Cooking Breeze: Easy recipes and wine pairings: Tips For Choosing a Tea Kettle

Prologue
When Gardentina saw that her tea kettle needed replacing, she set about getting a moderately luxurious tea kettle at a kitchen retailer. To her surprise, a plain, middle-of-the-road tea kettle from a discount store won over her heart. Two kettles were returned, the first for poor design (could not open the pot without scraping knuckles on a rough handle), and the other, for a whistle too soft to hear. Both kettles were in the $50 range and produced by famous names. The winner? A big box store standby for half the price, $25. As Gardentina walked up the aisle, a well-heeled woman was browsing the kettle selection. She and the other women compared notes on kettle features and selected the same kettle. A third customer walked up as they were leaving and gazed at the same box. Stainless steel with ample 2 quart capacity. Perfection found!

Tips for choosing a whistling tea kettle:

Search the internet for user reviews of the product and especially seek comments on the whistle. Do not assume that a luxury kitchen retailer is selling you a high quality product. They are selling you an expensive product, which is not necessarily the same thing. Tea kettles below $15 are not generally recommended because they are often made of inferior materials or have insufficient holding capacity for moderate use. Similarly, tea kettles above $50 usually have special features, materials, or colors. At the higher prices, consumers are often paying for a brand name. As the tea kettle is often quite noticeable in the kitchen, the prices of tea kettles are highly subjective to personal consumer preference to determine the best price point for function and aesthetics in the home.

Michael Graves Tea Kettle by Alessi,

Available at Sears, Retail price $175.00

Source: Alessi

First, know the difference between a tea kettle and a teapot. Hot water is poured from a tea kettle to a tea pot for serving.

Novelty Tea Kettle by Copco,

Available at Kitchen Kapers

Source: Copco

Padma Lakshmi Handblown Glass Tea Pot,

Available at QVC

Source: QVC

Second, know that some tea kettles do not whistle. Tea kettles without a cover on the spout do not whistle. Some tea kettles with a spout barely whistle, if at all. If the teapot's spout is uncovered, listen for boiling water and watch for steam. For any kettle designed to whistle, the whistling is dependent on proper care and use of the tea kettle.

Paula Deen Tea Kettle

Available at JC Penney

Source: Paula Deen

A teapot will not whistle if there is not adequate steam pressure. To that point, ensure that the teapot lid is secured, the "bird" (whistle) is plugged, and that the teapot is filled below maximum water capacity. Too much water can cause overflow. To that end, be sure to purchase the size of tea kettle that suits your needs. A single person might need only 1 quart. When there are two tea drinkers in the home, a 2 quart capacity is best.

Also pay attention to the materials and construction. Tea kettles may be produced in stainless steel, copper, or coated in enamel. Often the handle of the kettle is covered in silicone for heat resistance. Many tea kettles have easy-pour spouts. Some have special materials inside the kettle, for longer wear, or on the bottom of the kettle, for heat conduction. When a tea kettle begins to emit flakes when you pour water, it is time to replace your tea kettle. If the stopper has gone bad, some high end kettle makers sell replacement parts, but lower end brands will have bitten the dust. Heating the kettle at the appropriate temperature will help with kettle longevity. Consult the manufacturer's directions for temperature instructions.

Related Photos:

Giant Tea Kettle Adorns Downtown Boston And Really Steams