They are available 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 avoid limescale and dirt deposits and be more durable than models made of glass or plastic. In addition, stainless steel is said to have no effect on the taste of the water and does not emit any pollutants. However, a kettle cannot be made exclusively of stainless steel. But that’s not bad, because it can be almost plastic-free. The power cable and base are mostly made of plastic, but they do not come into contact with the heated water inside the device. This is followed by a comparison of stainless steel kettles and general buying tips for the popular kitchen helper.
Anyone who uses a kettle to heat water instead of an electric stove or microwave saves electricity and protects the climate. In addition to advantages for the environment, the devices also offer some for health 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 litres. The retro design is a beautiful eye-catcher and the cordless kettle has a place on a matching stainless steel base.
The Philips kettle has a capacity of 1.7 liters and offers a lot 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 protective filter should 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 buying, consumers should also pay attention to a clearly visible water level indicator, with which small amounts of water can be easily dosed. The “Blue Angel”, an environmental label awarded in Germany since 1978 for particularly environmentally friendly products and services, provides further guidance on the energy efficiency of kettles. The Federal Ministry for the Environment is the bearer of the label.
The mark guarantees that the products and services meet high standards of environmental, health and functional properties. In order to reflect the technical development, the Federal Environment Agency reviews the criteria every three to four years.
Stainless steel kettles are just one option, there are 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 devices made of metal (such as stainless steel). Kettles made of glass, stainless steel or ceramic do not emit 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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