5 Best Electric Kettles of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Whether you want lots of fancy features or you just need to boil water, these top-rarted electric kettles are the best.
T.K. Brady
Our Top Kettle Picks
- Best Overall: Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle
- Best Value: Mueller Ultra Kettle
- Fastest-Boiling Kettle: Aarke Electric Kettle
- Best Gooseneck: Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle
- Best for Serious Tea Drinkers: Breville Tea Maker
Tested by Beth Lipton and Jill Novatt for Food Network Kitchen
Whether you’re a tea enthusiast or are just looking for boiling water fast, an electric kettle can be a kitchen countertop lifesaver. They're known for reaching a boiling point quickly, thanks to the use of metal coils that act as a heating element inside the kettle itself. When the kettle is switched on, electricity flows through the metal coils and heats the water inside very efficiently, which brings the water to a boil faster than a kettle on the stovetop. Some kettles also have a turn-off feature which switches the kettle off when the water reaches the right temperature. Other bells and whistles inlcude things like temperature precision and a basket for loose leaf tea. Although, some kettles are just barebones classics. We also tested some gooseneck kettles for fans of pour over coffee. In total, we tested a variety of more than a dozen electric kettles to find the best ones on the market for all your hot water needs.
Testing photo by Jill Novatt
How We Tested
We tested more than 12 electric kettles at various price points, including ones that simply boil, some with added features, and gooseneck models. We evaluated the size, capacity and weight of the kettles, the materials they’re made from, how comfortable each one was to pour, if the handles got hot, how much information came with each kettle and how easy (or not) they were to clean.
We boiled 3 cups of room-temperature water in each one, noting how long it took to boil, whether there was an indication the water had reached temperature (such as a beep), and whether the kettle could keep the water hot for any length of time. We poured water from each one to see if it poured easily, if we felt we had any control over the flow, whether the spout dripped, and whether or not it was possible to completely empty the kettle. For kettles that had multiple temperature settings, we also tested them at two other temperatures.
Finally, we noted whether it was easy to clean the kettles, if they came with instructions for cleaning before first use, whether any parts were dishwasher safe, and any other cleaning information. We cleaned each one and noted how easy the process was.
This Cuisinart electric kettle is a great combination of very easy to use, well designed and full of good features, all at a reasonable price. It’s made of stainless steel, so it looks nice on the counter, and its programmable temperatures are built right into the handle. This model has six preset temperatures based on different types of tea and also allows you to customize your temperature in increments of 5 degrees from 160ºF to 212ºF. The kettle came to a boil in just over 3 minutes, beeped to alert that it had reached temperature, and automatically held the temp once reached for 30 minutes. Tea lovers will appreciate the preset temperatures for different types of tea and the useful info about tea in the manual.
Made of borosilicate glass, this kettle is no-frills, but it gets the job done well and looks good doing it. It only heats to boiling, no special temperature settings, but it does so quickly and efficiently (at just over 3 minutes, it’s as fast as much fancier models). It has a pretty large capacity at 1.8 liters and it uses just one button, which makes it incredibly simple to operate. While it’s working, its blue LED lights are lit, and they go off once the water reaches boiling. Though the Mueller is very basic, it does offer boil dry protection for safety. If what you want is to boil water fast and fuss-free, this one’s for you.
This stainless steel model is the Ferrari of electric kettles: It’s very fast, it’s sleek-looking, and it’s pricey. The Aarke has several things to recommend it: It’s sturdy but not heavy, it pours easily with no drips, its double-wall construction holds heat very well. Plus, you can set it to 104ºF, 170ºF, 185ºF, 200ºF or 212ºF. You can turn the pot all the way around on the base, it comes with a microfiber cloth for cleaning, and it looks good enough to leave out on the counter. What gives us pause is the price tag. This kettle is just a few seconds faster than several other good models we tested, and others also offer varying temperatures and good looks, for a lot less money. If you love this one and it fits your budget, go for it. But if not, there are other models on this list that are also great choices.
Pour-over coffee enthusiasts, here’s an electric kettle made just for you. The gooseneck allows you to pour slowly and precisely, ideal for pour-over coffee. The black matte design is sleek and beautiful and feels like it was made to be out on your counter. This stainless steel model is the most precise kettle we tested; you can set to-the-degree temperatures from 135ºF to 212ºF (it offers Celcius, too). Like most other electric kettles, it brought the water to a boil in under 4 minutes, but this one doesn’t alert you when it reaches the set temperature. It does hold the set temp for up to 60 minutes, so even if you miss the moment it gets there, you still have plenty of time to pour. If you want to use the kettle for anything other than pour-over, two warnings: You have to be ok with the slow pour; tilt the pot too much, and the water will come out of the top. Also, at just under a liter, this kettle has lower capacity than other models we tested, so it’s not the best choice if you frequently need to boil a lot at once.
Tea lovers, listen up: This elite model does everything but add the honey. It has temperature settings for different types of tea (e.g.,175ºF for green tea, 185ºF for oolong, 212ºF for herbal or black tea), or you can set it anywhere you like in 5-degree increments from 120ºF to 205ºF. Set it to brew your tea mild, medium or strong by touching a button. You can also set it to brew in advance, and it will keep your tea warm for up to 60 minutes (there’s even a “time since brew” feature, a nice touch we didn’t see in other models). The Tea Maker is attractive, made from glass with a brushed stainless steel base, so you can leave it out on the counter. Tea-enthusiast bonus: This model features a tea basket that lowers into and lifts out of the water automatically to agitate the tea leaves for you. The handle stays cool, and it’s easy to pour, with no drips. Plus, you can use the kettle without the tea basket to heat hot water for other things. If you’re serious about your tea, and you enjoy a good gadget, look no further.
T.K. Brady
What to Consider Before Buying A Kettle
Electric vs. Stovetop: Both have advantages and disadvantages. Electric kettles heat the water faster, and many have preset temperatures, so you can get the precise heat level you might want for a particular type of tea (or other application). Many will hold the water at the temperature you need, so you can refill your cup without having to reheat the water. Stovetop kettles save counter space, as they usually live on the stove. They can heat water hotter than boiling. Plus, they’re often easier to clean, since they don’t have a heating element that requires protection from water or soap.
Size and Style: If you’re buying an electric kettle, it’s likely going to stay out on the countertop. With that in mind, when shopping, consider the overall aesthetic of your kitchen, as well as the amount of space you can devote to the kettle. Weigh that against how much water you tend to boil at once.
Special Features: Think about how you’re going to use your kettle. Are you a pour-over coffee devotee, or a tea drinker who needs the water temperature to be just so? If so, you may want to consider kettles designed specially for those uses. If you like to brew your tea in advance, or you need the water to stay hot for 30 minutes or longer, those features are available on some models. On the flipside, if you’ll use the kettle for a variety of things — tea, oatmeal, hot chocolate — one that simply boils water may be all you need.
Budget: Electric kettles run the gamut price-wise, from just a few dollars up to $300 or more, so there’s a model for every budget. Consider what makes the most sense for you given what you have to spend.
Can You Heat Milk in An Electric Kettle?
Kettles are meant for water only. Most models we tested specified that in the manual. If you want an electric pot you can cook other items in, you need a “hot pot,” also known as an electric cooker or electric pot (not to be confused with an Instant Pot, which is a multicooker).
Who Should Buy a Gooseneck Kettle?
If you love pour-over coffee, consider a gooseneck kettle. The spout allows for greater control over the flow of the water, so you can saturate the coffee grounds evenly for optimal extraction.
Related Links:
