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Nerdy Science in the Kitchen

What’s the Best Tea Kettle for an Induction Cooktop

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With or without milk?
With or without milk?

You don’t have to be British to enjoy a good “cuppa!” Here is my personal favorite if you’re in a hurry – The All-Clad 2 QT from Amazon – I love it because it’s big and shiny so it just makes me happy when I heat water.

Did you know that, per capita, the Irish drink more cups of tea daily than any other country in the world? Tea is synonymous with social niceties, and offering a visitor a cup of tea as soon as they walk in the door is almost a rule in many households.

Tea has a long and complex history. It’s become ingrained in many cultures and in language itself. From the “Boston Tea Party,” to the phrase “not for all the tea in China,” even American culture is steeped in tea!

After water, the most commonly enjoyed beverage is tea. The water can be heated on a gas, electric, or induction cooker. Tea kettles come in all sorts of styles, designs, and colors.

That plethora of options might leave you wondering, which one should I have in my kitchen? Today, we’ll look at some tea kettles suitable for induction cookers.

Best Tea Kettle for Induction Cooktops Favorite Features
1. Old Dutch Cast Iron Saga Teapot beautiful detail and large capacity
2. Mr. Coffee Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle lightweight and good for a budget
3. All-Clad E86199 Stainless Steel Specialty Cookware Tea Kettle oven and broiler safe to 500 degrees F; dishwasher safe
4. Fino Pour Over Coffee and Tea Kettle narrow spout for faultless pouring and dishwasher safe
5. Pykal Whistling Stainless Steel Tea Kettle iCool handle and this stainless steel beauty has a traditional whistle

How does an induction cooktop work?

Thermal conduction uses direct heat such as a flame or electric element, whereas induction cooking uses a magnetic field. This magnetic field repeatedly magnetizes the vessel placed upon it to create large eddy currents. The natural resistance of the pot causes an increase in temperature, which is then absorbed by the water within.

This may sound a little boring, but it’s good to know the difference. The different mechanism of action is why you need to use a metal tea kettle. You’ll be waiting a long time for water to boil, whether you’re watching it or not if you put a ceramic kettle on an induction cooktop.

Read reviews of the best portable induction cooktops.

Tea kettles: a few things to keep in mind

The type of tea prefer to brew, whether it be black, breakfast, green, white, or herbal is not of particular concern when choosing a kettle. The important thing is that the water is not boiling when you add the tea, as this will scald the tea and impart a bitter flavor.

If you only make tea once in a while, something more decorative may be in order. If you are an avid tea aficionado, however, functionality and economy will be higher on your list of priorities.

Most important is the material from which the kettle is made, and whether or not you’ll be making tea for a large family or just for yourself. A small kettle will heat water quickly and save on energy, but it’s nice to have the option of making a big pot for those times you have company over.

Stainless steel kettles work particularly well on induction stoves.
Stainless steel kettles work particularly well on induction stoves.

Stainless steel is certainly pretty and needs very little in the way of maintenance. Read about how to care for scorched stainless steel cookware. However, iron stores heat better, meaning it keeps water at the optimum temperature for longer.

In this article, I’m going to focus on stainless steel kettles. For cast iron teapots, check out this post.

I’ve looked at many of the options on the market and these are some models that stand out:

Mr. Coffee Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle

If you want a pot of tea but don’t have a lot of cash, Mr. Coffee makes a basic model for those of us who can’t afford to spend a lot.

Mr. Coffee Carterton Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle, 1.5-Quart, Mirror Polish

View on Amazon

This lightweight kettle is made of brushed stainless steel with a comfortable arch handle. The handle, in particular, seems to be a potential point of failure. There are some reports of the handle melting and rust developing on the body. The nice thing about this model, however, is the variety of sizes available, ranging from 1-½ to 2 quart.

I would only suggest this option if your sole metric is cost. If you make a lot of tea, you might as well shell out a little extra for something sturdier.

Pykal Whistling Stainless Steel Tea Kettle

All-Clad E86199 Stainless Steel Tea Kettle, 2-Quart, Silver

View on Amazon

The Pykal certainly comes with bells and “whistles”!

The stainless steel pot has a satin polish with a mirror finish. It features an iCool handle with an ergonomic push-button pouring mechanism that cools off mere seconds after you turn off the stovetop.

The included one-year warranty makes this an appealing choice. And, of course, it whistles!

Have a ceramic cooktop? Learn about grill pans that work great for glass top stoves.

Fino Pour Over Coffee and Tea Kettle

For a simple, elegant, and minimalist design the Fino is very hard to beat. Super practical, with an ergonomically-designed handle that stays cool while the water boils, this 4-¼ cup kettle is a great value for money.

Fino Pour Over Coffee Kettle, 4 1/4 Cup, Silver

View on Amazon

This stainless steel pot features a narrow spout which lets you easily control the rate at which you pour the water. You may find yourself unable to resist practicing drawing your pour!

The 1 liter capacity is small enough to heat the water economically, but large enough to make between 4 and 6 cups of tea. And, it’s dishwasher safe. Overall, a happy medium as far as size and price are concerned.

Find out which coffee cups keep will keep your drinks HOT.

Chef’s Secret KTTKC Surgical Stainless Steel Tea Kettle

If you like to hear when your water is boiling, then a whistling kettle will be right up your alley. There’s no doubting the advantage of a warning whistle if you have a tendency to get caught up with the kids and forget the kettle is on.

The Chef’s Secret whistles to let you know when the water is boiling. Design-wise, this model mixes the old with the new. It has a stainless steel body and a quick-heating copper capsule bottom, but a retro trigger mechanism. The ergonomic grip stays very cool during heating, as does the knob handle on the pot.

Chef's Secret 2.75-Quart T-304 Stainless-Steel Tea Kettle, a Powerfully Conductive Boiling Vessel with a Copper Center Capsule Bottom

View on Amazon

At just under four inches in height, width, and length, this kettle is quite compact. It can only heat 2.75 (small size) or 3.17 (large size) quarts at a time, but that might be all you need.

Whistle while you work

Any of these kettles are suitable for induction stoves, though some are nicer than others. It really comes down to what you’re willing to spend. Personally, I’m partial to the Chef’s Secret for its numerous features and efficient design, but the Fino is better if you need to make a really big pot.

Now all that’s missing is a tray of cookies and a few finger sandwiches!

Why not try a Japanese spin on tea with delicious Matcha Green Tea.

For more reviews on products for brewing tea and coffee, check out this post on the best French press for making tea. You might also want to read about the Thermoses perfect for keeping tea and coffee hot at the office.

For coffee in particular, see my article on the best espresso makers for the money.

Image credit via Flickr Creative Commons: Megan Y. and Jim D.

Kitchen Professor author
About the Author: Bryce Heitman

Bryce is not a real professor, but he's real nerdy in the kitchen. He's been barbecuing, chopping, and generally blazing food for many decades. He thinks there's definitely a better spatula or utensil out there that hasn't been invented yet.

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