How to choose an electric kettle

Today it is difficult to imagine your life without modern household appliances, this also applies to teapots. More and more people are giving their preference to electric models, and abandoning the already outdated models of kettles that are heated over a fire. Today we will consider which version of such a home assistant is better to purchase, and what parameters you should definitely pay attention to when purchasing.

How to choose an electric kettle for your home

Having gone to the store for a new purchase, a person often cannot immediately navigate the offered product. Numerous models have a wide variety of functions. Again, color and shape, volume and power will despair. In order not to get confused at the time of choice, it is worth considering the main parameters that you should initially pay attention to.

Case metal

This is the first parameter that you should pay special attention to when choosing. Below we will consider in more detail each material and its qualities:

1. Plastic. This material is the most optimal in terms of price - quality. In general, this material can be called the most popular, which is used for the manufacture of electric kettles. The main advantage is long service life, strength and low weight.But as for environmental safety, this is the weak side of the product (plastic is toxic at high temperatures).

Basically, the problem of toxicity can be seen in cheap models or non-original products from modern brands. The fact is that high-quality manufacturers simply will not risk their established reputation, so they use exclusively high-quality materials for manufacturing.

Important! When buying a plastic kettle, it is better to give preference to European companies that are of high quality. Thus, the equipment will last at least 3 years without breakdowns.

2. Stainless steel. This option has special strength compared to others, and it is durable. Even if it falls, this option will not break, and the most that will happen to it is a scratch or crack on the surface. In addition, stainless steel will not “throw” harmful substances into the water. But some of the negative qualities can be noted - heavy weight, strong heating during operation, high price.
3. Glass. Options with a glass body are a great option for those who are inclined towards a healthy lifestyle. As for the design, the electric kettle is stylish and the price is low. Disadvantages: the body heats up greatly (just like a metal case), due to which there is a high probability of getting burns. In addition, tempered glass is not used in manufacturing (due to its high cost), so the kettle can burst due to the slightest carelessness;
4. Ceramics. Often, in appearance, such teapots remind everyone of familiar teapots. The color scheme and design styles in this direction are simply amazing in their diversity.Thus, there is a chance not just to buy a household item, but also a beautiful thing that will undoubtedly complement the interior. It is ceramics that can preserve the original taste of pure water, without all sorts of impurities, since scale and rust do not accumulate on its walls, due to which bacteria simply do not have a medium for reproduction. As for the disadvantages, these are significant weight, fragility and cost.

Stand

Modern electric kettles have two stand options:

• Regular. Has a solid mounting with a square contact located on the edge;
• Pirouette. It is more popular because it has a rounded central contact. It has good durability and is comfortable to use. Thus, the stand will be convenient to use for both left-handers and right-handers.

Power

It is immediately worth noting that the higher the power of the electrical appliance, the faster the water will heat up. The models currently on the market range from 1000 to 3000 W. The best option in all respects is a power of 2200 W. The fact is that this model will heat the water as quickly as possible and will not break down, even if there are power outages in the room.

Attention! When choosing, you should remember that you can compare power between varieties only when they have identical volume.

Volume

As for the volume, when paying attention to this parameter, it is necessary to take into account how many people on average will need to boil water. Since, for example, for a family of 2-3 people it is not relevant to purchase a 6-7 liter kettle, since it will consume a lot of electrical energy, take a long time to heat water and take up extra space in the kitchen.Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to options with a capacity of 1.5 - 2 liters.

That is, you just need to calculate how much hot water is needed on average and start from these indicators.

A heating element

In modern models of electric kettles there are two options for heating elements, we will look in more detail below:

1. Open spiral. Such a heating element is located directly in the kettle tank and is thus constantly in the water. It is in this way that heating occurs quickly, but in terms of maintenance, this model is more difficult, since scale constantly collects on the open spiral, which must be properly removed. When using such a kettle, you need to constantly monitor the water level, since if the spiral is not completely immersed in water, it will quickly burn out, and if such a heating element is installed in a plastic kettle, such improper use can cause a fire. The average water heating time is on average 8 minutes. As for the noise level, it will depend directly on the specific model (but it is worth noting that the noise level is significantly lower than in options with a hidden spiral);
2. Hidden spiral. Due to the fact that the main element does not come into contact with water, the warranty period of the equipment is significantly increased. Thus, you can count on an average of 5 years of stable and uninterrupted operation. In addition, this option has high hygienic qualities, since it is easy to care for and easy to wash due to the smooth inner surface (compared to the previous type, where there is a complex-shaped spiral). That is why there is no scale left after washing.That is, this type is a more modern solution, which is preferred by many buyers. It also does not need special care; of course, you need to periodically boil it with citric acid and rinse it after that. These electric kettles have an excellent level of safety; they cannot be turned on if there is no water inside. Older models of this type do not have this function, but it is still safer than the type with an open spiral (after all, such a kettle does not “control” the water level). Thus, when purchasing this option, a person will simply protect himself from an accident that could occur due to a short circuit or fire. As for the volume, as in the previous version, it can be very diverse, from minimal to maximum. Well, there are no shortcomings, they also exist, and the main one is a high noise level and a high price.

Design

The design and shape of the case is also a very important aspect that affects the final choice of the buyer, and these parameters are reflected not only in the beautiful appearance. The fact is that for safety reasons it should be as comfortable as possible to hold an electric kettle in your hand. And in order to prevent boiling water from accidentally spilling, the lid should be fixed as firmly as possible.

And if this equipment will be used by children or elderly people, you must definitely pay attention to the weight of the device. But you need to remember that plastic teapots (the lightest type) are also not the best option if you pay attention to other criteria. Therefore, you need to choose something in between. Maybe it will be a glass model with a small volume and thus a small mass.

What else should you pay attention to when choosing an electric kettle?

The main characteristics that you need to pay attention to have been discussed, but the fact is that there are additional parameters that also play a huge role when choosing a device. Let's consider additional parameters that should be considered before making a purchase:

• Please pay attention to the manufacturer. Of course, it is simply impossible to give an exact answer to the question about the best manufacturer, because everyone has their own personal opinion. But there is no need to purchase a product that you are going to use for many months from an unknown manufacturer in order to save money. After all, in this way you can get a low quality product. Currently, even among popular brands you can find affordable models, and they will be of high quality;
• We check the quality of the product. It is necessary to visually inspect the selected model. If there is even the slightest omission, the kettle will become unsafe. Even well-known brands are subject to verification, as it may be a fake;
• Do not purchase equipment without a warranty card. If there is none, then this will be an indicator that the product is not of high quality or is simply a fake. If this is the case, then it is better to refuse such a product.

In general, before going to the store, you can read reviews on the Internet about the model you are interested in and thus study the rating of the most popular models.