Types of kettles

The kettle is a fundamental element of any kitchen. It is present in every household, and while the samovar used to be the centerpiece of a tea party, it has now been replaced by the kettle. Despite its seemingly simple nature, choosing the right kettle can be overwhelming when faced with the wide range of options available in stores. It is important to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of each model before making a decision.

What are the kettles

Not too long ago, there was a high demand for a metallic kettle. The kettle is still widely used to heat and boil water on electric or gas stovetops. It can come in an enamel or chrome-plated option, although aluminum models are not as common. Often, the spouts of these kettles are equipped with a whistle that is powered by the steam jet. The whistle serves as a warning that the water has boiled and it’s time to turn off the stove.

A teapot, on the other hand, has been around for a long time. Its origins can be traced back to China, where it was first invented to steep and pour tea leaves using boiling water. In Europe and later in Russia, the teapot didn’t make an appearance until the 16th century. Teapots are typically made from materials like ceramic, porcelain, glass, or clay.

The electric kettle is currently the most commonly used type of kettle. It operates on electricity and most standard models are designed with an auto shut-off feature for safety when boiling. With modern technology, it is possible to control this feature remotely through the Internet using a smartphone. The early versions of electric kettles resembled regular aluminum kettles and had a coil inside the body as well as a wire with a plug. They needed to be manually turned on and off by inserting the plug into a socket.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the camping kettle is a great option as it can be hung over a fire by its handle for convenient boiling.

Russian consumers have a high demand for electric kettles. Household appliance stores offer a wide variety of options to choose from. These kettles not only vary in price but also come in various colors, shapes, and materials.

Plastic, glass, and stainless steel are the most common materials used in manufacturing electric kettles. However, there is a growing popularity of ceramic electric kettles.

WARNING: Glass and ceramic electric kettles are considered to be the most environmentally friendly options. When these materials are heated, harmful impurities do not enter the water.

In addition to the automatic shutdown feature when boiling, electric kettles also offer various additional functions such as filter protection against limescale, overheating protection, backlighting, and lid lock.

With an open coil

The market was first introduced to devices of this kind. They come with an open chrome spiral as the heating element. The majority of them have a plastic body and stand. Electric kettles with this water heating system do not have any additional features, apart from automatic shut down. Due to the design principle of a boiling pot, where the spiral must be fully submerged in water, it is not possible to boil a small amount of water in them. Moreover, they are not very user-friendly when it comes to cleaning. Nevertheless, the main advantage of these devices is their affordable price.

Disk

Here, the heating element in these electric kettles is a stainless steel disk. Electric contacts are connected to the disk, and when the appliance is turned on, the heating element goes into operation. Another type of these electric kettles includes devices with a hidden spiral-shaped heating element, which is enclosed under the disk. These kettles can have a body made of plastic, stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. The connection with the stand is achieved through a recess in the center of the kettle. Disk electric kettles are currently one of the most popular options. Despite being slightly more expensive than kettles with an exposed spiral, they have a longer lifespan, are easier to maintain, and come in various designs.

A thermopot is a combination of an electric kettle and a thermos. It boils water and maintains it at the desired temperature, thus keeping it hot or cool. The heating element in a thermopot can be a disk or a closed spiral. To prevent the water from cooling, it is housed in a specially-designed heat-insulating case. In order to facilitate convenient water supply, thermopots are often produced with a large volume, typically around 4 liters, and feature a built-in pump. They also come equipped with timers for automatic on and off, liquid volume indicators, safety valves, and even self-cleaning functions. The inclusion of these additional features contributes to the higher cost of a thermopot compared to a regular electric kettle.

With a thermoregulator

An electric kettle with a temperature control feature serves a similar purpose to a thermopot. However, the way in which temperature is maintained differs between the two. While a thermopot uses a heat-insulating case to maintain temperature, an electric kettle with a thermoregulator periodically turns on the heating element as the water cools down. The main advantage of such a kettle is the ability to heat water to the desired temperature set by the user, as not all types of tea require boiling water. Conversely, the main disadvantage is the high electricity consumption and the potential for the device to fail due to frequent on and off switching.