Recommend me a kettle?

[TheGreatestAtuin]

God, boring thread I know... sorry!

I actually have a perfectly functional kettle, but since having a galvanic water softener fitted a few months ago, the old limescale is slowly being dissolved and coming off in small bits constantly. I have to pour the water out of the kettle via a tea strainer in order to catch all the bits. And if I forget to do this then the last few mouthfuls of tea/coffee are full of gritty flakes! 😱

I've descaled the kettle repeatedly but it's not helping.

Alas I have decided I would be better off buying a new one as I'm fed up of tolerating gritty bitty hot drinks. Also I'm interested to see if a new kettle develops any limescale buildup now we've supposedly got "well-behaved" water...

So what kettles do you lot recommend please? I'd prefer not to spend more than £50. Stainless steel or colourful options are preferred, but I'm not that picky really. Quiet, quick, and non-drippy are definitely more important.

I'm currently drinking a cup of tea sans bits, but with the strange lingering taste of vinegar and bicarb after my latest (failed) attempt to descale aforementioned kettle. Also my kitchen stinks of vinegar too. Help!

TIA

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For a deeper dive into the top kit for making the perfect brew, don't miss our guide to the best kettles according to Mumsnetters.

However, if you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the kettles Mumsnetters are recommending on this thread:

☕️ Dualit Architect Kettle, £89

☕️ Russell Hobbs Brushed Stainless Steel Electric 1.7L Cordless Kettle, £32

☕️ Russell Hobbs Luna Stainless Steel & Copper 1.7L Cordless Electric Kettle, £55

☕️ KitchenAid Artisan Kettle, £195

☕️ George at ASDA Black Kettle 1.7L, £11

MNHQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-Compact-Kettle-BKE395UK-Silver/dp/B00G6FVTIU/ref=sr_1_5?crid=343RXY10Z4GVL&keywords=sage%2Bkettle&qid=1706533581&sprefix=sage%2Bkettle%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-5&th=1

Bit over budget, but really nice to use and doesn't fur up, at least with a normal water softener.

Ooh that one is nice, thank you. Bit nervous of a glass one, only as if I do get more limescale (glaring at water softener) it won't look very nice.

I have also realised, since Googling kettles, that my budget is a bit on the low side for a decent one. Last time I purchased a kettle was about 20 years ago!!

I had that Sage one but found it a bit small as It only holds 1 litre
Ended up changing to a Russell Hobbs Luna, 1.7 litre, quiet with a nice fine pour

Down the other end of the price scale (£20), I bought this a year ago and am very happy with it: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202597758280

We bought this kettle, absolutely nothing wrong with it, but our mixer tap is quite wide and as the lid is small, it's not as easy as our last one that had it's side the same width all the way up. You have to get the kettle actually into washing up bowl rather than have it at an angle. Just something to be aware of.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A84QLS2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

We've got a lovely Cruisinart one (in pistachio) but I'm not recommending it as a) it's above your budget and b) DH said dourly that it's "style over substance" - he's an engineer and prefers electronics to be well designed for purpose rather than appearance. It's also quite complicated for a kettle as it will heat water to different temperatures for coffee and so forth (although we only ever want boiling water, for tea) and the electronics for temperature variation has gone wrong before, necessitating DH taking it out to his lab where all our naughty electronic gadgets go before returning subdued, well-behaved electronics that don't play up any more...

The best kettle we've had is a bog-standard, perfectly simple and ordinary George one from Asda. I can wholeheartedly recommend that one! Our George one is the spare kettle and has never let the side down. Cost about £15 or something like that. (Even though it's now a spare, it's more like a twelfth man who's had a sterling career but content to be a substitute for when the star of the show falls over. Tried and tested properly, I mean.) Not a looker, but competent and reliable.

Found it, this is the best kettle we've ever had: https://direct.asda.com/george/electricals/kitchen-appliances/kettles-toasters/black-kettle-17l/050133365,default,pd.html

Sorry OP over budget but cost per use and all that...

love this kettle have had a few years and it's great - if you did need to descale it is all metal inside and easy to see it clean iyswim

This is our’s - BEST kettle I’ve ever owned!
Love the way it looks in our modern kitchen too and they do it cream which is really pretty for a cottage style kitchen. Excellent quality.
Breville Bold Black Electric Kettle | 1.7L | 3kW Fast Boil | Black & Silver Chrome [VKT221] https://amzn.eu/d/2r2X0Pv

I don't know about the kettle but I bought an Asda sandwich toaster a few months ago, which was used sporadically, as sandwich toasters are - and it blew all my fuses last week!!

Probably was under warranty in retrospect but I fucked it on the patio in temper... only cost a tenner though!

I like my deLonghi kettle -

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7453454

I think it looks quite posh and I also have the matching toaster.

It's a little difficult to see the water level but I've got used to it - can kinda tell by the weight of it when it's full.

I've had mine for a few years now.

@Lookingatthesunset I don't blame you for losing your rag at the sandwich toaster, I would have done the same! But the kettle fortunately seems above such behaviour. It reviews very, very well for a cheap and ordinary kettle, and it's certainly been the most reliable in a long line of kettles over the years.

OP might want something a bit fancier which is fine (we've done the same after all) but it's a great back up for the money, hence my recommendation.

Sorry @Lookingatthesunset but 'I fucked it on the patio in temper...' has just made me snort while I was pretending I was concentrating on a work call 🤣

We've got this kettle, it's brilliant. Yes it's over your budget OP but I'm.hoping it lasts at least twice as long as the chappy kettles we've had over the last few years

We’ve got this one https://www.nisbets.co.uk/dualit-kettle-72010/da502?vatToggle=incvat&cm_mmc=PLA--18122692213----&cm_mmca1=go_18122692213____m&kpid=go_cmp-18122692213_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-DA502_sig-CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAN5aEAsvOhx4rmhrz594IBEn7xd16u8s9wyAMhCIatKH41qGhpGuXBoC0UoQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAN5aEAsvOhx4rmhrz594IBEn7xd16u8s9wyAMhCIatKH41qGhpGuXBoC0UoQAvD_BwE 5 years still going strong

I wasn't expecting so many suggestions on such a dull thread, thank you.

I'll check them all out properly when the kids are in bed as currently they're being extra noisy and generally driving me crackers.

I do LOVE the look of the shiny Dualit one SO much. But I had a Dualit toaster which was absolutely the WORST toaster in the world. DH didn't want to spend that much money on a toaster, but I really wanted it (mainly because of how gorgeous it was I'm ashamed to say 😣).
Unfortunately DH was right! This unfortunate encounter has put me off Dualit stuff for life.

Oh no, another pretty Dualit one! Don't tempt me Frodo!

I'm definitely not hiding from my kids in the kitchen, eating marie rose sauce with a teaspoon, whilst browsing kettles...

Cripes I need to make dinner!

(P.S. I want a toastie now)

If it's any consolation @Lookingatthesunset DH brought a vaguely expensive breville toastie machine and it's the worst thing in the world. Granted it hasn't blown any fuses but somehow cheese grease has gotten inside the actual machine and it keeps leaking out all over the place.

I have that silver dualit kettle and it’s about 10 years old and still going strong. I live in a hard water area too. It’s been brilliant- best kettle ever!

Ok, on it! So, what you need is 1. a cast iron kettle and 2. a swinging pot rod. Then you need to start a little campfire in your garden and gather everyone around so you can talk about your day, sing and share stories or just sit and enjoy the company, crackling fire and a cuppa

https://vektra.uk/

I recently bought this toaster & kettle set. You can get the kettle separately for around £39 in other colours. I love it in the green though so had to buy the set!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cavaletto-Pyramid-Champagne-Accents-Matching/dp/B0B4T1NVQX/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3CRD708SM9PII&keywords=Tower+pyramid+green&qid=1706546957&sprefix=tower+pyramid+green%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-3

Love this thread so much

I have the 4 slice Dualit toaster - it isn't the best but it isn't the worst and it looks great - the ones with 2 long slice holes are best really aren't they not 4 'common size bread' holes

Ok so it’s a bit pricy but I adore my Kitchenaid kettle. Temp control which is so much nicer for coffee (yes I’m a heathen that uses instant still). It’s just a lovely thing to use and as I use it at least 5 times a day if not more then cost per use is teeny.

https://www.kitchenaid.co.uk/kettles/859780015000/variable-temperature-kettle-1-5l-artisan-5kek1522-almond-cream

I bought a v expensive kettle to replace my £9 tescos fast boil

Just get the tescos £9 one! Lasted years 😃

I just came on to say the same! Mine's the red one!
Yes - they are V pricey, but we've had ours for about 7 years now, and in our super hard water area would prob have bought 3 cheaper kettles in that time.
I clean it every few months with the Oust de-scaler sachets - works a treat!
Also, being able to see/ set what temp the water is at / remains at post boil does save energy -especially when there are teenagers who flick the kettle on and forget about it every 5 mins-

Don't buy this Dualit. Ours has just died after three years and looking at the reviews (no idea why I didn't do that before I bought the damn thing) we're by no means the only ones with the same issue.

https://www.johnlewis.com/dualit-1-5l-electric-kettle/black/p5065187?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_technology_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20410389792&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAIk4Hukk8K5DI7rROiXmNYfBcHNv1pf4J2ItKa47jK2EEFpL5txnDhoCyKIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

No complaints with our Dualit toaster though.

We've replaced the kettle with a shiny Russell Hobbs that was 1) half the price of the Dualit, 2) boils much quicker, 3) is lighter, 4) the lid can be opened by pressing a button, and 5) is very quiet. Only complaint is the lairy blue internal light when on.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7177981?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixwlimwtw&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:598-923-9094%7Ccid:20435174830%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:2810910767330151031%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9045043&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20435174830&utm_term=7177981&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=598-923-9094&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAtt2tBhBDEiwALZuhAC77u3xN-gHyu7mjr5sSTvLcsfRURvDPfhsV5cY5rGnme8yGQ2BP5hoCdQwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds