Buying Guides - Kettles

On our last count, we had 74 different kettles to offer you online, so we thought we would try to give you a helping hand when making your decision on which to buy. We understand that even though 'it's just a kettle' you want the best one to suit you and your kitchen. So for more information on the things to look out for, read on...

Electricshopping.com is pleased to offer you both kettles that you can put on the hob and ones that you simply plug in. The latter is by far the most popular, but many people still prefer to use the traditional way to boil water on the gas. Below, we will mainly be discussing electric kettles. By the very fact that we sell so many different types of kettle just goes to show that there is now a great diversity to choose from and there will surely be one that meets most tastes.

When choosing your kettle, you should think about the following points, each of which will be expanded upon below.

• Corded or Cordless?
• Kettle water capacity and style
• Element
• Wattage
• Filter
• Safety & convenience features

Corded or Cordless?

Most kettles in our range are cordless simply down to the fact that they are by far the most popular type of kettle at the moment. Corded kettles are connected directly to the mains by a wire that is often detachable. Cordless kettles have a base unit that the kettle sits on and this provides the power to boil the water. Cordless kettles are frequently seen as simpler and more convenient to use, as there is no need to 'mess about' with finding the cord and socket every time you use it. Some cordless kettle have a 360 degree base, which means that the kettle can fit on the base in any direction - a great plus for people who are left handed. One point to note for both is that if you have small children who may pull on lose flex, you should purchase a kettle with cord storage to avoid them pulling the kettle off the work surface.

Kettle water capacity and style

One litre is about four cups and most kettles tend to have a capacity of between 1.4 � 1.8 litres. However, to save energy they do not need to be full to boil them. This makes even large kettles suitable for homes that don't drink too many hot drinks a day. If you are going to be using the kettle to boil water for cooking, you should concentrate on ones with a larger capacity.

There are two main styles of kettle, Jug and Traditional. The choice of which one to go for is simply a matter or taste. There are also many colours and finishes to choose from, here you should look for one that suits your kitchen and perhaps look at buying one with a matching toaster combination.

Element

The element is the metal part at the bottom part of the kettle that heats the water. This can sometimes be concealed, so the element is under a metal panel, which makes the kettle easier to descale. Concealed elements are found in the more modern and higher specification models.

Wattage

The higher the wattage, the quicker the kettle is able to heat up the water. Rapid boil kettles are normally over 3Kw and will boil the water very quickly. However, rapid boil kettles do make more noise than lower powered ones. You should bear this in mind if choosing one.

Filter

A filter in a kettle will sit at the spout and will stop any lime scale particles from getting into your cup as you pour. They will also normally attract some of the forming lime scale when the kettle is boiling. Most of them are removable and washable, so you do not have to buy a replacement. Some models also come with charcoal water filter cartridges (such as Brita), and you really notice the difference in the colour and taste of tea, as they remove lime scale and impurities from the water before its boiled.

Safety & convenience features

Most, if not all the kettles we sell will have boil dry protection and cool touch handles. Many will have locking lids as well. Some will have the added convenience of being able to fill it from the spout, so no need to lift the lid when filling.