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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At home, stove top kettle. One of the folks at work has an electric kettle which has me very curious aobut how it would go over at home with the wife and kids.
I agree that electric lkettles are amazing. I just recently started using one at work to enjoy my daily dose of green tea. Because of this electric kettle I have stopped using my tea kettle at home to drink tea and now only drink it at work.
Stovetop kettle, but my horrifying morning caffeine habit is fed by soda. I feel inadequate, but what can you do? Tea in the afternoon… electric kettle means I could stop making white tea with too hot water
I use a whistling kettle on the stove.
This would be so convenient for canning. My stove is always full and I can hardly reach the small kettle behind the big pots.
I loved having an electric kettle when I lived in the UK but for some reason I’ve never had one now that I’m back in the US. Now I just use a kettle on the stove but I hate how loud the whistle is.
I had an electric kettle in college, but have used a stove-top one since then. Out of habit, mostly. I’ve been considering an electric kettle for a while, since I routinely boil large quantities of water for our tea-loving weekly small group that meets in our house. This might be much easier!
I LOVE electric kettles. Started using one after visiting family in Scotland; they must have hot tea within a minutes notice. My husband is Chinese and he uses a version of a hot water dispenser; water is always hot and ready to go. I could not imagine ever needing to wait for boiling water ever again : )
I use a stovetop Chantal kettle with a harmonica whistle. I love the sound of it. But, in warm temperatures, an electric kettle sounds appealing, especially when one is trying to maintain hot water for canning top-ups!
I have always used a cooktop tea kettle – until I moved into a new apartment, which came equipped with electric. 2 weeks after I moved it, the cooktop and the breaker called it quits…with both the necessary breaker part and cooktop on back order for 2 weeks! Fortunately, the BF had an electric kettle to lend me – and I haven’t looked back since. Now I’m trying to figure out how to replace the his (wonderful but 10 years old) electric kettle
I do love my tea HOT in the morning but have taught myself to wait for my kettle to boil on the range. I also don’t like how quickly it cools. I couldn’t justify an electric kettle for just that but for canning it seems ideal. Thanks for the idea.
I begin boiling water in the morning, for tea and coffee. I use a older stainless steel pot,
it goes all day. Thank you!
I have a tiny and adorable steel kettle that I swiped from a friends’ back country cooking kit 10 years ago!
I too use an electric kettle for about 5 years now. I also gave them as gifts to my tea drinking sister-in-law and two nieces. My husband and I drink a cup of tea most evenings and it’s super convenient and fast.
I’d be lost without my electric tea kettle! Remember when the Brits were the only smart ones? They had them long before we did and I know why. An efficient way to heat/boil water for any reason, coffee, tea, pasta, soup, tomato/peach skinning, anything!
I use an electric kettle. I love my tea in the morning! I usually have about 4 cups of tea a day.
I am a tea purist. Can not be microwaved or with the hot water tap. It has to be boiled. I enjoy my tea throughout the day. I even use it to make fresh coffee. I just don’t like to have to wait for it each time. For this an electric kettle would be great.
I use a stove top kettle for morning tea–I didn’t even know they had electric programmable ones!!
We heat water on our stovetop for tea and coffee. My in-laws recently told me how great their electric kettle is and how easy it is to use. I would love to have my very own to try out!!
Wow, I feel stupid to say I have never even realized there was such a thing as an electric kettle! But I would LOVE to have one and this matches my coffeepot, LOL! I am currently using an old dented tea kettle which I heat on our gas stove and want to replace. I will love to win this, thank you!
Electric Kettles are the greatest! I first found out about them when I visited England and now can’t image life without it.
I currently use a kettle on the stovetop, but I’ve been eyeing an electric kettle for quite some time!
I usually heat it up in the microwave and pour it into a wee little teapot that uses loose teas. I’ve been pondering a kettle for quite a bit. That kettle looks lovely!
I’m a mug in the microwave girl, but I want to be an electric kettle girl.
Stovetop glass kettle from the hardware store. I like it, but have been considering going electric!
Have a plastic electric kettle, use it for whenever I need hot water. Heats quicker than the stove kettle.
I have a small teakettle that I use to make hot water for tea. I normally have coffee in the morning, via coffee maker. In the evening, however, especially when it’s cold outside, I do enjoy a nice cup of tea! When I was canning, I’d heat water for my tomatoes, too. I found myself wishing for a kettle like my Grandma had – HUGE!
Thanks for this chance to win the HB electric kettle!
xoxo
Joy
Old fashioned tea kettle is our weapon of choice. Nothing to break and works every time:-)
I’d love to try an electric kettle. My microwave isn’t very fashionable when you have company!
I have a very cute teapot I use to heat water on the stove. I’d been looking at electric kettles, though, because I heard they were super fast and I wondered if they’d be more energy efficient.
I have a basic plastic electric kettle that I love – I use it for pretty much exactly what was described here – that I bought after visiting friends in the UK. My mom has been staying with me to help with my newborn baby and has been a big fan of my electric kettle – would love to give this to her as a thank you.
Right now I use a stove-top kettle to boil my water for tea and canning. I never knew there was this wonderful invention out there that I could program to the exact temperature that I want!
I currently use what is called a 5th burner pot. I too get frustrated with the kettle I cannot see inside. I work for a Swiss company and it seems a lot of the European employees use these. I image it is all about space in smaller kitchens. I would love one of these to use.
Electric Kettle! Which just died. So I really hope I win this one. If I don’t I’ll be heading out to the store to purchase a new one and might spring for this Hamilton Beach as I appreciate the ability to set the temperature since I drink a lot of varieties of tea and remembering to shut of the kettle early for white tea is something I often forget.
I am a mug in the microwave kind of girl but can see how mhandy this would be!
Depending on my hot water needs, I either use the microwave or run the water through my coffee pot.
At home I’ve been an electric kettle user since 2007, and very happy about it. For work, although I purchased an expensive electric kettle – silly me not a Hamilton Beach, and it died within months. I’ve been struggling with the microwave (superheated water anyone?) and trying to rationalize buying a new one. Winning this would be a huge improvement for my life.
at work we have one of those coffee machines that gives you hot water, but I would love to have one of these at my boyfriend’s new condo – he has a plastic one and I’m not so thrilled with it (plus it’s super small).
Currently have an espresso maker and an electric kettle, but the electric kettle is getting old and crusty so would be great to win, plus I could see some options for the boiling water to certain temperatures, like perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs!
I would use this so many times throughout the day! Yes, for tea, coffee, topping off soups, adding to better than bouillon, even for heating my babies food!
love it!
I boil water with a kettle on the stove every morning. I have to turn the kettle very low so that the whistle doesn’t wake my Mom & Dad, but an electric kettle would certainly speed things up & ensure I am quiet.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Tea~ How I love thee…let me count the ways. Now I used to fix my tea in the micro in my favorite cup, but since I’ve been tuned in to White and red tea and so many others that take specific water temp- I’ve had to turn to a sauce pot on the stove. I have been searching for a good electric kettle- this would SO fit the bill.
I have a stove top kettle that has the oddest toot sound when at a full boil which happens about three times a day. Morning tea for me and then twice more at bedtime for my six yr olds tea and mine and my husbands as well. The little one loves a good cup of tea before bed.
I’ve never had a kettle–stove top or otherwise. I boil water (for my morning/evening coffee and occasional herbal tea–I’m trying {sometimes}, don’t judge me–lol) the old fashioned way, in a little sauce pan. I would like to try a kettle though, they seem kind of interesting since I’ve been reading more and more about making and preparing food naturally and it would probably come in quite handy.
I use a stove-top kettle with a whistle for my morning coffee (pour-over ), but I can imagine how helpful this electric one would be for canning!
Usually I make my cup of hot water/coffee in my Keurig. Occasionally I will use my whistling teakettle that I got at a yard sale. Would LOVE an electric tea kettle!!
Jen
Sadly I use my microwave but since my little daughter is now getting interested in drinking tea, this electric tea kettle would sure be great!! Thanks for the chance to win one!
We have an electric kettle that we love, and, like you, use all the time. But it is almost completely plastic, and that does make me a little nervous. Not to mention the fact that I have to put the handle back on almost every time I use it… Thanks for the chance. (PS I’ve been making orange and lemon sugar since your post about it maybe 2 years ago. It’s great on a plain bagel with cream cheese… and a hundred other ways.)
I have a tea kettle on the stove and nuke a mug in the mike. I can’t believe how convenient this would be for canning this summer. How have I gotten anything done without it?
Yes! I hate it when I misjudge the amount of water in the canning kettle, or do a batch of mixed sizes and one jar is sticking up above the water level. What a great idea!
Electric kettle… love my tea. But that’s usually in the evening. Diet coke is the breakfast of champions!