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Original poster

Why would anyone buy a stove top kettle?

124 replies

Workreturner · 01/12/2018 07:26

Staying at a lovely holiday home. No kettle, just a stove top kettle.

At this time of day I’m usually becoming coffee / tea / coffee / tea and repeat.
But takes so bloomin’ long to boil!

Just wondering if there are any advantages to a stove top over a plug in kettle? Genuinely curious!

OP posts:
Cailleach · 02/12/2018 06:00

Mines an enamel one that cost £2 from a carboot sale. It's a very good brand and will last a lifetime.

Shriek · 02/12/2018 13:40

Loving your bird kettle *@oxanavorontsaova@ and there's 20% off currently for a site newbie

Shriek · 02/12/2018 13:43

Mmm, also hate electric kettles, take up counter space, prefer gas hob, and whistling kettle that isn't plastic with boiling water!
Also, electric element draws a lot of electricity, gas boils kettle just as quick (a good one with a quality wide base).

Shriek · 02/12/2018 13:58

And all those with Aga's, the 'always on' thing, all through summer - like the one we've just had?!?

Never the electricity waste of a kettle, what about the vast fuel waste of an aga? In winter, saying we don't have to turn our heating on when everyone else does is because your heating is already on and has been all summer!

Bunnymumma · 02/12/2018 14:22

@Shriek Most of us turn the Aga off for the summer months and just use a little hotplate. That's what we do anyway. Saves us a nice amount of money overall too!

Bigonesmallone3 · 02/12/2018 14:36

We have an induction hob kettle rather than traditional plug in..
I much prefer it..

Shriek · 02/12/2018 14:42

bunnymumma so then you have no job or oven all summer, or do you have a separate cooker in addition to the hob?

You say most but its massive fuel waste if any dont

Shriek · 02/12/2018 14:43

*hob

CherryPavlova · 02/12/2018 14:52

Shriek, ours is programmable so we set it on a preprogrammed timer and havevslumber and holiday modes.

exLtEveDallas · 02/12/2018 15:13

@Shriek Our Aga goes off in Apr/May and back on in Sep/Oct. When it's off we have a countertop oven and hotplate to use. They get stored in the shed otherwise.

I'm actually thinking about installing an electric cooker in the futility room in the future, but don't know how much of a pain in the arse that would be (and I'd have to get rid of our chest freezer to do it). In the summer we eat a lot of BBQ and salad/stirfrys so it's only things like baking that I miss really.

(We do have an electric kettle for the summer though Smile)

Shriek · 02/12/2018 15:23

I hadn't thought the aga thing through till this thread, and its clearly an as well as thing, that for the rest of the year you have to use something else.

My stove top kettle is a very old one; this thread brought to mind that I probably should replace it...the whistle has gone...here seen literally just boiling, barely time to take the pic!

Also see stove top fresh coffee perc. contrary to pp belief, I don't like instant, but yes do like fresh tea!

Why would anyone buy a stove top kettle?
Shriek · 02/12/2018 15:24

*use, not 'see'

Shriek · 02/12/2018 15:25

My decades old kettle would have seen off many electric ones I think!

PickAChew · 02/12/2018 15:27

Because it looks nice.
Because it won't break and end up in landfill after 3 years.

camelfinger · 02/12/2018 15:31

I’m looking forward to my electric kettle breaking so I can get a stove top one. I’m sure an induction one would be quicker, saves space and looks nicer.

Sitranced · 02/12/2018 15:49

@Workreturner You have a stainless steel kettle but what is the base, cable and plug made of?

BlackBeltInPresentWrapping · 02/12/2018 16:17

I spot that someone else has also got a teapot suitable for use at home or on safari. Xmas Wink

Shriek · 02/12/2018 16:26

NC blackbelt? [santa]

Love the stuff!

Bunnymumma · 02/12/2018 16:38

@Shriek Oh agreed! We always turn ours off for the summer, but we don't really eat hot food then either! Hippie vegans over here! We've got an energy efficient hotplate for the odd coffee but we normally stick to cold brew then.

Don't know how anyone could have kept their Aga on during last summer!

TheRhythmlessCarolMan · 02/12/2018 16:38

@Bigonesmallone3 an induction kettle? Is that just one that you put on an induction hob?

KismetHardie · 02/12/2018 16:39

-no wires or worktop clutter
-induction hob with fast boil setting
-small le Creuset-just right for the two of us so we rarely boil more than we need
-feels simpler/ more satisfying,
-looks better
-also works on the wood burner

Bigonesmallone3 · 02/12/2018 16:40

@TheRhythmlessCarolMan
Yes, with a magnetic bottom..

RandomMess · 02/12/2018 16:54

Induction job here as well, thin metal kettle - faster than an electric one, less counter top clutter not using a socket.

tofupanda · 02/12/2018 17:06

I have heard that some people heat their water in the microwave Shock

MiddlingMum · 02/12/2018 17:11

I don't understand why you'd want a plastic electric one when you can have a lovely enamelled one on the hob that whistles to you when it's ready.

I think ours is about 20 years old and still looks brand new.