Information About Tea Kettles
Tea kettles, also called kettles, teakettles and water kettles, are common kitchen appliances that are used to boil water for the preparation of tea and other hot beverages. Kettles are pitcher-shaped and come equipped with a spout, lid and handle that are designed to provide optimal pouring ease, heating efficiency and handling comfort.
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History
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Common kettles date back to antiquity. Ancient Mesopotamians used kettle-shaped utensils to cook food. The first electric kettle was invented in 1891 by the Carpenter Electric Company of Chicago, but its design was clunky at first. It wasn't until the 1920s that the idea was refined enough to catch on.
Types
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Tea kettles come in a variety of sizes, designs and colors, many with whistles to alert the user when the water is boiling. The two main types of kettles are electric and stove-top.
Electric kettles can be non-cordless and cordless. They are typically made of steel or durable plastic. Most electric kettles are designed to power off automatically once the water begins to boil. This prevents steam from damaging the delicate heating element within the kettle.
Stove-top tea kettles are made of ceramic, glass or metal and used directly over a hob or on a stove to heat water.
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Efficiency
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The most efficient stove-top heating kettles are those made of copper. The metal is a good conductor of heat, and copper-based tea kettles provide maximum heating efficiency in the least amount of time. Anodized aluminum stove-top kettles rank second after copper kettles in terms of heating speed. Stainless steel kettles, although not suitable for quick-boiling, are convenient to clean and use. Cast-iron kettles take considerable time but they retain heat best, keeping water hot for longer.
Precautions and Care
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Tea kettles are designed only for the purpose of heating water. The addition of tea leaves, or other substances, causes the inner surface of the kettle to deteriorate with time.
Lime scale deposits are common in poorly maintained kettles. They form a film of white precipitates on the kettle's inner walls, impairing heat transfer and eventually damaging the heating element in electric kettles. Tea kettles should be thoroughly scrubbed with a scouring pad after each use to prevent the formation of lime scale. Descaling fluid and tablets are also effective in removing lime scale.
Energy Conservation
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Tea kettles, whether electric or stove-top, should be filled with only the required amount of water. Heating excessive water uses up more energy and adds to gas or electricity bills.
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References
- Photo Credit kettle and fruit image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
