Need to replace my old electric kettle. I’ve read many reviews on productreview.com and Choice, it seems they’re all crap … leaking, lid broke, water taste foul …
I just need a basic electric kettle, stainless steel. No need variable temperature, and noise is not a factor. My budget is around $50.
Thank you for your advice in advance.
I looked at many kettles two years ago - over two days. We ended up buying a Russell Hobbs that I don't think is available any more. It's been just ok, but is showing corrosion where it meets the plastic base.
Basically, they're ALL junk now. And price has nothing to do with it. Some of the most expensive ones were just as poorly constructed.
For a start, skip the white Sunbeams. Every white plastic Sunbeam we've ever owned has leaked in a couple of years. We were sick of it! For the same reason, I skipped every other brand with the same type of side wall viewer. We chose one that had a metal tube instead. You'll know what I mean if you look inside the white plastic kettles, then compare to another with a metal tube.
The stainless is very thin. I tested most of them by pressing my finger and it was far too easy to dent them.
Another negative is most stainless kettles only LOOK like they're stainless. They are nearly all plastic inside a stainless sleeve. You'll pay more for the stainless of course - but you're still getting a plastic kettle!
Skip the ones with little bubble press buttons and timers. Those things will crack, "stay pressed on", or the electronics will die soon enough.
What does that leave? Not much I can tell you. Like I said we bought a Russell Hobbs that is stainless inside and has a metal tube for water height instead of the common side wall viewer with a guaranteed-to-leak silicon gasket. We had to go through several boxes to find one that had a well-attached spout (the weld was very poor) and no dents.
We nearly bought what I think was a Sunbeam brand - glass jug-type kettle. But the plastic hinge was very low quality rubbish. Even the new ones in the box didn't operate properly, getting jammed as you opened and closed the spout. It was overly expensive though, and the glass was very thin.
Someone else mentioned the stove-top whistling type. We bought one of those years ago from BigW. It was great - apart from the fact the plastic around the spout area wasn't up to dealing with hot water. It melted over time and couldn't whistle any more. Obviously they don't turn off automatically which can be a pain.
Sunbeam did have a cheap $19 or so one with no side wall water viewer. That was our other choice at the time. Maybe that's still available.
I know - no help. I really don't know what we'd buy today. I hate doing it, but when in doubt, buy the cheapest. WHEN it breaks it won't hurt as much to replace.
Thanks realfamilyman, I didn't know stainless steel kettles have plastic inside! All stainless steel kettles we see on the internet look pretty and shiny …
I think I'll head to Tarjay or Harvey Norman and have a closer look. I'll probably end up buying a cheapie and replace that in a couple of years time.
Who would have thought buying a simple kettle can be this difficult!
Not all - but several we saw did.
BTW: I was just browsing another site… Is this coincidence, or what?
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/thecheckout/futube/default.htm?PTIZ…
Yeah, I agree with that guy in the video. My current kettle is a Mistral plastic kettle. It is 10+ years old, technically it’s still working perfectly fine, it boils the water, doesn’t leak, on-switch still makes a good/solid click sound, we use it at least 5 times a day, tea/coffee and baby formula bottles…. The only problem with this kettle is its plastic has turned yellow/light brown… which is fair enough, given its age.
These days, we can buy an all-in-one oven that can cook, steam, grill, boil, bake, defrost, roast, self-clean….. but we can’t buy a reliable appliance that all it’s required is to boil water!
My search continues…
Hello NancyCat;i don't use electric kettles any more as i prefer to boil my water on the stove top;because i like the whistling kettles;much more relaxing way to make a coffie
Thanks Norman318, I agree stove top kettles are good, very simple, not so many joints and breaking parts. However, we are in a very busy / chaotic household, with 3 young kids … I just want to switch on the kettle and walk away. The last thing I need is a screaming kettle. Relaxing way to make coffee? I wish!
Buy from costco and return it when it breaks?
I bought a Kambrook Aquarius cordless 1.7L for $15 on the weekend, from the breville shop on Smith St, in Fitzroy, VIC.
It's really quiet and we are v happy with it.
I did a google of it AFTER I bought it, and I think I will be keeping that receipt in a easy to
find place.
http://www.productreview.com.au/p/kambrook-kak36-aquarius.ht…
But going into week 2, we're pretty happy with it (though not so about it
being on even when there is no water in it).
Home & Kitchen › Kitchen & Dining › Small Appliances › Coffee, Tea & Espresso Appliances › Electric Kettles
20$~30$ http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=289753
Amazon = USA
USA = 120 volt mains, not 240 volt (Australia)
coles have inexpensive stainless steel kettles (though can't comment whether they have an inner plastic sleeve)
We got one from Target on special for $7 (stainless) a few months back… works great and no nasty taste.
Reg price is $25 and is still good value at that price imo.
http://shop.target.com.au/p/target-essentials-kettle-teskss2…
We've had a run of bad kettles and toasters….. Finally got decent ones of both. The kettle is a little out of the $ range you were looking for, but I reckon it's worth it as we've easily spent that much on rubbish in the past. 2000 watts so boils quickly, no horrible plastic taste, can talk to someone whilst it boils, and it looks pretty cool.
Got it from the good guys a few weeks ago, but found it cheaper (if not in stock) just then here:
http://www.billyguyatts.com.au/breville-the-crystal-cleartm-…
Note that they have two models - the one we got is the more expensive one with a steel base. The cheaper one has a plastic base, is smaller, and I suspect again it's worth paying a little more for the steel one.
best/value is breville moda quiet kettle :)
http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/103707#comment-1397547
$65 - https://flingshot.com.au/index.php/catalog/product/view/id/7…
$70 - http://shop.target.com.au/p/breville-quiet-boil-kettle-bke49…