Electric kettles are a handy little kitchen appliance for every household or workplace. Whether you want a kettle for heating water for a cup of tea, or to cook some ready-to-eat food, the electric kettle is a way more convenient way to boil water. It’s much simpler than heating water on a gas stove. It doesn’t need you to stand around, ensuring that the water boils but does not spill over. Gas stoves also heat up the kitchen and the process takes a lot of time. Electric kettles are simple to use – pour in water to the safe level, flip the switch and forget. The kettle should signal an alarm when it’s done, or flip the switch back to off. With electric kettles prices starting from as low as Rs. 575, it makes good sense to own one, but before you do, here are some things to look for.
Capacity
The most important component of buying an electric kettle is its capacity. The ideal capacity for you, depends on your requirements. If you like to consume warm water through the day, a larger capacity is ideal, whereas if you only want to make a cup of tea or two in the morning, something a little smaller should suffice. Electric kettles range in capacities, from 0.5L going all the way up to 1.8L. A sizeable portion of offerings are between 1.5 and 1.8L, so pick wisely.
Heating performance
The wattage of electric kettles differs from model to model. It is an indicator of how quickly the kettle can heat water. For example, a 750W electric kettle may take a little longer than a model rated for 1500W. A larger capacity kettle may require more power to heat larger volumes of water than a smaller kettle. This should also explain the price differences between models and how wattages differ between capacities.
Build quality and construction
The build quality of a kettle is important, since you are likely to be using it for a very long time, and the kettle needs to withstand the kind of heating and cooling every time you use it. It also needs to be safe to use, with good insulation, a strong handle and more. Some electric kettles even use a different material on the top so you can touch the kettle lid, without hurting yourself. Some other models may have transparent bodies so you can see as the water inside starts bubbling and boiling. Kettles that come with removable lids are also easier to clean thoroughly.
Water temperature settings
Some electric kettles also let you set the temperature you would like the water to be heated to. This is useful, if you just want some luke warm water to drink, or if you need boiling hot water to make a cup of tea. Models with this feature may have a dial that can be rotated to get the water heated to your liking. Most kettles do not have this feature, so you might need to look through the specifications carefully before buying one.
Indicators for water level and temperature
Some kettles come with indicators for the temperature which makes it easy to keep track of how hot the water might be. Some other models have a transparent slit along the side where you can see the level of water as well. Some models are entirely transparent while some others may have transparent lids instead. All these while small elements, add up to making a great, usable product. It lets you gauge the temperature of water, or if you need to refill the kettle.
Cordless designs
Most electric kettles come with a docking base, where the vessel sits on. This is important, because it lets you easily carry the kettle anywhere you want, without a power cord being dragged about. It also makes it easy to clean the kettle. Some older and cheaper models may not have this, instead have a permanently fixed cable.
There are some other things that can help you choose the electric kettle to your liking, like the colours and designs. Most of us are going to keep the kettle in the kitchen, or the dining table or office desk most of the time. Some kettles come in some attractive colours and patterns, while some others are designed to look like traditional gas kettles, but with modern, electronic dials and indicators.
A kettle is no longer a nice-to-have, it can be an essential appliance for everyday use. It is perfect if you want to make yourself some ready-to-eat noodles, or a cup of tea or coffee, or just warm water and with prices so low, why wouldn’t you want one? Reliance Digital has a wide assortment of electric kettles to choose from, at attractive prices, so head over to your nearest store, or better still, order one straight to your doorstep here at RelianceDigital.in.
