Stovetop Vs Electric Kettle: Which Is Better?

There is no denying that kettles are one of the most common and oldest kitchen appliances. While the shape and purpose of kettles have remained the same, there are two primary types of kettles available in the market today: stovetop kettles and electric kettles. 

There has been a non-ending debate as to which one of these is better. In today’s blog post, we will be exploring the differences between these two kettle types, their pros and cons, and how they work. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is an Electric Kettle?

An electric kettle uses electricity to heat the liquid inside it. It has a heating element which is known as a resistor that produces heat by resisting the flow of electricity. This process converts electricity into heat energy. 

Electric kettles are known for boiling water quickly. Usually, you only have to wait for less than 2 minutes to get boiled water. They also often come with various safety features such as a thermostat which cuts off power when water reaches a particular temperature. There are dozens of brands of electric kettles and you can buy them in a wide price range.

What Is a Stovetop Kettle?

A stovetop kettle is a traditional kettle that makes use of direct heat energy from a stove top to boil the water inside. Before electric kettles became commonplace, these kettles were the only option. There are no electrical components in a stovetop kettle; however, despite this,  they tend to be slightly more expensive compared to electric kettles. This is because more expensive materials are used to make a stovetop kettle.

How Does An Electric Kettle Work?

Every kettle has a metal coil inside the base. When you connect the kettle to electric power, current starts flowing through the coil. It has high resistance which means the electric energy is converted into heat energy and this heat energy is what boils the water inside the kettle. 

Most electrical kettles these days are equipped with an automatic shut-off feature which cuts off the power once the water starts boiling. These kettles typically also have other inbuilt safety features.

How Does a Stovetop Kettle Work?

A stovetop kettle is a traditional kettle that is put directly on the stovetop that uses gas or electricity for heat. It does not have any electrical components or other safety features. Once the water begins to boil and steam generation starts, it has a lid that starts whistling.

Electric Kettle Pros and Cons

Just like all kitchen appliances, electric kettles have their own advantages & limitations. Ever since the invention of electric kettles, they have replaced stovetop kettles in many households across the globe.

One of the biggest advantages of electric kettles is that they are easier to use, especially the new cordless models. You get plenty of options in terms of temperature control, though not all the models of electric kettles offer temperature control.

Another advantage of electric kettles is that they are much faster as compared to the stovetop version. In most cases, you can get boiled water in less than 2 minutes.

Additionally, you can use an electric kettle almost anywhere as long as an electric power source is available. This is why many people prefer taking an electric kettle with them while travelling.

In terms of energy efficiency, electric kettles score over a stovetop kettle. They also come with certain inbuilt safety features such as automatic shut-off once the water reaches a certain temperature.

As far as the limitations are concerned, one of the biggest limitations of electric kettles is that they are not easy to clean as there are electrical components at the base of the kettle. Another obvious limitation of an electric kettle is that you cannot use it if there is no electrical power available.

Stovetop Kettle Pros and Cons

Stovetop kettles also have certain advantages which is why these kettles continue to be widely used.

One of the advantages of a stovetop kettle is that it produces a rolling boil which means the water inside can be heated and kept at a particular temperature. This feature becomes especially useful when one has to serve up tea or coffee all day long.

Moreover, stovetop kettles do not have any electrical components. This allows them to last much longer as compared to an electric kettle. They are also much easier to clean as there are no electric components inside.

There are certain limitations of stovetop kettles. For example, they take longer to heat water as compared to an electric kettle. There is also no temperature control which means you can’t really use them for making particular recipes with tea or coffee. Lastly, there are no safety features such as an automatic shut-off.

Final Thoughts: Which One Is Better?

Overall, both electric and stovetop kettles have their own advantages and disadvantages. Electric kettles have gained a lot of popularity as these kettles are affordable, convenient and easier to use. Electric kettles also take less time to heat water as compared to stovetop kettles and tend to be cheaper to run. 

If you want to save time, an electric kettle is an obvious choice as they tend to boil water in no time. Ultimately, the choice depends on the application and your goals.

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