584251 Thu Jan 01 09:46:47 -0800 2009 59 41 Cookware 0 4287588 Hello! I need a new tea kettle and don't wanna set out and buy a junker that I have to replace in a year. I'm not interested in an electric kettle, and it sounds like the All-Clad isn't constructed too well. Would be willing to spend up to $60. Any recommendations? Thu Jan 01 09:46:47 -0800 2009 204638 ctworden 1 4287646 i was always wary of electric kettles, but after my last stovetop one broke i thought id give an electric a try - i like all different types of teas, so i wanted a pot that knew when to stop at 180f if i was making a tea that didnt require boiling. i've been converted. it is faster than the stovetop, and i get the water exactly where i want it. i ordered from adagio.com Thu Jan 01 10:13:10 -0800 2009 4287588 135229 thew 1 4287698 Have you ever been to Teavanna? They also have a website. I got the tea kettle as a wedding gift and it's amazing! Even the tea is the best I have ever had, and I'm a coffee drinker! They have all kinds of varieties. I strongly advise you to check it out before purchasing a run of the mill tea kettle. Thu Jan 01 10:37:09 -0800 2009 4287588 244398 lvtocook888 1 4287710 I've got this OXO that is very well designed and very durable. When you lift the lid, it opens the pour spout. http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Uplift-Teakettle-Brushed-Stainless/dp/B00005Q5K4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230836325&sr=8-1 I had this Cantal with the Honer harmoica reed in the cap of the spout. It was a hoot but I let it boil dry -- despite the ear-piercing whistle I bought it for) and the whistle melted. =o The kettle, of course, still worked like a charm for years to come. In fact, I retired it simply because I was captivated by the design of the OXO. http://www.amazon.com/Chantal-Enamel-5-Quart-Classic-Teakettle/dp/B00004RD9N/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230835125&sr=8-2 Here's another Chantal option I wasn't aware of. Cute as a button! http://www.amazon.com/Chantal-Enamel-Steel-Teakettle-Glossy/dp/B000G2528M/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1230835570&sr=1-20 I've got this Staub which I got at half price at W-S. I love the design. It's charming as can be and the double handle that opens to lift off the top is unique. The downside is it only boils a quart of water and those charming handles are HOT when the water is ready. http://www.amazon.com/Staub-Theiere-Round-1-Quart-Teapot/dp/B000AXQAEW I bet you'd be happy with the OXO that comes in many colors and stainless. Thu Jan 01 10:45:11 -0800 2009 4287588 17969 rainey 2 4287922 i liked the OXO i went through 3 of them before i decided the whole assembly broke too easily Thu Jan 01 12:27:01 -0800 2009 4287710 135229 thew 3 4288178 agreed the OXO isn't very sturdy, and mine leaked like crazy from the spout. had problems with Copco too. and i'm not happy with my current Chantal either - the lid doesn't fit properly. i'm about ready to give up & buy an electric myself... Thu Jan 01 14:45:32 -0800 2009 4287922 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 4288277 Man! I don't know why I have different results, but I use teakettles several times every single day and I can't wear them out. And they haven't got any problems or defects (I didn't cause) that interfer with their utility in the least. I boil them dry and otherwise abuse them but even when I want a new one for a change of scene, I can't justify it by saying that I "need" one 'cause the old ones haven't let me down. I've still got 2 Cantals (one has chipped enamel; one just isn't a color I like anymore) in the garage and the OXO that's at least 2 years old has never had a problem. It's the one I go to every day. Thu Jan 01 15:29:04 -0800 2009 4288178 17969 rainey 5 4288295 believe me, i wish i'd had better luck. like you, i use mine several times throughout the day & evening, so it frustrates the hell out of me that i can't find a reliable product for something i use so frequently. (i'm also still - endlessly! - searching for a sturdy, reliable blender that doesn't take up half of the kitchen counter, but that's an entirely different rant.) i'm sticking with this Chantal for now, but it's really working my last nerve. Thu Jan 01 15:35:25 -0800 2009 4288277 103920 goodhealthgourmet 6 4288752 Woot is selling Breville blenders for a few more hours. Never used a Breville so it's not like I'm recommending it but they're "puréeing" Woot-Off lamps with it. ;> http://www.woot.com/Default.aspx Thu Jan 01 19:25:28 -0800 2009 4288295 17969 rainey 7 4289477 thx, yeah...tried the Breville. it's enormous, and the gasket leaks. blends great though :) Fri Jan 02 07:43:44 -0800 2009 4288752 103920 goodhealthgourmet 6 4289665 "i use mine several times throughout the day & evening, so it frustrates the hell out of me that i can't find a reliable product for something i use so frequently." You don't need a stovetop kettle, you need a hot water dispenser: http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/elepots/electricpots.html We run our CD-LCC50 for 10 to 12 hours a day, and that costs less than 10 cents a day to operate. You can select the temperature that best suits your needs, and then always have hot water at the ready. It really has changed the way we consume tea in our home... Fri Jan 02 09:00:13 -0800 2009 4288295 10606 Joe Blowe 7 4289677 i hate to have to keep something else on the kitchen counter, which is why i haven't yet broken down and gotten an electric kettle. but this is another possible option if i finally give in - and i can pick one up at the Mitsuwa market right up the street from me. thanks for the suggestion! Fri Jan 02 09:03:05 -0800 2009 4289665 103920 goodhealthgourmet 8 4289811 Don't think of it as a kettle -- you don't have to boil water every time you want a beverage. Think of it as an appliance that allows you to have hot water instantly (after the initial boil, of course). That's why I said that it has changed the way we drink tea. Instead of filling a kettle and waiting for it to boil, repeatedly throughout the day, we just fill our Zoji in the morning and sip tea all day long. No waiting = higher tea consumption! P.S. When we lived in NYC, my wife and I spent *a lot* of time at the Mitsuwa in Edgewater! A great place to buy a Zoji, but beware of their return policy... Fri Jan 02 09:46:35 -0800 2009 4289677 10606 Joe Blowe 9 4290006 the problem is that they can't keep water at an actual boil (or the water would all boil out) and so if you are drinking black tea it won't really be ideally hot Fri Jan 02 10:47:40 -0800 2009 4289811 135229 thew 10 4290263 208º Fahrenheit suffices. If you need 212º, hit the Reboil button. This is about convenience and encouraging consumption. If you're all about gongfu and hitting precise boiling bubble sizes, then take a pass. Fri Jan 02 12:19:34 -0800 2009 4290006 10606 Joe Blowe 11 4291443 i'm more about physics and chemistry, actually - Fri Jan 02 20:27:18 -0800 2009 4290263 135229 thew 10 4290363 actually, i drink mostly green tea, for which the ideal temperature is 160-170. Fri Jan 02 13:05:53 -0800 2009 4290006 103920 goodhealthgourmet 9 4290367 thanks for the heads-up about their return policy. i certainly don't need to increase my tea consumption - i literally drink it *all day long* - but i'd certainly be happy to adopt a more convenient and less time consuming method for the water! Fri Jan 02 13:07:55 -0800 2009 4289811 103920 goodhealthgourmet 6 4291207 VitaMix makes a 32oz work pitcher that allows the unit to fit on the counter under the upper cabinets. If that helps at all. No leaks. Fri Jan 02 18:41:17 -0800 2009 4288295 10743 yayadave 1 4287943 I'd love to have an all-glass one--especially this one-- http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=482007.488301.493438.1816880.page I wonder if it would stay pretty? Thu Jan 01 12:35:48 -0800 2009 4287588 42470 blue room 2 4288283 I've seen that one at Sur la Table and been sorely tempted by it but. But, somehow, I just don't feel like I can trust it. ...or myself with a glass tea kettle. I don't think you'd boil that one dry more than *once*... Thu Jan 01 15:30:38 -0800 2009 4287943 17969 rainey 3 4288296 rainey, i had such a vision of glass exploding all over my stove when you said that! i'm pretty sure i'd either boil it dry or drop it on the marble counter within the first week :) Thu Jan 01 15:36:42 -0800 2009 4288283 103920 goodhealthgourmet 2 4290143 I know several people who use this glass one. it's not as edgy a design, but it works very well, and stays clear, at least for the people I know. They use filtered water in it. I don't know if that matters. Obviously it's a bit more fragile than metal and will crack if boiled dry. I've never seen a satisfactory stovestop kettle. I have a Chantal because I like the look. However, the handle gets hot, the whistle can be too loud and it gets buildup of who-knows-what on the inside that has to be cleaned periodically. Fri Jan 02 11:39:02 -0800 2009 4287943 248284 taos 1 4288114 I think the concensus is that stovetop kettles, even expensive, have become really crappy. Seems like I have gone through lots. I had a Berggren Traynor charmer that was a hand me down that lasted something like 40 yrs before becoming unusable. Since then, everything else has had some part poop out in a year or two. I hate the thought of another gizmo on the countertop so not crazy about an electric kettle. I suppose I can run water through the coffee-maker. Thu Jan 01 14:12:46 -0800 2009 4287588 219575 MikeB3542 1 4288321 I'm sorry that what appears to be a recent price hike makes this teakettle (yikes!) twice what you said you were willing to pay, but after having had one for decades, I can assure you it's worth it. http://www.surlatable.com/product/coffee+%26+tea/kettles+%26+teapots/simplex+copper+whistling+tea+kettle.do?search=basic&keyword=teakettle&sortby=ourPicks&page=1 I "killed" several teakettles before I finally bit the bullet and sprang fro this one long ago. I was so bad that I would wander off out into the garden and let them boil dry. The soldering joints on one melted and the spout fell right off. I'm lucky that I didn't set my house on fire. This Simplex kettle has an insistent whistle that would wake the dead. It doesn't stop until you turn off the fire and I can hear it all the way up on third floor of my house. Loud! The old copper now had dings and dents, but they add a certain je ne sais quoi and I'll have this kettle till I die. I polish it (actually, sort of clean the copper pretty well) about twice a year, because I sort of like a little tarnish. Why should it be shinier than I am? Figuring that I've had it at least 25 years now and even @ $120, that's still less than $5 a year. Not bad for my trusty old Whistler. Thu Jan 01 15:48:27 -0800 2009 4287588 32444 MakingSense 1 4288336 I love my Chantal tea kettle, the one with the harmonica whistle. Got my first one in the 80's and recently retired it for another one in a different color. Very often they can be picked up at TJMaxx or Marshall's stores for about half price. You do have to check them for defects though. Otherwise, it'd be out of your target price range. That being said, usually those stores have a nice selection of tea kettles to choose from. Hopefully, you'll be able to find one you like. Thu Jan 01 15:54:03 -0800 2009 4287588 168697 Leepa 2 4289593 I agree: if you want to buy a teakettle that will last forever (or at least a long time), invest in a Chantal Classic as suggested above. I'm a big tea drinker (Scot roots) and have gone through many tea kettles looking for the perfect one. My only gripe with the Chantal is that the handle gets HOT and you must always use a grip or hot pad to lift it after boiling. Otherwise it's indestructible. I've had a red enamel one for about 10 years. Several times my children have put it on to boil without checking the water level and heated it completely empty of liquid. I have come into the kitchen on several occasions to find it dry boiling and the enamel turned to a dark burgundy color. As soon as the kettle cools, it's good as new - back to the original color and no warping, etc. I can't say enough about the enamel coating and construction quality on this teapot. I've also owned the Oxo teakettle (I'm on my third and it's almost shot now). I've had the same issues with durability as others above even though I love the design and rubberized handle. I have a Wolf gas range and I think the gas flame overheats the plastic spout cover, eventually melting/disfiguring it where the cover doesn't close properly, affecting the whistle. Eventually the lid comes apart (I guess the hot steam destroys the plastic seal inside the lid. Anyway, although I've loved the function of the Oxo, I won't be buying another for durability issues. Perhaps you'd be more successful with an electric heat source. Be patient in checking with TJ Maxx and Marshall's. They have a great price on the Chantal teakettle, around $50-60, I think. The same kettle's $120 online at the various kitchen sites. Fri Jan 02 08:37:06 -0800 2009 4288336 208758 koigirl 1 4289953 I have to second the copper Simplex, it's my absolute favorite, and I've had many kettles. I had my last Simplex kettle for 10 years, survived hard use, particularly by our cook in Egypt for two years. But alas, like a moron I was using it to fill the bird bath outside my kitchen window, and dropped it, full of water, one full story down. Goodbye precious kettle. I couldn't believe how much the prices had gone up in ten years, but I didn't hesitate. I have a new one now (shiny again!) and am very happy. I won't be using it to fill the bird bath! My one (small) quip with the newer one is that the handle on the lid is plastic now. My old one was wood. Ahhhhh, well. Fri Jan 02 10:30:52 -0800 2009 4287588 245314 VACluny 1 4290637 TJ Maxx had a Cuisinart SS Whistling Kettle (model #BA-170) for $25, so figured it was a good chance to replace a Copco unit that broke after a year. The rap on this unit is that it does not whistle (I checked the reviews on-line after purchasing), but I have had no problems -- since the whistle is in the lid rather than the spout, the kettle needs to be at least half full or the steam escapes up the spout. Marshalls had a Lecreuset model for $35 -- would have gotten, but a little smallish and wife hated the colors available. Fri Jan 02 14:45:26 -0800 2009 4287588 219575 MikeB3542 1 4292255 I realize you only want to spend $60 but I highly recommend you buy this English Simplex tea pot. This model is for a gas stove which I have but they also make one for electric. You won't have to buy another tea kettle ever again. http://www.peets.com/shop/essentials_detail.asp?id=180&cid=3004 Sat Jan 03 08:38:52 -0800 2009 4287588 10646 javaandjazz 1 4295650 If there was any way I could justify spending the money, I would get this Oliver Hemming kettle, which I think is the coolest one I have ever seen. Seeing it on my stove would make me happy. http://www.oliverhemming.com/productlist.php?c_id=10 Sun Jan 04 16:15:27 -0800 2009 4287588 34558 roxlet 2 4295831 They are very beautiful! Isn't it fantastic when something useful is also something that you love to look at and touch?! Sun Jan 04 17:24:07 -0800 2009 4295650 17969 rainey 2 4295993 ooh, i'd love one of those kettles...and the french press while i'm at it. i wonder what the overseas shipping charges would be like... Sun Jan 04 18:19:57 -0800 2009 4295650 103920 goodhealthgourmet 3 4296046 Actually, I believe they're available at www.Unicahome.com, which is an American ecommerce site. Here is the link: http://www.unicahome.com/c7262/kettles.html Sun Jan 04 18:36:15 -0800 2009 4295993 34558 roxlet 4 4296070 oh no, roxlet...you may have just gotten me into serious trouble ;) Sun Jan 04 18:43:12 -0800 2009 4296046 103920 goodhealthgourmet 4 4296277 The nio and sixty-six espresso pots on this site are pretty nice, too. Sun Jan 04 20:09:46 -0800 2009 4296046 10743 yayadave 2 4296250 You say, "If there was any way I could justify spending the money . . . " I think, "Seeing it on my stove would make me happy." is enough justification. Sun Jan 04 19:50:39 -0800 2009 4295650 10743 yayadave 3 4296764 yayadave, you are very dangerous. Mon Jan 05 05:11:26 -0800 2009 4296250 34558 roxlet 4 4297263 Mark Twain said that the "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." Two weeks ago I bot an electric water heating pot for twenty-five bucks. I assume when I get around to using it, it will do what it's supposed to for my convenience. It will not make me happy. At some point, throwing it out will not make me unhappy. Saying "Seeing it on my stove would make me happy." puts the nio in a special place. Every time you walk into your kitchen or make a cup of tea or sit at the table or counter and glance at it, it will bring you joy. I can go out to the local movie house and see a movie based on a comic book. (it's true!) I would leave dazzled by the graphics and with my ears ringing from the assault. Or I could go out to my near-by movie house and see a direct feed from the Met. I would leave uplifted by the pageantry and beauty. Occasionally it's good to keep track of "the difference between the lightning and a lightning bug." OBTW, your directive to unicahome.com gave me indigestion. Roxlet, you are very dangerous. Mon Jan 05 09:00:54 -0800 2009 4296764 10743 yayadave 5 4298599 I love the Mark Twain quote, but buying things that make me happy is a slippery slope. I can find incredible joy in all manner of well-made and beautiful objects -- and most of them are incredibly expensive! If I can manage to somehow poke a hole in the kettle I currently have, then I could close my eyes and punch in my credit card number with impunity. Mon Jan 05 15:05:51 -0800 2009 4297263 34558 roxlet 6 4298702 Good luck with that can opener. TeeHee Mon Jan 05 15:44:43 -0800 2009 4298599 10743 yayadave 7 4299203 yayadave, you got that right! Mon Jan 05 18:40:26 -0800 2009 4298702 34558 roxlet 7 4417332 Well, I got it for Valentine's Day and it's better than a box of chocolates! I didn't even have to use the can opener!!!! Sat Feb 14 11:29:38 -0800 2009 4298702 34558 roxlet 8 4417648 That's great!! Sat Feb 14 14:07:40 -0800 2009 4417332 10743 yayadave 9 4418181 Yaya! I'm psyched. Sat Feb 14 18:35:36 -0800 2009 4417648 34558 roxlet 10 4418242 You'll be getting up a half hour early every morning just to have an extra cup of tea. Congratulations!! Better than a box of chocolates. Sat Feb 14 19:15:42 -0800 2009 4418181 10743 yayadave 11 4429166 HAH!! I just made a cup of tea with my water heater pot. Reminded me of that nio. Wed Feb 18 12:16:25 -0800 2009 4418242 10743 yayadave 12 4429977 It hasn't come yet! They're out of stock! Boo hoo. I still have to wait! Wed Feb 18 15:39:54 -0800 2009 4429166 34558 roxlet 1 4296166 i love my oxo uplift. i have used it twice a day for 2 years (manual drip coffee in morning and tea at night) and get pleasure from it every time. it is still in perfect condition, easy to fill, spout lifts up when you hold it, soft rubber handle stays cool. and it whistles. i have the stainless one. Sun Jan 04 19:16:32 -0800 2009 4287588 254194 citybeast 1 4296741 It's not necessary to spend a lot of money or buy a brand-name item to get a good and durable stovetop kettle. About 10 years ago, I bought a simple (and attractive) no-name stainless-steel stovetop whistling teakettle in a Chinese housewares store for under $20. I've used it almost every day since then, and it still performs perfectly. The only other advice I can give is to avoid enameled kettles (they invariably chip), and to get one with a removable lid so that you can occasionally scour the inside of the pot. Mon Jan 05 04:46:12 -0800 2009 4287588 20001 Miss Priss 2 4308543 How often do you scour the inside of your kettle? I never have. I try not to look inside and instead pretend that the boiling kills all the germies, which upon reflection, is probably ridiculous and a little gross. Thu Jan 08 13:45:47 -0800 2009 4296741 95577 yamalam 3 4309586 Well, maybe "scour" is too strong a word. I wash it out now and then. Boiling may in fact kill all the germs, but I like to be able to look inside and see that it's clean. A long time ago I had a kettle whose only opening was its spout, and at some point I became aware that there was some sort of mineral buildup in there--and I had no idea how long it had been going on, and no effective way to clean it. Since then, all my kettles have had lids. Thu Jan 08 19:39:35 -0800 2009 4308543 20001 Miss Priss 4 4418375 Slosh half a cup of vinegar into a half full kettle and boil. Allow to stand for a couple of hours then rinse a few times. All the gunge (lime scale) should now be gone. May need repeating for heavy scaling. Sat Feb 14 21:02:21 -0800 2009 4309586 156990 Robin Joy 1 4417725 I have a Chantal Classic and I love it. They can sometimes be found at the discount stores (Marshall's, Home Goods, etc.) for under $60. I paid $50 for mine at Marshall's. I've had mine for at least 6 years, and it's still going strong after almost daily use. Sat Feb 14 14:39:00 -0800 2009 4287588 63569 flourgirl 1 4428715 I searched for quite a while looking for a basic old fashioned tea kettle. Finally found it through the Vermont Country store. Basic stainless steel with an easy to grip handle. Absolutely love it. vermontcountrystore.com Wed Feb 18 10:21:42 -0800 2009 4287588 15183 pasta 2 4429167 That's a nice pot. Wed Feb 18 12:16:43 -0800 2009 4428715 10743 yayadave 1 4437763 This might sound silly, but I use a saucepan with a well-fitting lid, and I drink a LOT of tea. I don't know anyone who has been happy with their teakettle, so I gave up (as much as I love the way they look). Works well for us! Fri Feb 20 18:49:03 -0800 2009 4287588 183643 sfumato 2 4438943 You're right, that sounds pretty silly. If you drink a LOT of tea, see my post above... http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/584251#4289665 . . Sat Feb 21 09:23:11 -0800 2009 4437763 10606 Joe Blowe 3 4439685 Does the water in that thing get close to boiling? I know different teas have different water temp requirements, but most days I go with my Slavic tendencies and want just-boiled water to make my black tea. Does it really get hot enough in one of those (i.e. does that reboil function really boil)? Also, how much counter space does it take up? We don't really have a lot to spare, so that's a concern. Before I forget, I should mention that my mother had a Revereware teakettle for years and years, and she loved it. She got it in the early 70s, and it was still going strong when I left for college (1999). I think it finally bit the dust recently. However, now that Revereware's manufacturing location is different, I don't know how their products hold up to the older pots and pans that we all hang on to! My grandmother has a suuuuuuuuuuuuper old cast iron teakettle that makes damn good tea, too. However, I am sure that a healthy dose of nostalgia is involved there. Sat Feb 21 14:23:54 -0800 2009 4438943 183643 sfumato 4 4439991 Yes, *all* electric hot water dispensers (Zojirushi, National, et al.) bring the water to a full rolling boil, and then allow the water to go down to one of the pre-programmed temps (208F, 190F, etc.). Most people forget the reason why tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world (after plain water) -- it's a great way to safely drink water. Water that has been brought to a boil and had any pathogens killed off. If these hot water dispensers didn't bring water to a full boil, they would be ignoring a huge percentage of the world's population that depends on boiled water for drinking. The footprint of almost all of these dispensers are approx. 8" by 8". Sat Feb 21 16:49:42 -0800 2009 4439685 10606 Joe Blowe