I Tested 11 Stovetop Kettles and Found 4 That Boiled Quickly and Efficiently

If you’re of Asian descent, you know that hot water is the beverage of choice when the weather gets cooler. Americans have coffee and cocoa, the British and Australians have tea, but Asian grandmas opt for plain hot water. And despite AARP thinking I have entered a certain age bracket (someone tell them to please stop sending me membership letters), once the weather drops below 60 degrees, I start channeling my internal Asian grandmother and drink mug after mug of hot water.

I own an electric gooseneck kettle, but it’s more suitable for preparing pour-over coffee with its precision slow-pour spout. When I want to drink hot water or tea, I put on a stovetop kettle with a larger capacity. But not all stovetop kettles are the same. Some are hard to fill, and others have handles that get super hot. I tested 11 different stovetop kettles to find the best one for making hot water and beverages.

The Winners, at a Glance 

The Best Stovetop Kettle

Le Creuset Classic Whistling Kettle

$125 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $125 at Sur La Table

The Le Creuset kettle has a wide base that quickly heats water. It also has a foldable handle, which makes filling and cleaning the kettle easy.

Another Great Stovetop Kettle

Chantal Vintage Series Tea Kettle

$95 at Amazon

This kettle features a tall handle that makes it easy to fill. The phenolic plastic handle is comfortable to hold and remains relatively cool while in use.  It's reasonably priced, too.

The Best Stovetop Gooseneck Kettle

Fellow Stagg Pour-Over Kettle

$90 at Amazon $90 at Sur La Table View on Fellowproducts.com

This is an excellent gooseneck kettle that pours with precision. The built-in thermometer on the lid lets you nail your pour-over water temperature. 

Another Good Stovetop Gooseneck Kettle

MiiR New Standard Pour-Over Kettle

$70 at Amazon

Like the Fellow, this gooseneck kettle has a large, easy-to-read thermometer on top. It makes it easy to heat water to the proper temperature for your tea or coffee.

The Tests

• Boiling Water Test: For typical stovetop kettles, I boiled 1.5 quarts of room temperature (66°F) water on medium-high heat. I recorded how long it took for the water to come to a rapid boil. For gooseneck kettles with smaller capacities, I did the same test using one quart of water.
• Full Kettle Pouring Test: After bringing the water to a boil, I poured eight ounces into a mug. I noted how hot the kettle handle was, how comfortable it was to hold, and how easy it was to control the water flow. I poured a second glass of water with a mug placed on a Timemore coffee scale, which measures water flow rate, to see the slowest amount of pouring speed I could go down to without dribbling water.
• Boiling Water Test 2: I repeated the boiling water test but filled the stovetop kettles with 0.75 quarts of water and gooseneck kettles with half a quart of water.
• Half-Filled Kettle Pouring Test: I poured eight ounces of hot water into a mug to see how easy and comfortable it was to pour water from the kettle.
• Pour-over Coffee Test (Gooseneck Kettles Only): For the three stovetop gooseneck kettles that I tested, I prepared a pour-over cup of coffee using a Hario V60 pour-over dripper to see how precise and comfortable it was to use.
• Taste Test: After several rounds of boiling and testing, I poured an eight-ounce glass of hot water into a ceramic mug and let it cool down to 130°F. I then tasted the water to see if there were any metallic or off-flavor notes to it.
• Cleaning Test: After all my tests, I thoroughly cleaned each kettle, taking note of how easy it was to do so, as well as how long it took for the kettle and lid to air dry.

What We Learned

Wider Bases Boiled Faster

The stovetop kettles had varied capacities, but across the board, the ones with wider bases heated up water faster. This is because the wide base had direct contact with the heat of the stovetop, so the water inside had more direct contact with the heat. Taller and narrower stovetop kettles took longer to boil water. This is because heat had to travel from the bottom to the top of the water, which is a poor conductor. Overall, a wider bottom means shallower water and faster boiling.

All the Kettle Handles Got Warm

All the stovetop kettle handles got warm, regardless of the material or build. Some metal handles, like the All-Clad stovetop kettle, got so hot that I had to use a kitchen towel to hold them while pouring. Other stovetop kettles, like the Caraway and the Susteas, come with an oven mitt for this very reason. 

The best stovetop kettles had handles designed to stay cool. My favorite kettles, like the Le Creuset and the Chantal Vintage Series Kettle, had handles made of resin or plastic. Sure, they got warm, but they were still cool enough to hold while pouring. 

Taller, Movable, and Open-Ended Handles Were More Convenient

Tall handles and handles that are only attached at one end of the body, like on the SMEG kettle, made it easier to open the lid of the kettle to fill it. These offset or tall handles also made it easier to clean the inside. Lower handles, like on the Caraway kettle, created a cramped space, making it challenging to remove their snug lids.

Taller handles also tended to be cooler, since they’re further away from the body of the kettle. If the handle swiveled, like on the Le Creuset kettle or Mackenzie-Childs kettle, it also made storage easier.

The Interior Shape Was Important

Though you rarely see the inside of the kettle, how it’s built makes a difference when it comes to cleaning. Though most folks don’t bother to wash their kettle, over time, water scale can build up. Scouring the inside on a semi-regular basis prevents this. Some kettles, like the SMEG or the All-Clad, have folds or crevices on the bottom edges. This made cleaning the inside more challenging. The Le Creuset and Chantal Vintage Series kettles all had seamless, smooth interiors, which made it easier to give them a scrub.

Pay Attention to the Fill Lines

Water kettles have a maximum and minimum capacity. It’s not recommended to use less than the minimum amount of water, or you run the risk of warping or damaging the kettle. 

On the flip side, if you go over the maximum capacity, you often won’t hear the kettle whistle when the water is boiling. And for kettles that don’t have the whistling lid, like the Mackenzie-Childs Enamel Tea Kettle or the gooseneck kettles, if you overfill the kettle beyond the maximum capacity, water can boil over, shooting out the spout of the tea kettle, something that is both startling and dangerous.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Stovetop Kettle

Look for a kettle with a wide base, which boils water faster. Pick one that has a handle made of heat-resistant material, like resin, plastic, or wood, or that’s coated in silicone. Avoid kettles with handles that are only made of metal. Select a kettle that has a handle that’s out of the way of the lid so it’s easy to fill. Finally, look for a kettle with a smooth interior for easier cleaning.

Our Favorite Stovetop Kettle

The Best Stovetop Kettle

Le Creuset Classic Whistling Kettle

$125 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $125 at Sur La Table

What we liked: The Le Creuset Classic Whistling Kettle is a beautiful enameled carbon steel option. The wide base ensured that water heated up quickly, much faster than other kettles we tested. The folding handle made it easy to store, as well as easy to fill and clean. The smooth interior of the kettle was easy to clean. Pouring water was smooth and neat, with no dribbling, even with slower pours. The water tasted neutral and clean, without any metallic or off-flavors.

What we didn’t like: The resin handle did get hot, especially during longer heat times (like when boiling a full kettle of water), but it was still cool enough to hold. Letting the kettle cool down for a minute or two after removing it from the stovetop made it quite comfortable to hold. The lid had a tight fit, which made removing it a little difficult at times. 

Key Specs 

• Materials: Carbon steel, porcelain enamel, phenolic resin handle
• Stated Capacity: 1.7 quarts
• Weight (when empty): 3 pounds
• Diameter of the kettle's opening: 4.25 inches
• Dimensions: 10.5 x 8 x 10 inches
• Compatible cooktops: Gas, electric, induction
• Dishwasher-safe: No

Another Great Stovetop Kettle

Chantal Vintage Series Tea Kettle

$95 at Amazon

What we liked: This vintage-looking kettle is made of carbon steel with enamel on the outside and interior of the kettle, making it gas, electric and induction-compatible. The handle of the tea kettle is made of phenolic plastic, which is heat-resistant and comfortable to hold. Though the handle did get a little hot when heating on my stovetop, it cooled quickly, allowing me to pick it up with my bare hands after letting it cool for only a minute or two. 

The taller handle gives enough clearance for the lid to be removed without any issues, making cleaning easy as well. The interior of the kettle is also smooth, without any crevices, making it simple to wash. Water boiled in the kettle was neutral, without any off-flavor notes.

What we didn’t like: The bottom of this kettle isn’t quite as wide as the Le Creuset, which meant water took about 45 seconds longer to boil. The lid is also very tight, making it challenging to pull off, though it may loosen over time and use.

Key Specs 

• Materials: Carbon steel, enamel, 18/8 stainless steel accents, phenolic plastic
• Stated Capacity: 1.7 quarts
• Weight (when empty): 2 pounds 7 ounces
• Diameter of the kettle's opening: 4 inches
• Dimensions: 9.75 x 7.5 x 9.5 inches
• Compatible cooktops: Gas, electric, induction
• Dishwasher-safe: No

The Best Stovetop Gooseneck Kettle

Fellow Stagg Pour-Over Kettle

$90 at Amazon $90 at Sur La Table View on Fellowproducts.com

What we liked: The Fellow gooseneck kettle is the stovetop version of Serious Eats’ favorite electric gooseneck kettle. Designed for a more precise, slow pour, which is ideal for pour-over coffee, the Fellow Stagg poured similarly to its electric sibling. The top has a built-in thermometer that lets you know exactly the temperature of the water, which is useful for making coffee and tea, as preparation for each often requires different temperatures.

The handle did get a little warm on the stove after a long heating, but letting the kettle sit for a minute or two cooled it enough to touch and use. The handle also has a thumb rest that acts as a counterweight when pouring, making it easy to pour precisely regardless of how full the kettle is. 

What we didn’t like: The top of the kettle is fairly narrow, making it difficult for anyone but those with the smallest hands to reach in to clean it. This meant you needed a dish wand or bottle cleaner to properly get inside to wash it.

Key Specs 

• Materials: 18/8 stainless steel
• Stated Capacity: 1 quart
• Weight (when empty): 1 pound 2 ounces
• Diameter of the kettle's opening: 2.875 inches
• Dimensions: 10.5 x 5.25 x 6.5 inches
• Compatible cooktops: Gas, electric
• Dishwasher-safe: No

Another Good Stovetop Gooseneck Kettle

MiiR New Standard Pour-Over Kettle

$70 at Amazon

What we liked: Like a chunkier version of the Fellow Stagg, the MiiR gooseneck kettle is designed for precision pouring, which is ideal for pour-over coffee. The wider base boiled water quickly, and the large lid has a thermometer that’s super easy to read. The wide opening makes it easy to fit a hand inside to clean, too. 

What we didn’t like: Unlike the Fellow Stagg, the MiiR handle doesn’t have a counterbalanced thumb rest, and the wider body of the kettle makes it feel a little unbalanced when pouring. Though it looks like the kettle can hold more water than the Fellow Stagg, the maximum fill line is actually halfway up the kettle.. And if you overfill the kettle, which is easy to do, water will boil over and shoot up out of the gooseneck spout.

Key Specs 

• Materials: 18/8 stainless steel 
• Stated Capacity: 1 liter
• Weight (when empty): 1 pound, 2 ounces
• Diameter of the kettle's opening: 3.4 inches
• Dimensions: 12 x 5.5 x 6 inches
• Compatible cooktops: Gas, electric
• Dishwasher-safe: No

The Competition

• All-Clad Stainless Steel Tea Kettle: This beautiful, shiny All-Clad tea kettle matches the mirror finish of the brand’s stainless pots and pans. But the downside to the beauty of an all stainless-steel kettle is that the metal handle and spout whistle trigger got extremely hot.
• KitchenAid Stovetop Kettle: This stovetop kettle performed well. I had a comfortable handle that stayed cool. Unfortunately, it looks like it is discontinued.
• Caraway Whistling Tea Kettle: This modern tea kettle looked nice on the stovetop, but the short handle and tight lid made it challenging to open and clean. The metal handle also got hot when heated. Caraway includes an oven mitt for this reason, but using an oven mitt to pour water isn’t ideal and a bit cumbersome for everyday use.
• Susteas Stove Top Whistling Kettle: This budget-friendly kettle was made of thin metal and made an odd screeching noise when heated up, as if the metal was being stressed by the heat. The handle, which is partly made of metal, got hot on the stovetop. The boiled water from this kettle had a faint metallic taste, even after multiple uses and washes. 
• Hario Buono Gooseneck Kettle: This gooseneck kettle did fine during testing, coming to a boil about the same time as the Fellow Stagg. But the lack of a thermometer on this kettle made it hard to home in on the ideal water temperature for pour-over. 
• Mackenzie-Childs Enamel Tea Kettle: This statement piece looked like it came from the set of an Alice in Wonderland theater production. The folding handle stayed cool while heating, but it’s an old-school style kettle, without a whistling lid, so I had to watch the kettle for steam to know it had come to a boil. Because of the long spout and large body, pouring from the kettle felt awkward and slightly off-balance. And it costs twice as much as my favorite kettles without any performance upgrades.
• SMEG Retro Stovetop Whistling Kettle: This tall, retro-looking kettle had a soft, non-slip handle that didn’t get too hot as long as it was held away from the metal part of the handle. It felt a bit unbalanced when I poured from a full kettle and the interior had crevices around the edges making it hard to clean. The cost of the kettle was on the higher end, without any significant performance benefits. 
• Mr. Coffee Flintshire Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle: This kettle was the cheapest and the lightest of the bunch. Speed-wise, it came in second to last in the 1.5-quart boil test, but jumped up to fifth place when heating the 0.75 quarts. It glugged a bit when pouring at half capacity, but the water did come out in a nice spiral. However, there were stains and discoloration after just four boils, both of which I couldn't scrub away.
• KitchenAid 2-Quart Kettle: Everything feels cramped on this model. The handle is too close to the lid, so when you pry the lid off you end up smacking your hand. You can’t take the lid off when the whistle is open because of the kettle’s spout lever. The inside and opening of the kettle are both on the small side, which makes it difficult to get your hand in and clean inside. Perhaps the worst part of the design, though, is that the handle is covered on top and bottom with two silicone pads. And while they don't get hot, the metal that is exposed on either side does.

FAQs

Should I buy a stovetop kettle or an electric kettle?

If you drink a lot of hot water or hot beverages like coffee and tea, getting a kettle is a better option than just boiling water in a pot. It’s easier to pour hot water safely into a mug without potentially splashing and burning yourself. Electric kettles are a great option if you drink hot beverages frequently, as you can just hit a button and walk away. The kettle will automatically heat the water and keep it hot at the temperature of your choice. The downside is that electric kettles take up space on your countertop. Stovetop kettles are a great option that lets you make hot water whenever you want and also store the kettle away when you don’t need it.

How do you clean a stovetop kettle?

Most stovetop kettles come with instruction manuals that detail how to clean them. But if you don’t have the manual, the safest way to clean your kettle is to use a non-abrasive sponge and hot soapy water to wash it thoroughly and then let it air dry or dry it with a soft, clean kitchen towel. Never use steel wool or an abrasive cleaner on your kettle. To remove mineral deposits and water scale, KitchenAid recommends filling the kettle with equal parts water and white vinegar and bringing it to a boil, reducing the heat and letting it simmer for 10 minutes. Then pour out the solution and thoroughly rinse it, repeating if necessary. You can also opt for a commercial descaler solution, which is designed to remove mineral deposits.

Which kettles work with induction stovetops?

Not all kettles work with induction stovetops. Our favorite kettles by Le Creuset and Chantal are induction compatible, while our other favorite kettles are not. Check with the manufacturer of your stovetop kettle to see if it is induction compatible.

Why We’re the Experts

• Irvin Lin is a cookbook author, recipe developer, food writer, photographer, and ceramicist. He wrote the cookbook Marbled, Swirled, and Layered, which was picked by the New York Times as one of the best baking cookbooks of 2016. 
• He's also an IACP-award-winning photographer and is currently on the James Beard Book Awards Subcommittee. Irvin runs a blog called Eat the Love, where he’s developed, photographed, and written recipes since 2010. 
• He’s product tested and reviewed hundreds of kitchen items including, stand mixers and digital thermometers.
• For this review, Irvin tested 11 different stovetop kettles, boiling gallons of water. He is very well hydrated.
• We first reviewed stovetop kettles years ago and left four previously tested kettles in the Competition section.