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Tea Kettles: Whistling, Cast Iron, Electric, Glass And Alessi
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Published: June 20, 2007
The whistle of a tea kettle remains a familiar and comforting sound to many people. It evokes images of home – a squat, smooth kettle sitting on the stove with steam piping out of the top, and later sitting around sipping tea with family. Although the most familiar image of tea kettles involves the sound of a whistle, not all tea kettles are whistling tea kettles.
In fact, there are a number of different kinds of tea kettles including enamel, cast iron, glass, and electric tea kettles as well as designer kettles.
The purpose of tea kettles is to heat water. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, it can be poured from the kettle to a tea pot. A number of factors must be considered before purchasing tea kettles. According to Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop, the most important factors include the capacity of the kettle, efficiency in heating, handling comfort, pouring ease, whether it will whistle or not whistle, and care requirements. When manufacturer's list a kettle's capacity, it actually means the tea kettle's capacity to be filled to the brim. If the kettle was filled all the way to the brim, it would be at an unsafe level. To be sure that water will not come out of the spout, a tea kettle should only be filled to the bottom of the spout opening.
Whistling tea kettles need to be about half full in order for them to whistle. They are usually enamel on steel, or just stainless steel. The enamel allows kettle designers to add detail to the surface. With this ability, kettles can be decorated with any pattern or color. Flowers are a popular whistling tea kettle design, as are shiny, red apples and other fruits and vegetables. Some kettles boast palm trees swaying in the breeze while others show a seaside landscape, complete with a shining lighthouse. In addition to these patterns, tea kettles can be turned into animals such as cows, giraffes, or lady bugs. Typically the animal's head is the spout. A talented designer could even craft a kettle into a fire engine or a merry-go-round, complete with a few carousel horses. Kettles with simpler designs usually cost about $20 to $25, while the more elaborate ones cost $30 to $35. These tea kettles are fairly easy to keep clean and do not usually rust.
A cast iron tea kettle is even less likely to rust once a protective coating of minerals forms on the inside. They are usually relatively expensive, ranging from $60 to $70, but cast iron is very durable and the kettle will last a long time. A glass tea kettle, which is usually priced around $35, is the easiest to keep clean. This kind of kettle can be quite beautiful, but is also the most susceptible to breaking. When using a glass tea kettle, one must be sure to use a metal trivet or diffuser between the heat source and the glass, and also to heat slowly. Electric tea kettles, unlike glass kettles, heat very quickly. They also prove to be the most convenient, though they are usually the most expensive, ranging from $70 to $80. However, though most fall in this range, some cheaper electric tea kettles can cost around $40.
Designer kettles can be the most expensive. Alessi, an Italian company that specializes in kitchen appliances and objects, manufactures tea kettles. An Alessi tea kettle is usually stainless steel. The kettles come in sleek, modern shapes. A Mami Alessi tea kettle, which is round and has a magnetic bottom and a simple semi-circle handle and spout, costs $149. A modern, conical kettle in polished steel called Il conico, costs $199. The only Alessi tea kettle priced below $149 is a miniature stainless steel kettle for $38.
Purchasing a tea kettle is the first step to making a quality cup of tea. Depending on what one wants, selecting the perfect kettle can be difficult since there are so many choices. However, once the decision is made and the water is boiled in the kettle and poured into a tea pot, then the first delicious cup can be enjoyed to its fullest.
Sources:
Kettles. Alessi A-Shop. 2007. 11 June 2007. http://www.alessi.com/ecommerce/categoria/Kettles/ 32.
Tea Kettles. Wide Awake Coffee and Tea. 2007. 11 June 2007. http://www.easycoffee.com/teakettles.html
Water Kettles. Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop. 2007. Fante's, Inc. 11 June 2007.
http://www.fantes.com/kettles.htm
The purpose of tea kettles is to heat water. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, it can be poured from the kettle to a tea pot. A number of factors must be considered before purchasing tea kettles. According to Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop, the most important factors include the capacity of the kettle, efficiency in heating, handling comfort, pouring ease, whether it will whistle or not whistle, and care requirements. When manufacturer's list a kettle's capacity, it actually means the tea kettle's capacity to be filled to the brim. If the kettle was filled all the way to the brim, it would be at an unsafe level. To be sure that water will not come out of the spout, a tea kettle should only be filled to the bottom of the spout opening.
Whistling tea kettles need to be about half full in order for them to whistle. They are usually enamel on steel, or just stainless steel. The enamel allows kettle designers to add detail to the surface. With this ability, kettles can be decorated with any pattern or color. Flowers are a popular whistling tea kettle design, as are shiny, red apples and other fruits and vegetables. Some kettles boast palm trees swaying in the breeze while others show a seaside landscape, complete with a shining lighthouse. In addition to these patterns, tea kettles can be turned into animals such as cows, giraffes, or lady bugs. Typically the animal's head is the spout. A talented designer could even craft a kettle into a fire engine or a merry-go-round, complete with a few carousel horses. Kettles with simpler designs usually cost about $20 to $25, while the more elaborate ones cost $30 to $35. These tea kettles are fairly easy to keep clean and do not usually rust.
A cast iron tea kettle is even less likely to rust once a protective coating of minerals forms on the inside. They are usually relatively expensive, ranging from $60 to $70, but cast iron is very durable and the kettle will last a long time. A glass tea kettle, which is usually priced around $35, is the easiest to keep clean. This kind of kettle can be quite beautiful, but is also the most susceptible to breaking. When using a glass tea kettle, one must be sure to use a metal trivet or diffuser between the heat source and the glass, and also to heat slowly. Electric tea kettles, unlike glass kettles, heat very quickly. They also prove to be the most convenient, though they are usually the most expensive, ranging from $70 to $80. However, though most fall in this range, some cheaper electric tea kettles can cost around $40.
Designer kettles can be the most expensive. Alessi, an Italian company that specializes in kitchen appliances and objects, manufactures tea kettles. An Alessi tea kettle is usually stainless steel. The kettles come in sleek, modern shapes. A Mami Alessi tea kettle, which is round and has a magnetic bottom and a simple semi-circle handle and spout, costs $149. A modern, conical kettle in polished steel called Il conico, costs $199. The only Alessi tea kettle priced below $149 is a miniature stainless steel kettle for $38.
Purchasing a tea kettle is the first step to making a quality cup of tea. Depending on what one wants, selecting the perfect kettle can be difficult since there are so many choices. However, once the decision is made and the water is boiled in the kettle and poured into a tea pot, then the first delicious cup can be enjoyed to its fullest.
Sources:
Kettles. Alessi A-Shop. 2007. 11 June 2007. http://www.alessi.com/ecommerce/categoria/Kettles/ 32.
Tea Kettles. Wide Awake Coffee and Tea. 2007. 11 June 2007. http://www.easycoffee.com/teakettles.html
Water Kettles. Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop. 2007. Fante's, Inc. 11 June 2007.
http://www.fantes.com/kettles.htm
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