7 best electric kettles of 2023, according to experts

Electric kettles can be an essential appliance if you’re looking to heat up or boil water quickly, whether you’re brewing tea, preparing a cup of coffee or making some instant oatmeal in the morning. While stovetop kettles can still get the job done well, electric kettles are usually much faster and more convenient, with adjustable temperatures and glass exteriors that let you see exactly how much water you’re heating up. As they’ve gotten more popular, they’ve also become more accessible and affordable, according to Jane Pettigrew, a tea specialist and founder of the UK Tea Academy — today, most quality models start at around $30 to $50.

SKIP AHEAD How to shop for an electric kettle

To help you sort through the various electric kettles on the market, we talked to experts about the different features to look for when shopping for one. They also shared some of their favorite electric kettles to consider.

Best electric kettles to shop

The experts we spoke to recommended each of the following highly rated electric kettles, all of which include a durable frame, comfortable grip and safety features like auto shut-off. We also included a highly rated electric kettle recommended by one of our Select writers.

Roy Lamberty, founder of the New York Tea Society, recommended this electric kettle from Fellow thanks to its convenient gooseneck spout and its sleek and modern look. He noted that it also features a large handle with “enough room for you to grip it properly … even when it’s full.”

The kettle features a temperature control dial that lets you choose your desired temperature from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The fixed base lets you move the kettle wherever you need, and a toggle on the back of the base can be switched on to maintain your desired temperature for 60 minutes, according to the brand — when the toggle isn’t on, the kettle will turn off after reaching the set temperature.

Bonavita’s gooseneck electric kettles are a favorite among our experts — Anna Ye, founder and tea educator of Anna Ye Tea, said she frequently recommends this kettle due to its “slender gooseneck spout for controlled pours.” Ye also called out the kettle’s durable stainless steel frame and noted that the Bonavita she owns has held up well over the years. You can monitor and adjust the temperature in 1-degree increments — ranging from 140 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit — using its digital display, and the Hold feature lets you maintain your desired temperature for up to 60 minutes, according to the brand.

Pettigrew recommended this 1.7-liter Cuisinart PerfecTemp electric kettle, which she noted is on the larger side of electric kettles, has a flat bottom and is “much more like an old-fashioned kettle that you might put on the gas.” Though it lacks the gooseneck spout, it does have six preset heat settings, including 175 degrees Fahrenheit for green tea and 200 degrees Fahrenheit for a French press. However, Pettigrew did emphasize that these temperatures aren’t always accurate and suggested double-checking them with a thermometer if your brew depends on a very precise temperature. This kettle also includes a 30-minute keep warm function and a 360-degree swivel base for cordless portability.

Pettigrew said she’s worked with Zojirushi kettles at various tea competitions and noted they’re “completely different from [the] typical kettles” she sees at home in England. She said a lot of tea experts choose this Zojirushi Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer for “its durability and ease of accessing the water via a pumping action rather than pouring.” It has four water warming settings ranging from 160 degrees Fahrenheit up to 208 degrees Fahrenheit and the aforementioned water dispensing function can be a good option for those who want to avoid lifting a heavy kettle. The device features a clear-coated stainless steel body and nonstick interior, according to the brand, and the beep signal can be turned off to reduce the noise level.

Several experts we spoke to recommended OXO kettles for their functionality and durability. This glass model has an adjustable temperature control dial so you can choose the exact temperature you need, which “enables tea lovers to quickly heat up and maintain the water at a fixed temperature,” Ye said. She added that the temperature dial “is intuitive and gives the kettle a clean and sleek feel.” The kettle can boil up to 1.75 liters of water, and you can set the temperature anywhere between 170 degrees Fahrenheit and 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you’re willing to sacrifice temperature control for affordability, this electric kettle from Hamilton Beach is a “great option for folks who don’t need the gooseneck or adjustable features,” Ye said. The kettle is cord-free for portability, has an auto shut-off feature that prevents the hot water from evaporating and uses a drip-free spout, according to the brand. It features a water level window that lets you measure exactly how much water you’re putting inside. Hamilton Beach also offers an affordable glass version.

This 27-ounce Bodum Electric Kettle has a slim gooseneck spout that’s great for pour overs, coffee experts previously told us. Though this kettle doesn’t feature temperature control, it can be a more affordable option for those looking to only boil water. The body of the kettle is made of durable stainless steel, and the handle and lid are covered with cork to improve the grip and protect your hands from the heat. Select writer Zoe Malin uses this kettle to boil water for her pour overs and said the gooseneck is great for controlling where the water goes. She also appreciates the auto shut-off feature since she can do other things around the house while her water boils.

How to shop for a quality electric kettle

The experts we spoke to agreed that electric kettles are typically a better — and even safer — alternative to stovetop kettles. Lamberty said some of the major benefits of an electric kettle include a faster boiling time, greater energy efficiency and a safer boiling experience since most include auto shut-off features and lack exposed flames. He added that one of the biggest advantages of an electric kettle is “being able to boil water in any location where you can find an outlet.”

There are a few key features that experts told us are important to consider when shopping for an electric kettle, including temperature control, material and size. Below, our experts break down why these features matter and what specifically you should be looking for.

Material

There are three main material types for most electric kettles: stainless steel, glass and plastic.

1. Stainless steel kettles are durable, lightweight and make the deposit buildup at the bottom less noticeable, according to Pettigrew.
2. Glass kettles can be a great option if you want to see the water inside, especially if you’re looking for bubbles to indicate a boil. “They’re naturally free of BPA and other similar chemicals — make sure it’s made of borosilicate glass [that’s] scratch-resistant and does not crack or break while boiling,” Ye said.
3. Plastic kettles are typically the cheapest of the three options, but the experts we spoke to recommended generally avoiding these. “I’m a little bit wary of [plastic kettles] because we don’t know how much of the kettle is maybe being dissolved into the water,” Pettigrew said. Diana Zheng, co-founder of Three Gems Tea, said she prefers a nonplastic body “so there’s no plastic flavor imparted to your water.”

Temperature control

The experts we spoke to emphasized that being able to control the temperature of your water can be crucial to brewing a traditional cup of tea or coffee. “For example, black tea should be made with boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit), and green teas should be made using water at around 185 degrees Fahrenheit — this flexibility is not available with traditional stovetop kettles,” said Peter Goggi, president of Tea Association of the U.S.A.

Most higher-end electric kettles will provide temperature ranges from around 100 degrees Fahrenheit up to boiling temperature — some will display preset temperatures, and others will show the specific temperature of the water going up in increments of 1, 5 or 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Pettigrew said she prefers kettles that increase incrementally since those “can show finer differences for teas like oolongs and black tea.”

Some preset temperatures may only show the name of the tea or coffee the setting is meant for instead of the temperature it’s heating up to — Pettigrew noted those may not always be accurate and give less control to the user. However, the preset temperatures can be good for beginners — “I suspect that might help people who aren’t used to doing different temperatures for different teas,” Pettigrew said.

As for kettles with low, medium and high options, Pettigrew said she’s not a fan. “You really have no idea what those temperatures are,” she said. Some kettles may also have a Keep Warm function that can keep the water hot after it boils — this can be an effective feature, but keep in mind some of the contents of the water could evaporate, according to Pettigrew.

While experts told us temperature control is preferred, this feature is contingent on how you intend to use the kettle. “Most tea kettles will automatically shut off at a boil — if you intend to always use boiling water, a temperature control is unnecessary,” said Lamberty. “However, if you’re like me and enjoy drinking many different teas, knowing the temperature of the water is important.”

Spout

Lamberty said one of the most important features he looks for in a kettle is a gooseneck spout, which originates toward the bottom of the kettle rather than the top. “If the spout originates from the top of the kettle, then as the water level gets lower, it becomes necessary to tilt the kettle further to be able to pour the water and can cause leaking from the lid or maybe even cause the lid to fall off,” he said.

The gooseneck spout is also popular among other experts we consulted — according to Ye, it “[gives you] precise and easy pours” and could be an aesthetically pleasing part of your tea or coffee routine. However, our experts noted it’s all about personal preference — if you’re using your electric kettle for something like a French press and don’t need a precise pour for a pour-over coffee, for instance, a conventional spout works just as well.

Safety features

Since an electric kettle doesn’t need to sit on top of an open flame, there is less of a fire hazard, even when you set it and forget it. “I love being able to just turn the kettle on and walk away, not having to monitor when it reaches a specific temperature,” Zheng said.

There are also several safety features built into most electric kettles that can help prevent accidental fires and burns. All of the experts we consulted agreed that an auto shut-off feature, which turns the device off when the water reaches a boil, is a priority — fortunately, most electric kettles already have that feature.

Goggi also said his favorite type of kettles are those with fixed bases. “The base plugs in but the heating element is not activated unless the kettle is positioned on the base,” he said, adding this is “both a safety feature and an energy saver” since you don’t have to keep the kettle connected to the heating source.

Choosing a kettle with a large handle that gives you enough room to grip comfortably can also be a key safety feature, according to Lamberty. “Make sure that it has a tight-fitting lid [that] doesn’t allow water to leak out,” he added.

Noise level

Both Pettigrew and Lamberty said that noise level can be an important consideration when shopping for an electric kettle, especially for avid tea drinkers. “A noisy kettle can take away from the serene atmosphere which is desired during a tea drinking moment, especially if tea has become a part of your meditation practice,” Lamberty said. If noise is an easy distraction for you, they recommend testing the noise level before committing to a kettle purchase.

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