Shopping for a New Hot-Water Kettle

Today's hot-water kettles come in all shapes and sizes, with an increasing array of colors and curves. But the changes aren't all cosmetic – boiling times are being slashed and a range of features is tackling the problem of limescale.

The hot-water kettle is the first thing you turn to in times of crisis and the last thing you pack when you move house. It's the first thing to be switched on in the morning and when you come home from work, and the last thing before you go to bed.

Putting the kettle on is a ritual of Thai life and the hot-water kettle must be the most hard-working electrical appliance in the house – on average we switch it on eight times a day. It's probably safe to say it's the appliance we'd find it hardest to live without.

The hot-water kettle has been around for centuries and the electric model for decades, but in the past five to seven years progress has been made in design – for example, swivel bases – and technology, with advances such as concealed elements.

And while chrome continues to be one of the hottest properties there's also a strong trend for brightly colored hot-water kettles and more subdued blues and greens.

Price, color and style are likely to be the deciding factors when you're shopping for a new hot-water kettle.

But there are other features worth looking out for. Elements that don't fur up can save time and prolong the life of the hot-water kettle. Quicker boiling times are another plus. The average hot-water kettle takes just over three minutes to boil one liter of water from cold, but some models can shave 30 seconds or more off that time, which is important it you're concerned about energy efficiency – or saving time in the morning!

Around three-quarters of hot-water kettles purchased are jug models. By virtue of their shape, jug hot-water kettles have always been able to boil a small amount of water more quickly than the wider-based traditional kettle.

But if you prefer the classic style, the good news is that you can now buy traditional hot-water kettles with concealed elements, making it safe to boil as little as one mugful.