Most people like to start their mornings off with a perfect cup of coffee or tea. How do you decide which to pick with so many different ways to brew the best cup?
One of the most popular ways to boil water for a great cup of coffee is to use a glass kettle. However, it can be daunting to get a glass kettle without knowing exactly how they work.
Here are 15 answers to common electric kettle questions:
Table of Contents
1. Do Glass Kettles Get Limescale?
Glass kettles will get limescale over time. It will appear quicker depending on how often you use your glass kettle.
Don’t let this discourage you! Most kettles, whether glass, steel, or even porcelain, will get limescale.
When water is stored in the kettle, the minerals from the water will start to collect on the inside. The good news is that you can easily reduce the limescale from your glass kettle by cleaning it and leaving it to dry regularly.
2. Do Glass Kettles Get Dirty More Easily?
A glass kettle will not get dirtier than other varieties, especially stainless steel kettles.
One important thing to remember is that by using a glass kettle, you have one big advantage when it comes to knowing how clean it is.
Glass is clear, so spotting growing limescale, dirt, or even mold will be much easier. On the other hand, using a glass kettle can mean that it can get dirtier slightly quicker since it isn’t a high-grade material.
3. Do Glass Kettles Get Hot On The Outside?
Typically, glass can hold high heat without cracking. You will still be able to feel the heat from the outside when you touch glass exposed to high heat.
However, in the case of a glass kettle, you won’t have to worry about the exterior being too hot to handle. A glass kettle is made from tempered and insulated glass.
This means that multiple layers of glass make up the drum of the kettle, so while the inside layer may be too hot to touch, the exterior layer will be cool to handle.
4. Do Glass Kettles Get Discolored Over Time?
A glass kettle can get discolored or stained over time.
Of course, it depends on how often you use your electric glass kettle and how well you care for it.
Most commonly, you will see a slight yellow tint on the glass of your kettle. This is mainly due to the limescale building up, but this isn’t the only reason for discoloration.
If you use your glass kettle for more than water, for example, cooking, you can expect much more discoloration. This is why it is so important to properly clean your glass kettle after every use.
5. Are All Glass Kettles BPA-Free?
BPA is a chemical strain that can be dangerous for consumption when exposed to high heat. This is why you find that most baby products are labeled as BPA-free.
What about a glass kettle?
Typically, the glass will not hold any BPA. However, not all glass kettles are created equal. BPA is mainly found in plastics; since the kettle is glass, it should be BPA-free.
Some cheaper glass kettles use a mix of glass and plastic in the insulation of the kettle, which means that if it isn’t specifically labeled as BPA-free, you should avoid using them at all costs.
6. Are Glass Kettles Quieter?
A glass kettle is slightly quieter than stainless steel.
This is because steel is a stronger conductor of sound, so when the water starts to boil, it will hit the sides, making some noise. However, glass does a much better at keeping the sound contained, making it much quieter.
The quietest kettles on the market are those made from a combination of steel and glass or even porcelain.
7. Are Glass Kettles Easy To Clean?
The biggest advantage of using a glass kettle is that it is much easier to clean than others.
This has a lot to do with the surface friction of glass. Since glass is smooth, you can easily slide dirt and grime off with a simple wipe.
Also, with glass, you don’t have to worry about damaging the drum of the kettle the same way you would with a stainless steel kettle. You also can use much harsher chemicals to give it a deep clean since you don’t have to worry about staining or stripping the glass.
8. Do Kettles Have Motors?
No matter what the material is made from, a kettle does not feature a motor. This helps to keep them quiet.
Instead of a motor, a kettle uses wires to conduct heat at the base of the kettle.
Once the heat gets high enough, it will trigger the internal thermostat in the kettle, forcing the pressure from the steam out through the spout, resulting in a whistle alerting you that the water is ready to use.
This is the same process that is used for a stovetop kettle as well as an electric kettle.
9. Do Electric Kettles Make Noise?
No matter how quiet the electric kettle you purchased is, it will always make some noise. This is unavoidable, but why?
Once the wires start to heat up, they will slowly raise the temperature of the water inside, causing it to bubble. Once it gets hot enough, the slow bubble will turn into a roaring boil, making some noise.
This is because the boiling water will cause some pressure on the inside of the kettle drum, which will certainly cause some noise.
Also, depending on the type of electric kettle you are using, there may be a series of beeps or alarms letting you know when the water has reached the right temperature signaling that it is time to turn the kettle off.
10. Do Kettles Use Magnets To Heat?
While most standard kettles use wires to heat the water, some high-quality kettles use magnets instead. They claim that using magnets can get a more even heat distribution and a faster way to boil the water.
Instead of wires being located at the base of the kettle, a magnetic rod works to conduct heat. The biggest advantage of using magnets in a kettle is that it will get hot much quicker.
Also, since you are reducing energy, kettles that use a magnet are considered much more eco-friendly.
11. Do Electric Kettles Use Induction?
Some electric kettles use induction to heat the water, called “induction kettles.”
An induction kettle uses some form of metal or magnification to introduce heat to the base of the kettle. This is what causes the water the boil.
You commonly see copper, aluminum, or gold as a kettle’s inductors. This is the same type of technology that you will see used in an induction oven or stovetop.
The biggest perk of using an induction kettle is that it gives a much more even heat surface which can help to heat the water faster than other brands.
12. Are Glass Kettles Better Than Plastic?
Glass kettles are way better than plastic kettles.
The main reason for this is that glass is far more durable than plastic. Meaning that it is more protected from cracking or breaking like a plastic kettle may.
Also, glass is far easier to clean. Plastic is porous and can hold germs and bacteria more easily than glass. Lastly, plastic can get very hot to the touch if it isn’t insulated properly.
So, by using a glass kettle instead of a plastic one, you are much less likely to accidentally burn yourself by touching the exterior of the drum.
13. Do Kettles Need a Filter?
Most all kettles have a filter on the inside that you will have to change every three months.
While you can use the kettle without installing the filter, it isn’t recommended to do so.
This is because the filter in the kettle is there to help soften the water you use. This is especially important if you use tap water full of minerals to fill your kettle.
A filter will help reduce the amount of limescale that builds up, improving your kettle’s functionality and making it easier to clean.
14. Do Cordless Kettles Need Batteries?
You may be surprised to learn that a cordless kettle does not necessarily mean it doesn’t have a cord.
This is just a way to classify kettles that don’t have a visible cord. These come in two main styles, and neither of them requires that you use batteries.
The first style has a retractable cord that stays inside the kettle. Once ready to use it, you unwind the cord and retract it when you are done.
The other style is the classic stovetop style. These kettles are meant to be placed directly over a heat source like a stove burner, which will heat the water in the drum.
So, while there are cordless kettles, many still have a cord.
15. Do Kettles Rust?
Rust forms when a metal is exposed to water for a long time. So, yes, a kettle can rust, but the kettle has to be a metal one, not a glass one.
Most commonly, you will be using a stainless steel kettle. As you know, stainless steel is one of the only metals that does not rust.
However, if you are using a kettle that has mixed metals like aluminum, you can expect there to be some amount of rust.
This is why it is important to only invest in a fully stainless steel variety if you are determined to use a metal kettle.