The truth is, had Anjali not already taken the immersion blender and Emma the kitchen scale, I would been writing about one of those beloved and well-used appliances right now. But the more I think about it, the appliance I next turned to actually gets more use than anything else in my kitchen. It's the first thing I touch in the morning and, since I work from home, it gets regular use throughout the day. Praise be for my Chef's Choice Electric Kettle!
For the uninitiated, an electric kettle is an electric alternative to a water kettle that normally heats up on the stove. It is not the same as that dorm room fixture, the Hot Pot, which can also heat up soup, as an electric kettle is for heating up water only. This might sound somewhat uni-tasking, but I also use it for when I need some hot water fast while cooking. People in the UK and other countries will understand, as the electric kettle is a regular kitchen fixture around the world.
Most electric kettles these days have a saucer shape base that plugs into the wall socket. The actual kettle fits on the base, the advantage being that you can take it anywhere without being limited by the electric cord. This is what manufacturers mean when they call an electric kettle 'cordless.'
There are two primary advantages to an electric kettle: it heats water faster and more efficiently than a kettle on the stove and it has an automatic shut-off valve when the water has come to a boil. Anyone who has accidentally forgotten a kettle on the stove will appreciate this benefit. Another plus is there is no warning whistle because there is no danger of the kettle boiling dry. And while there is something kind of romantic and cozy about the sound of a gently whistling kettle, I enjoy the freedom of being able to leave the kettle completely alone and not have to come running when the whistle reaches its deafening crescendo.
I've had my Chef's Choice kettle for about six years now and I am very happy with this model which I don't remember choosing with much fuss or research. Since I'm not a fan of drinking something that has been heated in plastic, I wanted a metal kettle and there weren't nearly as many metal models to choose from back then.
Chef's Choice heats up water quickly and reliably. I use it at least 3 or 4 times in an average day and it has never failed me. There's a see-though gauge on the side to let you know how much water you're putting in but these days I can pretty much tell by weight when filling it at the sink. The top pops open easily and the on/off switch lights up when in use. All-in-all this is the one of the hardest working appliances in my kitchen and one I would miss dearly if marooned on a desert island.
• Find It: Chef's Choice Electric Kettle, $49.57 from Amazon
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
How to Make Buckwheat Soba Noodles from Scratch
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Martha Concrete Lam...
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
I was just thinking about how much I wanted a new electric kettle this morning I didn't know they made cordless ones!
I discovered the electric kettle when I was living abroad and now use it every single day to make coffee. It's especially great if you use a Melita or another pour-over method.
I adore my electric kettle. They're commonplace in European kitchens, but most Americans have never seen one. It's especially handy when I'm making risotto and forget to warm up the broth.
This is the one my roommate has and I use it way more than she does. I agree, it's very dependable and heats water fast. One funny thing is that guests tend to press the button on the handle when pouring, which is completely startling to them, because it pops the lid open. This is only needed when filling the kettle.
This is a gizmo I would definitely buy if I had the counter space. I had one when I lived in Europe and again back in the States in a kitchenless situation, and it's way more versatile than I expected it to be.
I used to be against the electric kettle since I grew up with a regular stovetop kettle. I loved the whistling.
Now, I can't live without my electric kettle (Hamilton Beech model from Costco). It takes up one less spot on the stove, it's super handy when I need boiling water for a recipe, and I find that my boyfriend and I use it every day. It's earned a rightful permanent spot on my kitchen counter.
I have the exact same model and I love it! It gets used at least twice a day, for coffee in the morning and tea at night.
A friend got us one after I commented to her how awesome I thought hers was. It is one of the best gifts we have ever received. Love that darn kettle!
I've had a kettle for the past several years that I've loved, but I recently got a new Cuisinart model as a gift. The nice thing about this one is that it allows you to set the temperature of the water. This is great if you make beverages that benefit from lower-than-boiling temperatures like oolong tea, green tea, yerba mate, etc.
Hot pots are great cubicle gadgets. I don't have to walk to the breakroom to make a cup of tea.
Zojirushi makes the best kettles. Almost all the asian homes in Japan have one!
I have a similar one that I love. It's worth spending the extra money for one with temperature control, IMO (that is, one that lets you set a top temp, rather than just heating water to boiling).
you are sh***ing me, americans don't know about electric kettles!???
While I'm not sure it's fair to claim that Americans don't know about electric kettles, they may be less prevalent here than in other parts of the word. One of my college roommates had one and it was great for making tea or instant oatmeal in our room, especially on cold Minnesota mornings when we didn't want to trek to the dining hall.
I use my kettle nearly every day to make tea or coffee. I'm the only coffee drinker in my house so I got a pour-over set up and use the electric kettle to heat the water because I can't justify having a separate coffee maker. My electric kettle is one of only three appliances that get to live on the counter in my NYC apartment (along with my electric can opener and toaster oven).
Electric Kettles are less well known in America, it's true. You're more likely to see coffee makers with water options.
I first encountered one when I had the worst sore throat ever during my honeymoon in Paris. Out of pity to me, the hotel staff brought an electric kettle to my room and left a huge pile of tea.
I bought one for myself as soon as I got home. The exact same model as above, actually!
I can't speak for all Americans but my first encounter with an electric pot was at the home of a Brazilian American friend in Boston. At first I thought it silly to have a gadget to heat water when she had a microwave. But I found myself using it several times a day. So although I have a traditional stovetop tea kettle that does take forever to heat up, I can appreciate the efficiency. I should not pay more than $20 or need instructions either. I just want to plug it in, turn it on and wait the time of a song on my iPod for hot enough water for tea. I'd put it on the burner my old school kettle sits on, and I'll take mine in red.