7 Best Whistling Tea Kettles – Reviews and Buying Guide
Looking for the best whistling tea kettles in 2021? Consider us as your friends. Those who know that there’s something special about the whistle. That something that cannot be described in words. But is still enough to make your tea time even more unique.
Nodding in agreement with what we just said? Then we’ve some excellent news for you: today’s whistling tea kettles might have those old-fashioned looks and styles which we adore, but they are made of modern materials and with modern methods that we have come to like.
This is precisely the reason why they are more durable and heat water more quickly than a vintage whistling kettle sitting somewhere in an antique shop. And the best thing about them? These kettles’ prices won’t end up blowing a hole in your pocket. Read on to verify on your own.
OXO BREW Classic Tea Kettle
Key Features
- Heat-safe touch points
- Massive lid for easy filling
- High-grade stainless steel construction
Drawbacks
- Isn’t dishwasher-safe
Why is the OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle our top pick? Start with its large lid opening. It allows for easy filling by minimizing the risk of spillage. The opening’s massive mouth also makes it easier for you to thoroughly clean this tea kettle’s inside with one hand.
Then comes its safety touchpoints. There are three of them – on the lid, around the handle, and on the sprout – to reduce the risk of burn injury. The handle’s heat-resistant silicone covering covers more than half of its surface to provide you with enough area to grasp it easily.
Both the inside and the outside of this tea kettle are made of stainless steel. This allows them to keep corrosion at bay, though the shiny exterior is prone to getting scratches. The interior, meanwhile, has a non-stick coating that makes it rust-resistant and durable.
What’s more, since the handle is set on hinges, you can move it out of the way for more compact storage. A lid on top of the spout allows the tea kettle to retain its heat and reduce the boiling time. And no matter where you’re in the house, its loud whistle will alert you when water is boiling.
Mr. Coffee Flintshire Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle
Key Features
- Silent heating functionality
- Competitive asking price
- 1.75-quart capacity
Drawbacks
- Can’t be used on induction cooktops
Other whistling tea kettles cover their handle with a heat-resistant covering. This one has upped the ante by making its entire handle heat-resistant. That is right. You can grip its Bakelite handle from whichever position you want and still won’t feel any burning sensation in your hands.
This no-frills kettle not only keeps your hands cool. It also gives you the option to turn off its whistle if you want to enjoy your tea in silence. All you have to do to activate its silent heating functionality is let the spout stay open. The water would then boil without any whistling.
Yet another feature that distinguishes this kettle from the competition is its 2-in-1 functionality. Unlike the majority of stovetop kettles, it works both with gas as well as electric cooktops. Though it provides that functionality by making a sacrifice: you can’t use it on induction cooktops.
That’s not all. While this model costs half as much as our top pick, its 1.75-quart capacity is more than that of the OXO Brew Tea Kettle. That too, despite the fact that it is also made out of stainless steel and had a non-stick interior to keep rust and corrosion at bay.
Primula Stewart Whistling Stovetop Tea Kettle
Key Features
- Made out of food-grade stainless steel
- Has an ergonomic, cool-to-the-touch handle
- Stylish design makes it look great on most counters
Drawbacks
- Some users have reported issues with the spout trigger mechanism
This tea kettle is similar to our top two picks in many respects. Its foldable handle is identical to what you get with the OXO Brew tea kettle. One which you can quickly put away for more compact storage. And its asking price is similar to that of Mr. Coffee Flintshire – it won’t blow a hole in your pocket.
However, despite costing a pittance, this model provides multiple high-end features. Its 1.5-quart capacity lets you brew 3-4 large-size teacups at one time. A flip-up whistling spout will take little effort from your side to get out of the way when it’s time to pour. The good news continues.
Both the inside and outside are made of food-grade stainless steel. You don’t have to worry about particles coming off of them and contaminating your tea. In fact, thanks to its rust-resistant coating, the interior will prevent contamination in the first place by stopping the build-up of limescale.
Not everything is excellent about this whistling tea kettle, though. Some users have reported problems with the spout trigger mechanism. They claim that the spring that activates whistling broke down, forcing them to re-check the kettle repeatedly to know when the water has boiled.
SUSTEAS Stove Top Whistling Tea Kettle
Key Features
- Made out of surgical-grade stainless steel
- Three-layer encapsulated base prevents heat loss
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Drawbacks
- Shiny exterior is prone to discoloration
Multiple features distinguish this whistling tea kettle from its competitors. It boasts the biggest capacity (2.64-quarts) of any machine we have reviewed thus far. The capacity is big enough to let you prepare 7-8 cups of tea simultaneously. You can thus count on it to serve a medium-size gathering in one go.
Next comes its three-layer base. The bottom-most layer is slip-free and also enhances this model’s heating performance on induction stovetops. The two innermost layers, meanwhile, are geared towards decreasing heat loss. They are the reason why water boils highly quickly in this kettle.
You also have two options to pour the tea out of this model. The first is the traditional one, where you detach the spout lid and tilt the kettle. The second option, which requires you to push the button on the handle to open the tea outlet, makes the process of filling your cups ultra-convenient.
To further sweeten the deal, its manufacturer has made this kettle with surgical grade stainless steel, which is one level about its food-grade counterpart in preventing rust build-up. And to top it all off, this kettle is warrantied for two years. What more can you ask for!
DFL 2 Liter Stainless Steel Whistling Tea Kettle
Key Features
- Has an automatic trigger spout
- Elegant and scratch-resistant exterior finish
- Boils up to 10 cups of liquid at once
Drawbacks
- Handle is made out of plastic
Are you looking for a tea kettle that blends classic and modern looks? One that won’t look out of place regardless of whether used in a modern kitchen or next to a campfire? Then you might want to check out the DFL 2 liter whistling tea kettle. Here’s why.
This model has chic and charming looks that will make it everybody’s center of attention wherever you use it. A protruding base, the presence of silicone jackets on the handle and the lid, and black tops on the lid opening and the spout help provide a perfect contrast against its white opening cover.
That we’re so infatuated with its design doesn’t mean this model lacks any practical features. It has a convenient spout that you can easily open/close by thumb-pressing the lid. Beneath which is a wide-base kettle that can boil up to 10 cups of liquid at once.
You may have noticed that this model’s exterior isn’t as shiny as that of other kettles we have seen thus far. Which is a good thing because it doesn’t attract scratches as easily as they do. So you can count on this whistling tea kettle to keep looking like new for quite some time to come.
ROCKURWOK Tea Kettle Stovetop Whistling Teapot
Key Features
- Features a foldable handle
- Makes full use of the burner’s heat
- Can be used on any heat source
Drawbacks
- Handle gets hot
The RockUrWork kettle has multiple features we have come to love. First among them is its folding handle, which lets you push it out of the way, making filling super-easy. We also appreciate that the handle has a (fake) wood Bakelite covering to prevent the heat from getting to your hands.
You might find it useful to note that this model is available in three colors. All of them – white, blue, or honeydew – give off the mid-century-modernish vibes that you don’t usually get from whistling tea kettles, most of which choose to look rugged more than anything else.
This kettle has an ultra-wide base, which helps it in one crucial way. It allows it to use the full power of the big burner, making sure that a good chunk of the heat gets to the liquid inside the kettle. This, as you might guess, brings down the boiling time considerably.
That’s where the good news ends. Some of its users complain that it’s tricky for them to open the latch over the spout. Others state that the handle doesn’t do a very good job of rejecting heat build-up, forcing them to wear oven mitts to pour the water.
HIHUOS 3 Quart Tea Kettle
Key Features
- Three-layer sturdy and energy saving bottom
- Low and pleasant sound of the automatic whistle
- Is 100% BPA-free and Teflon-free
Drawbacks
- The kettle becomes too hot to the touch during operation
Here’s another whistling tea kettle that can help you serve multiple guests in a single round. It boasts a 3-quart capacity that helps it brew up to 12 cups. This makes it a must-have for those of you who regularly host tea parties at their home.
Aside from that, a multi-layer bottom keeps heat loss to a minimum, bringing down the boiling time and increasing this model’s lifespan. The base’s sturdy construction and scratch-resistant coating also save it from catching rust as you drag this unit from one corner of your shelf to another.
You can also rest easy with the knowledge that this tea kettle is 100% BPA- and Teflon-free. While the former has been linked to metabolic diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease among other issues, an overheated Teflon-pan can lead to chills, fever, and headache.
On top of everything else, this model is suitable for various stoves. You can use it on electric countertops, gas stoves, electric ceramic heaters, induction cookers, and even halogen stoves. However, when using it on a gas stove, make sure to wear gloves as gas fumes might make it too hot to the touch.
How To Choose Whistling Tea Kettles – Buyer’s Guide
Here are a few factors you must consider when buying a whistling tea kettle:
Electric vs Stovetop
One of the first decisions you’d be required to make when buying a whistling tea kettle is deciding between electric and stovetop models. Electric kettles might be more convenient since they heat water quickly and come with preset temperature settings to make specific types of tea.
However, they take up more counter space and tend to be more expensive on average. The presence of a heating element also makes them much harder to clean. You also have to keep the heating element well-maintained. Otherwise, it might become harmful to your health.
That’s not the case with stovetop kettles. Almost all of them are inexpensive, occupy less space on the counter, and dishwasher-safe. The absence of any heating element means they don’t have any hard-to-reach spots where the limescale can build up.
Stovetop kettles are also available in far more attractive design options and can work in power cuts as well. You can take them on outdoor trips with you and get homemade tea while camping in nature, as they don’t rely on mains supply to work.
Material of Construction
Kettles are made out of various materials:
- Glass tea kettles are cheap and easy to care for. Some of them are even dishwasher-safe, making their cleaning process a cinch. However, since glass is fragile, you’d have to take extreme care when carrying these models from point A to point B.
- Stainless steel models might not be able to compete with their glass counterparts when it comes to price. But they are certainly more durable and are much more heat efficient. And they won’t get scratched easily, either.
- Aluminum kettles tend to be ultra-cheap, lightweight and extremely easy to care for. They also fare extremely well when it comes to keeping rust at bay. Unfortunately, they tend to get dented or scratched rather easily.
- Copper kettles are few and far between these days. Which is a shame given that copper is an excellent conductor of heat and thus helps boil water in no time. Still, while copper is undoubtedly beautiful, it tends to tarnish fairly quickly.
Handle and Spout
All tea kettles you see in this review have cool-to-the-touch handles. They have managed to do that by wrapping their handles in a silicone or plastic mitt. This helps them ensure your hands don’t get burned when you lift a kittle with sizzling hot tea inside.
Make sure there is enough clearance between the handle and the spout cap. It should be enough for you to easily slide your fingers without getting in contact with the hot kettle lid beneath the cap. Otherwise, if the clearance isn’t enough, you may end up getting your fingers burnt as you try to lift the kettle.
Next, turn your attention to the spout. A whistling tea kettle’s spout decides the volume of the whistle sound. The shorter/narrower the spout, the louder the whistle sound it makes. Make sure that the spout comes with a cover/lid for quicker heating and to prevent spillage.
Size and Shape
The size of the tea kettle is measured in quarts. Your usability decides whether you’d be better served with a 1- or 3-quart model. For example, if you rarely make more than one cup of tea, a small kettle will be fine. It won’t take up much space on the shelf and can easily fit inside the cabinet, too.
However, if you regularly invite guests for tea at your house, you’ll need a bigger model. One that would allow you to serve large gatherings without requiring multiple rounds. So we suggest that you consider your usability while deciding what size tea kettle would serve you better.
Make no mistake in assuming that the tea kettle’s shape isn’t important. It is. A round tea kettle will look more vintage and add more appeal to your kitchen shelf. It will also have a much bigger capacity than a flat model, which will undoubtedly occupy less space on the table.
Dishwasher Safe
Do you like manually cleaning your dishes? Neither do us. That’s why we recommend that you go for a kettle that lists ‘dishwasher safe’ on its packaging. This decision will not only make your life easier. It will also make your kettle more hygienic as the dishwasher’s hot water would eliminate germs.
Having said that, there are a few precautions you might want to take before placing your kettle in the dishwasher. Make sure the dishwasher is empty, as other dishes (or pots and pans) may end up scratching the kettle’s finish during the cleaning process.
Additionally, don’t rely on the dishwasher’s automatic dry cycle to completely dry the kettle’s interior. It may not be able to do that because of the kettle’s unique design vis-à-vis your pots and pans. Always put the kettle upside down – or wipe its interior with a dry cloth – before storing it away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do tea kettles whistle?
Tea kettles have an opening spout whose size and shape are responsible for making the whistle sound. For instance, if the kettle spout is longer, it will produce a higher-pitched whistle. Conversely, if the spout is shorter, then it would make a lower-pitched whistle.
How do you clean a tea kettle?
To clean a tea kettle, prepare a mixture of equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. Pour the mixture into the kettle until it’s about halfway full. Turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a boil.
Let it sit inside the kettle for about 20 minutes before emptying the kettle and rinsing it off. If you can still see gunk or scales inside the kettle, use your sponge’s rough side to sand them away.
What water temperature is best for brewing tea?
For white and green teas, the best water temperature is somewhere between 170 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Herbal and black teas should be brewed between 208 and 212. Oolong, meanwhile, has its brewing sweet spot between 180 and 190 degrees.
Conclusion
Your search for the best whistling tea kettle ends here. If you’re a tea connoisseur but rarely host tea parties, the OXO Brew Classic Tea Kettle is a must-have. It boasts high-grade stainless steel construction, has multiple safe-to-the-touch points, and lets you move the handle for more compact storage.
However, if you always have guests around, the HIHUOS 3 Quart Tea Kettle or the DFL 2 Liter Stainless Steel Whistling Kettle deserves your attention. Both of them offer more than enough capacities to let you serve multiple guests in a single round, limiting your trips to the kitchen to fetch more tea.
About the Author
Lori Bogedin is a health and wellness writer and editor of TwigsCafe.com. She is in the restaurant business since 1999. In 2016 she was named one of the "Top Women in Business" by Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
