I came to the world of electric kettles fairly late. I was raised with a stove top kettle and thought it the best way to manage my hot water needs (plus, I’ve always liked the way they looked sitting out on a burner). But then in the fall of 2011, I went to visit my sister. She had a relatively inexpensive electric kettle that boiled water at miraculous speed. There was no ten+ minute wait for a pokey stove to heat and transfer its warmth. I was sold.
Soon after I got home, I ordered my first electric kettle. I got this
Soon enough, I was using it multiple times a day. It served up hot water for morning cups of coffee and tea. In the afternoon, I’d use the cooled water in the kettle to help feed my sourdough starter (boiling helps evaporate out any chlorine in the water supply that can harm or kill the sour bacteria. Just make sure the water is under 100F when you add it to your starter). During dinner prep, I’d heat water to hydrate spoonfuls of Better Than Bouillon or to speed up soup making.
I also found myself turning to the electric kettle during canning. As you know, I make a lot of small batches of preserves, and often I make three or four things in succession (I like to take advantage of a hot canning pot). These small batches range in size from two half pints to four or five. If I don’t plan well, I can wind up trying to process jars without having enough hot water to cover. Instead of adding hot tap water and hoping that the pot returns to a boil quickly, I can keep the kettle hot and top off the canning pot immediately. It has sped things up immeasurably.
This summer was also the first time I had the electric kettle during tomato canning season. I do the bulk of my tomatoes whole, peeled and packed in water (makes for a shorter processing time) and with an electric kettle, having that hot water takes no time at all.
Thanks to the kind folks at Hamilton Beach, I recently upgraded my electric kettle to their programmable model (my previous kettle was also made by HB, but I bought it with my own dollars, long before I started teaming up with them for giveaways). This guy allows you to select the temperature to which your water heats. That makes it particularly great if you have fussy coffee habits (I say this lovingly and as someone who regularly weighs her beans to ensure a close-to-perfect brew), drink green tea, or live at high elevations where water boils at lower temperatures.
It also has a outside fill indicator (the trade-off is that there’s a small amount of plastic inside the kettle to allow for this) and pours far more smoothly than my previous kettle. I also like the fact that it has a timer, so you can schedule the moment you want it to switch on to boil. With a fast boiling kettle, it’s not really entirely necessary, but I have been enjoying the luxury of walking into the kitchen each morning to a just-boiled kettle of water. It’s the little things.
Finally, the giveaway. Hamilton Beach has generously given me eight of these Programmable 1.7 Liter Electric Kettles to give away to my readers. Here’s how to enter.
- Leave a comment on this post and share your water boiling habits. Stove top kettle? Electric tap in the sink? Microwaved mug? If you don’t do hot drinks, what gets you moving in the morning?
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog over the weekend.
- Giveaway open US residents only.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
Disclosure: Hamilton Beach gave me one Programmable Electric Kettle for review and photography purposes and they’re providing eight additional units for this giveaway. They did not pay for inclusion on the blog and my opinions remain entirely my own.
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I use my microwave to boil water for coffee, now.
A programmable electric kettle would be divine for hot herb tea first thing in the morning. But, on those full-on cooking/baking days, it would be plugged in all day. I would love to have instant hot water!
Instant kettle, v old school–makes great tea!
I use the microwave to heat individual cups of hot water. Much faster than waiting for water to boil in a kettle. I think an electric kettle would be great for when canning to heat the jar lids and rings. Also would be great to use when baking and need hot water in the recipe. Would be a real convenient appliance.
Old tea pot on the stove!
I have a stove top whistling kettle that I use each and every morning to boil water for tea. Also, this time of year, hot chocolate and oatmeal are often made.
I usually use a stovetop kettle at home. But I did have a plug in electric kettle for the office. But then someone borrowed it and never gave it back…
I always boil water on the stove but have wanted a electric kettle for years!
I use the microwave when I need hot water in a hurry and the stovetop kettle if I have time to spare.
I’ve used an electric kettle for years!
I use a pot on the stove. Yup, a pot. I don’t even own a stove top kettle. It’s kind of annoying.
I usually just microwave water to get it boiling. I never thought about an electric kettle, it would be so much quicker. I had debated on a keurig for tea and cocoa (not a coffee drinker) but didn’t like the idea of yet another appliance on my limited countertop space. But now I’m considering an electric kettle, it seems alot more versatile.
I used to just heat water in the microwave, but I found a kettle to be a soothing process to heat water for tea. I have a fantastic green Fiesta kettle that gets used almost daily.
I have one of the old fashioned whistling tea kettles on my stove. As a creature of habit, this has always been comforting to me. I only just found out about electric kettles in the last year or so (thank you again, Sherlock fandom!), and at first I thought it would be just one more device to take up space on my counters. But every time all three kids come in from the snow looking for hot chocolate and at least one of them has to wait for the water to boil, I wish I had something faster!
I am a stove top girl. But I ususally end up letting it go to long and it boils merrily away because I don’t like the whistle.
Although it does add moisture to the house during the dry cold winter months, an electric kettle would definitely improve my energy use and eliminate boiling 1 kettle-ful of water rather than 2!
Old ass electric tea kettle that takes almost as long as the stove top. Time for an upgrade!!
I too was a stovetop kettler growing up, and never considered a different method until I recently babysat for some folks who had this same Hamilton Beach model. One pot of tea and voila, I was converted. Now I know why all those Brits have electric kettles in their homes, and I would absolutely love to have one of these in mine!
I am looking forward to doing canning again (1980′s was the last time!) and this would be perfect for boiling water quickly. Great idea
Growing up, there was always (and still is) a glass Whistler tea kettle on my parents’ stove, so that’s what I tried to do when I moved out. I’ve broken four of them now, so I’ve resorted to a metal tea kettle for my hot water needs. Although, for a cup of tea at my in-laws, I have a refillable basket for their Kurig machine.
I drink alot of tea and usually microwave a mug at a time. Once in awhile I’ll use the stovetop tea kettle but inevitably I end up having to microwave that too if I can’t drink it fast enough while it’s still hot.
I think this kettle would be great for my tea and very helpful when canning!
Oh my! What a wonderful prize to win. Currently I just microwave my tea water. I have a ceramic cooktop and just got tired of scrubbing it after every tea pot use.
With a family of 8 that LOVES hot tea and coffee, I boil a lot on the stove top. I also use a double boiler for buttermilk starter with my fresh raw milk for homemade biscuits and pancakes. Then on to canning our harvest…….yes lots of boiling!!!
I use a stove-top kettle, but this would be nice to win!
I must be living in the stone ages….. i still microwave my mug! ugh….. need to upgrade!
I use stove top and microwave for hot drinks. But oprefer kettle when I have one that works.
I would love to win. I use the microwave most of the time. I used to have an electric kettle and miss it.
I have a stove top kettle that is starting to show it’s age. I will also microwave a mug if I’m in a hurry. I would love to win this electric kettle. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love my stovetop whistling tea kettle, but this sure sounds handy.
I do the stovetop kettle method, too, but have actually been thinking an e-kettle might be a good idea.
I use the microwave….
usually run it through the coffee pot or on the stove
If I’m boiling large amounts of water, then stove top. If I’m just desperate for one cup of something hot, then microwave. Sometimes I’ll use my electric kettle from my college days. So… i guess it depends on my mood? lol!
I’d love to have a programmable kettle! We make french press coffee everyday. We heat water in the kettle on the stove, grind the beans with a hand grinder (the one that a canning jar attaches to, love it!) and then make the coffee. Totally ‘low tech.’
I do hot drinks in the morning with a pod coffee maker. I’m getting ready to start pressure canning veggies, so I need a kettle…..pick me! pick me!
I use a super old eclectic kettle, but a programmable one would be awesome
I’ve always used a stovetop kettle or my Keurig for other hot drinks!
I discovered electric kettles about 10 years ago, dd took it to college and never got around to getting another. So i would love to have it for tea in the morning, preparing dinner… a hundred reasons.
I’m a stove-top kettle guy myself. Love the idea of the electric kettle…
I grew up with electric kettles, but I’ve switched to stove top. There’s something cozy about it, to me. Though I admit the lure of a kettle on a timer has some appeal for the mornings…
I can’t believe I’m admitting it in public, but I’ll just boil the water in the microwave right in my cup. It makes me fee so un-civilized.
I stove top boil but I used to have a great plug in! The wire melted and I never replaced it. I would love to get rid of the stove top kettle, it always get nasty from whatever I am cooking and I end up having to wash it every day… ich.
I use a stovetop kettle and my microwave to boil water, but I would love to try an electric kettle!
My favorite tv chef Alton Brown highly recommends these! I use the microwave if I’m just warming up a cup for cocoa but otherwise I use a saucepan. This would be a great addition to my kitchen!
I’m a stovetop kettle girl. I love the whistle of the kettle but I hate how long it takes. I’d be converted to an electric kettle girl in a second if I won this!
I use the old Revere ware whistling stovetop tea kettle. I love the thing, but have recently started to look into an electric kettle. The idea of almost instant water for my morning tea has become more appealing. Since my DH uses the french press for his coffee there are times that the stove is having to heat up twice in the morning just for our preferred caffeine.
Thanks for offering this giveaway!
I use the microwave to heat individual cups of water.
This would be fantastic! I’ve never even considered owning an electric kettle. I am a stay-at-home-mom of three boys and i think this lovely speed kettle would help me drink my afternoon tea, as I should be taking some time to myself throughout the day. Currently, I use a stove top kettle but when I’m in a hurry I pop the mug in the mic. But as you say about having hot water ready for cooking … That would be very nice!
Love the idea of having an electric kettle, for a quick cup of tea
I also use my electric kettle all the time (but I don’t have a programmable one!). We are a tea drinking house and also use mine to top off my canning pot. It is also great for instant hot water when I need a steam infusion for bread baking.