Why Does a Tea Kettle Sing?

Tea kettles are used to boil water, and they're either stainless steel or plastic. Electric kettles are stand-alone appliances that are made of plastic, which prevents shock in the case of electrical discharge. Tea kettles come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but they all have a handle and a spout. In addition, some have a whistle, which is a notification that the water has reached its boiling point.

History

Tea kettles were created in the Kamakura Period, 1185 to 1333 A.D. The first tea kettles were created to boil water not only for tea, but for cooking and bathing as well. The first kettles were made from stone. In the mid 17th century, tea kettles became rounder and taller. Tea kettles continued to change in shape--oval- and pear-shaped. Eventually, the whistle was introduced, but not all tea kettles have them. The whistle was invented to alert you when the water has reached its boiling point.

Stovetop Tea Kettles

There are two types of tea kettles--stovetop and electric. Most electric kettles do not have a whistle. The first type of tea kettle was the stovetop. These kettles are used by pouring water into them and placing them on the stove. The temperature the stove is set on determines if the kettle will warm or boil the water inside. Most stovetop tea kettles include a whistle--singing when the water reaches its boiling point. The whistle is located at the top of the spout. Separate whistles can be purchased and placed on kettles that do not have one, although these whistles can be hard to find.

Process

The whistle on a tea kettle sings when the water inside has reached boiling point. The steam coming from the boiling water flows through the spout. It blows across a special slot at the top of the spot--the whistle. When the water is hot enough, it will produce enough steam to cause the steam to vibrate intensely in the slot. The air results in pressure that radiates out of the whistle, creating a high pitched sound.

Reasoning

Whistles prevent you from being burned. With stovetop kettles, you would have to physically feel the water to tell how hot is it, or open the lid and look to see if it boiling. This could cause boiling water to splash onto your face--burning you. You could also be burned by feeling the water. Whistles are also convenient--you can leave the water cooking and go on about your business elsewhere. The whistle will alert you when the water is ready. Some electric tea kettles do not have a whistle. Instead, they have a light or a buzzer that goes off when the water has reached the temperature of your desire. This is temperature is set just after you pour in the water.

Purchasing

Tea kettles with whistles can be purchased at some appliance stores. They can also be purchased online--cookware.com, nextag.com, maywork.com and katerno.com. Many old fashioned stovetop tea kettles can be found at second hand shops, flea markets and online auction sites, such as eBay.com. As of August 2009, the price of a stovetop tea kettle varied from $20 to $60. Antiques can be more expensive.

References

• Tea Kettles
• How Does a Steam Whistle Work?
• About Tea Kettles