Q: I have been searching for a plastic-free electric kettle. There are plenty of glass and metal ones, but most have plastic spouts or silicone inside that come in contact with the water. Even if it's BPA-free, I'd like to avoid plastic so any not-yet-discovered toxins are not leaching into my tea and coffee.
Sent by Juliana
Editor: Readers, do you have a plastic-free electric kettle you can recommend?
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Related: Electric Kettles: Should You Buy One?
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I have this one and I absolutely love it. http://www.cuisinart.com/products/tea_kettles/cpk-17.html
Cuisinart has one. Here's the link: http://www.cuisinart.com/ipad/products/tea_kettles/dk-17
I have an older version of this where the base isn't covered in plastic; this one has some sort of stainless steel wrapping around it. But if it's as good as the one I have, this is the one to get. I've had mine for at least 7 years and it's still pouring a great cup of tea or brewing the water for my French Press coffee pot.
Highly recommended.
I have this Hamilton Beach Kettle and I love it. There is no plastic that comes into contact with the boiling water. This however means there is no plastic pane to view water levels, but I never find that a problem.
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40898-Cool-Touch-Cordless/dp/B000ES7I8A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1360014162&sr=8-2&keywords=hamilton+beach+electric+kettle
Yep, we've done the research for you. My boyfriend and I called around and Cuisinart makes one where only the measuring thingie touches the water. And it works great.
http://www.hometone.com/entry/perfectemp-cordless-electric-kettle-is-much-more-than-your-regular-tea-pots/
Having said that, there are also glass ones that look like they have zero plastic. And I prefer glass over stainless steel, so we might even buy another one.
You'll love your new kettle, they are a blast. Enjoy!
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/bella-cucina-13622-electric-kettle-1.2l?ID=630863&PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results
This is one I have. There is a rubber gasket around the lid, but it is removeable and while it may allow some steam out, I don't think it would be a problem if you removed it and then it would be completely free of plastic or rubber.
Priyasaurs' link to the Cuisinart is better than mine.
***Oh Rats, can I say one more thing? If you buy a metal one, do not let water sit in it. Even though I knew better I allowed water to sit in it and now we have a weird yellow ring inside the kettle, and I don't know what it is and it's hard to clean. This is why I like glass better.
I highly recommend the Aroma electric kettle. Budget-friendly and no plastic in contact with the water:
http://www.amazon.com/Aroma-AWK-115S-X-Press-2-Liter-Cordless/dp/B000KDVTJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360015251&sr=8-1&keywords=aroma+electric+kettle
I agree with amisaacs. I did a lot of research on this and went for the Hamilton Beach. There is a little bit of plastic that holds the filter at the top but it's attached to the list, so if you have the lid open (push of a button) while pouring, no water touches it! No water viewing window means no plastic!
(attached to the lid, not list)
I got this one at Target and love it!
http://www.target.com/p/sunpentown-cordless-electric-kettle-red-1-7l/-/A-13897879#?lnk=sc_qi_detailbutton
I completely understand & agree! I use Delonghi kettles (http://www.delonghi.com/uk_en/family/kettles/ http://www.delonghi.com/us_en/family/breakfast-kmix/, though I have serious kettle-envy over this one http://www.giftswithstyle.co.uk/products/Bugatti-Red-Vera-Kettle.html?setCurrencyId=2&gclid=CIm4i7-AnrUCFUQw4AodDjEATg#fo_c=91&fo_k=7da0c207b628b3d008dc748ecf99c6a4&fo_s=gplaus
I've started searching for a plastic free kettle/hotpot too! Right now, I use a Zojirushi Hotpot(Most all models are plastic free!) but they are so expensive that I'm not sure if I want to spring for a second one for my office. I can't help but notice that half of the suggestions in the comments are not plastic free(a plastic indicator window means it's not plastic free..) proving that it is difficult to find a plastic free product for an economical price. Good luck on your search.
I have the same one @priyasaurus mentions. I loooove it.
I've had a Russel Hobbs kettle for years and I love it. All stainless steel except for the handle and the base where the heating unit is. Love it. Have a second one in my other house.
I have two comments to add to this discussion...
The first, and most important, at least for me, is how easy is the kettle to clean? The design of most of the electric kettles I have looked at seem to have left this part of the design as an after thought...as a man, its kinda hard in the case of most to comfortably get my hand in them give them a proper cleaning...
I personally have a GE kettle ( http://www.gehousewares.com/Browse_Product.aspx?content_id=64 ) that I picked up on clearance many years ago for about 8 dollars and change...the only plastic that comes into contact with the water is the measuring display...however since I only use it heat water to take the chill off of cold cups, and to preheat my travel mug, I am not really that concerned with that aspect...
I do love the fact that it is "cordless" in that it sits on a base, and also has "filter" in the metal spout...
If you don't mind doing a little searching, the bottom half of a sunbeam coffeemaster makes a pretty solid electric kettle, if you don't want something like plastic contacting the water.
I've got a C30 (C30B I think) that I've been meaning to get around to replacing the seal on in order to use for actual coffee purposes, but in the mean time I use the bottom half for a kettle. The pour-through lid is made of bakelite and fits on either half. However, in your particular circumstance you'd no doubt want to remove it before pouring, it pops right off and does not contact the water while it heats.
Now I can't say for sure if these are galvanized, chromed, or made of stainless steel, so that may bear consideration. For what it's worth, I haven't noticed anything odd, taste-wise at least, from using it, and I've been pretty happy. I managed to snag it fairly cheaply, under 25 bucks, but I've had it a few years now so i can't recall the exact amount.
Some models, probably the C50 I think? -- Used a different method to hold the bits of the assembled coffee pot together, and might be less suitable for your purpose.
As an added bonus if it matters at all, the coffeemaster is reputed to make a pretty good pot of coffee.
Love the cuisnart one. We have had one for a year and it works great. I think Breville has a couple nices ones also, but they are a bit more money.
amisaacs has posted the best one, and the one I use myself. After tons of research it was the only kettle I found that had a seamless interior with absolutely no plastic parts touching the water. Yes, the lid has plastic, but as said, you can avoid that (I suppose the condensation that collects there and drips back down could be a thing, but it seems negligible compared to the usual choices).
I've used glass kettles (the white Aroma one) that seemed fine but they still had plastic lids and usually a silicone seal around the base that some reviewers said caused bad tastes and smells.
Those plastic panes leak anyway. I had a very expensive 13 month old Krups kettle fail this way. It was great to come home to an electrical appliance sitting in a puddle of water, real safe!
We have this one and love it:
http://www.amazon.com/Toastess-TGK486-Cordless-Glass-Kettle/dp/B003Y1KPFW/
The only plastic the water touches is the spout filter, and if you open the lid to pour it doesn't touch any. The price isn't outrageous either, which is nice.
I have the Bonavita with a gooseneck spout - no plastic touches the water, and it's great for pourover coffee (my primary use for it).
Late coming to this....Breville is the only one that has worked out for my family and the only plastic that I can see is what frames the filter...easily removed.
Cuisinart CPK-17 is NOT plastic free!
I have it, I know.
1st. there is a plastic frame inside the kettle, into which the plastic/metal filter mesh is inserted.
2nd, the whole outside visible water gauge window is made out of plastic.
3rd, I had one and the thermometer/water detector broke down after 1 year and 3 months. The kettle is otherwise fine, but the electronics now refuse to engage the heating, because it thinks there's no water (Yes there is). The kettle was NEVER used with too little water in it. If it had a basic mechanical on/off switch, with no electronic override, this problem would not happen.
Now I have a very expensive, useless (although technically functional) kettle. With plastic in it.
Also, many plastic manufacturers still use dangerous phthalates and have switched over from bisphenol-A (dangerous, forbidden) to equally dangerous bisphenol-S (not forbidden).
So my suggestion is to vote with your wallet and buy something else.