They come in numerous designs: kettles made of stainless steel, glass, plastic or ceramic. The former is said to be particularly robust and easy to clean. The smooth surface should prevent limescale and dirt deposits and be more durable than models made of glass or plastic. In addition, stainless steel is said to have no impact on the taste of the water and does not emit pollutants. However, a kettle cannot be made exclusively of stainless steel. But that’s not a bad thing because it can be almost plastic-free. The power cable and base are usually made of plastic, but do not come into contact with the heated water inside the device. The following is a comparison of stainless steel kettles as well as general buying tips for the popular kitchen helper.
Using a kettle instead of an electric stove or microwave to heat water saves electricity and protects the climate. In addition to environmental benefits, the devices also offer health benefits by being low in pollutants. Especially those models made of stainless steel.
The “Stelio” model from Wmf is made of stainless steel and has a capacity of 1.2 liters. There is also a larger device that holds 1.7 liters of water. It is an electric kettle with a limescale water filter and an output of 2400 watts. A water level indicator also shows how much water is in the device.
This stainless steel kettle from Ascot is also electric, with 2,200 watts and a capacity of 1.6 liters. The retro design is a beautiful eye-catcher and the wireless kettle sits on a matching stainless steel base.
The Philips kettle holds a whopping 1.7 liters and therefore offers plenty of space. The material is made of stainless steel and the kettle runs at 2,200 watts. There is also LED lighting and a large opening for easy filling. The removable anti-limescale protection filter is intended to guarantee more cleanliness and easy cleaning.
The consumer magazine Öko-Test carried out a kettle test in May 2020 and tested a total of 15 devices – including models made of plastic and glass. You can read the result in an e-paper for a fee. Apart from the results, Öko-Test reveals which criteria they looked at and what is important when buying a kettle.
When purchasing, consumers should also look for a clearly visible water level indicator that makes it easy to dose small amounts of water. Further guidance on the energy efficiency of kettles is provided by the “Blue Angel”, an environmental label that has been awarded in Germany since 1978 for particularly environmentally friendly products and services. The symbol is carried by the Federal Environment Ministry.
The mark guarantees that the products and services meet high standards in terms of environmental, health and usage properties. In order to reflect technical developments, the Federal Environment Agency reviews the criteria every three to four years.
Stainless steel kettles are just one option, there are also models made of other materials. Basically, metal or plastic are more resilient than glass. Plastic, on the other hand, has the advantage that the surface of the kettle remains cooler than metal devices (such as stainless steel). Kettles made of glass, stainless steel or ceramic do not release any harmful substances into the heated liquid, but this can happen with devices made of plastic. While more expensive kettles do not have to be of higher quality, they undoubtedly offer more additional functions such as selectable temperature levels, automatic timers and keep-warm functions. However, the latter is not recommended in terms of energy efficiency.
Sources: Öko-Test, Federal Environment Agency
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