope with this task, if you do not fill the compartment with tea. Models with a timer are convenient to set up in the evening, so that in the morning you don’t have to think about cooking, but immediately pour yourself a cup of aromatic tea.

If you are looking for which electric kettle to buy as a gift, stop at that model! Not everyone has it yet, recipients will definitely like the wide opportunities.

Turkish teapot for making coffee

This miniature device is somewhat reminiscent of boiler mugs, familiar from Soviet times. But, thanks to the hidden heating element, you can not only boil clean water in them, but also brew natural coffee. Electric Turks, of course, do not meet the requirements that we wrote about on the pages of our website “Women's Hobbies”, telling, but they are quite suitable for emergency conditions and making coffee in the office.

Electric Turks are also made from metal and plastic. Finding ceramic is not easy yet. Plastic ones may have a narrower neck, are light and inexpensive, especially in online stores. There are no little Turks yet. The common volume of the vessel is 200-600 ml. Power 500-1000 W. Sometimes a lid is included. The handle can be folded for easy storage and transportation.

An electric kettle is a good alternative to an electric kettle for a single person, use at work or in a workroom at home. For example, you can prepare a drink without leaving your computer or in your own.

Thermo pot - large and always hot

A home thermo pot is a hybrid of a kettle, a thermos and a coal samovar with a volume of two to ten liters. From the first he borrowed heating, from the second - heat-saving walls, and from the third - constant heating in slow mode. As a result, a device was learned in which you can always have hot water at a given temperature in the house. This is very convenient, because at any moment you can pour yourself a cup of tea or make instant coffee.

Do not think that thermal sweat consumes a lot of energy. With intensive use, it is even more economical than turning on the kettle several times a day, especially since the power of these electrical appliances is usually less than that of electric kettles of the same size. It is very convenient to pour water - just press a button. It is safer for older people.

The disadvantages of a thermopot include a low heating rate. If there are children in the house, install such an electric kettle in an inaccessible place to prevent burns. By the way, such a water heater will help out if there is no hot water at home.

We hope that you did not waste your time and decided which electric kettle to choose for your home, office or as a gift. But do not rush, look at as many models as possible in the store, compare the parameters and functions, ask if the device makes noise during operation. Compare the characteristics of models of different brands so as not to pay for the brand. Progress does not stand still, perhaps something new will appear tomorrow, which we do not yet know about.