OK it is not about pots and pans but a relative. We are looking for the
perfect kettle if there is one. We considered instant hot but there is no
hole is available in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.

leo

leo > wrote:
> OK it is not about pots and pans but a relative. We are looking for the
> perfect kettle if there is one. We considered instant hot but there is no
> hole is available in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.

What difference does it make? Maybe I am missing something, but doesn't
a tea kettle simply boil water? If so, why would it matter what type
of kettle is used to boil the water as long as the container's clean
and suitable to withstand the heat?

wrote:

> What difference does it make? Maybe I am missing something, but doesn't
> a tea kettle simply boil water? If so, why would it matter what type
> of kettle is used to boil the water as long as the container's clean
> and suitable to withstand the heat?


Some tea kettles whistle when the water is boiling. That can be
something that you love or hate. (I like having it call me.) Tea
kettles can be different sizes. Handles can be different designs that
fit your hand more comfortably. Some handles get hot which is a bad
thing. I like not having to use an mitt to pour tea. They can be
different cool shapes that strike your fancy and look good with your
kitchen decor. We got one as a gift some years ago from a houseguest
(What! You don't have a tea kettle?) which we loved but that fell apart
rather quickly. The cool design was such that the bottom plate fell off
so it started to leak. We replaced it with a cheapo model that has been
satisfactory ever since.

--Lia

In rec.food.cooking, Julia Altshuler > wrote:

> Some tea kettles whistle when the water is boiling. That can be
> something that you love or hate. (I like having it call me.) Tea
> kettles can be different sizes. Handles can be different designs that
> fit your hand more comfortably. Some handles get hot which is a bad
> thing. I like not having to use an mitt to pour tea. They can be
> different cool shapes that strike your fancy and look good with your
> kitchen decor. We got one as a gift some years ago from a houseguest
> (What! You don't have a tea kettle?) which we loved but that fell apart
> rather quickly. The cool design was such that the bottom plate fell off
> so it started to leak. We replaced it with a cheapo model that has been
> satisfactory ever since.

And don't forget that some are made so that they will last you the rest of
your life, while others need replacement every few years.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who

On 6 Feb 2004 01:46:03 GMT, wrote:

>What difference does it make? Maybe I am missing something, but doesn't
>a tea kettle simply boil water? If so, why would it matter what type
>of kettle is used to boil the water as long as the container's clean
>and suitable to withstand the heat?

That's like asking "doesn't a chair simply keep one's butt off the
floor?" :> A tea kettle is a tool. For tea drinkers it may be used
numerous times during the day, multiplying the effect of inconvience
or bad ergonomic design.

I absolutely require a whistle. Some have spring-loaded spout caps
that close automatically insuring that the whistle will always work
and allow you to fill it by turning on the water with one hand and
hold the pot to the faucet with the other. Others have spout
cover/whistle units that you have to take off and put back on.

Then there is the question of the inside material. The coating may
wear when heated or foster growth of "stuff." I cleaned out my
parents' enameled kettle when I last visited- there was black flaky
material and I couldn't determine if it was flaking paint (dark paint)
or mold. As soon as I got home I checked the interior of my own
kettle with a flashlight and it's still clean after all of these
years- whew!

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

Curly Sue wrote:

> Then there is the question of the inside material. The coating may
> wear when heated or foster growth of "stuff." I cleaned out my
> parents' enameled kettle when I last visited- there was black flaky
> material and I couldn't determine if it was flaking paint (dark paint)
> or mold. As soon as I got home I checked the interior of my own
> kettle with a flashlight and it's still clean after all of these
> years- whew!
>
> Sue(tm)
> Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

That might be minerals from the local water supply. I get a build-up if I don't
empty and rinse after every pot. It makes me *need* a teapot with a larger
opening so I can clean it more often.

BOB

> " BOB" laser opined:
>
>Curly Sue wrote:
>
>> Then there is the question of the inside material. The coating may
>> wear when heated or foster growth of "stuff." I cleaned out my
>> parents' enameled kettle when I last visited- there was black flaky
>> material and I couldn't determine if it was flaking paint (dark paint)
>> or mold. As soon as I got home I checked the interior of my own
>> kettle with a flashlight and it's still clean after all of these
>> years- whew!
>
>That might be minerals from the local water supply. I get a build-up if I
>don't
>empty and rinse after every pot. It makes me *need* a teapot with a larger
>opening so I can clean it more often.

You do realize the difference between a "tea kettle" and a "teapot".. and how
some would hack off your thumbs ever you cleaned out their teapot.


---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
Sheldon
````````````
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

PENMART01 wrote:
>> " BOB" laser opined:
>>
>> Curly Sue wrote:
>>
>>> Then there is the question of the inside material. The coating may
>>> wear when heated or foster growth of "stuff." I cleaned out my
>>> parents' enameled kettle when I last visited- there was black flaky
>>> material and I couldn't determine if it was flaking paint (dark paint)
>>> or mold. As soon as I got home I checked the interior of my own
>>> kettle with a flashlight and it's still clean after all of these
>>> years- whew!
>>
>> That might be minerals from the local water supply. I get a build-up if I
>> don't
>> empty and rinse after every pot. It makes me *need* a teapot with a larger
>> opening so I can clean it more often.
>
> You do realize the difference between a "tea kettle" and a "teapot".. and how
> some would hack off your thumbs ever you cleaned out their teapot.

D'oh!
Usually. But apparently *not* when I wrote this response...


>
> ---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
> ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
> Sheldon
> ````````````
> "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

"PENMART01" wrote in message > > " BOB" laser opined:
> >

> >That might be minerals from the local water supply. I get a build-up if
I
> >don't
> >empty and rinse after every pot. It makes me *need* a teapot with a
larger
> >opening so I can clean it more often.
>
> You do realize the difference between a "tea kettle" and a "teapot".. and
how
> some would hack off your thumbs ever you cleaned out their teapot.
>
> Sheldon

You're right - clean the inside of a teapot?? Sacrilege. Off
with their heads! It's akin to cleaning off the patina on an antique desk.
<BG>

Dora

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 14:53:40 GMT, (Curly
Sue) wrote:

>On 6 Feb 2004 01:46:03 GMT, wrote:
>
>>What difference does it make? Maybe I am missing something, but doesn't
>>a tea kettle simply boil water? If so, why would it matter what type
>>of kettle is used to boil the water as long as the container's clean
>>and suitable to withstand the heat?
>
>That's like asking "doesn't a chair simply keep one's butt off the
>floor?" :> A tea kettle is a tool. For tea drinkers it may be used
>numerous times during the day, multiplying the effect of inconvience
>or bad ergonomic design.

^_^ I'm starting to look at my chairs. :-)

I agree completely that there *are* differences. I like a whistle.
Many 'cute' versions come with instructions not to use over high heat.
Skip those. It was not clear to me if the OP was looking for a plain
ol' water-boiling teakettle or one of the electric kettle appliances
common in tea-drinking societies. I believe many of those include
automatic shutoffs when the kettle boils dry. As long as I can hear my
whistler shrieking from 3 rooms away, I'm happy with a 'manual'
version. Had a 1-qt(?) Revere Ware one for years (decades) that
performed admirably.

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 18:39:59 GMT, Frogleg > wrote:

>automatic shutoffs when the kettle boils dry. As long as I can hear my
>whistler shrieking from 3 rooms away, I'm happy with a 'manual'
>version. Had a 1-qt(?) Revere Ware one for years (decades) that
>performed admirably.

I wouldn't have anything other than a Revere Kettle at home :>

For work I recently got a T-Fal electric which has drawn admiring
glances from quite a few people when I fetch water. It boils at least
a liter in 90 sec then shuts off automatically. I'm hoping that by
drawing water from the water cooler rather than the hall fountain I'll
avoid mineral deposits.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

In rec.food.cooking, Frogleg > wrote:
> Had a 1-qt(?) Revere Ware one for years (decades) that
> performed admirably.

Me too. After seeing that my Mother had the same one from when I was a
kid, I bought a RevereWare one when my fancy-shmancy expensive fake-retro
yuppie piee of crap bit the dust after a couple of years.

--
....I'm an air-conditioned gypsy...

- The Who

asked in wonderment through message
...
> leo > wrote:
> > OK it is not about pots and pans but a relative. We are
> > looking for the perfect kettle if there is one. We
> > considered instant hot but there is no hole is available
> > in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.
> >
> What difference does it make? Maybe I am missing something,
> but doesn't a tea kettle simply boil water? If so, why would it
> matter what type of kettle is used to boil the water as long as
> the container's clean and suitable to withstand the heat?

All these are valid questions but it's more elaborate than simply providing
the most basic of functions. You have not considered style (color, shape,
design), size (capacity), quality (manufacturer, metal/ceramic,
coated/noncoated), or use (gas, electric) in your equation.

If you're just looking to heat water, a simple pot will work.

Kettles are no longer something that one should be embarrassed about;
they're an accessory to a kitchen, specifically the stove. A kettle also
allows a person make a statement about the seriousness with which they make
tea (Lipton need not apply).

Then there are the whistling vs. non-whistling varieties...

My personal choice is the Simplex copper (coil-bottomed). It's 1-3/4 quart
capacity holds enough water to make a pot of tea and several individual
portions. The raised body (coils) allows it to heat water more quickly than
traditional kettles. The copper is /striking/ to look at and not too
difficult to clean when it gets spattered. Most importantly, the handle
doesn't get HOT after the water heats!

The Ranger

On Fri, 6 Feb 2004 08:40:01 -0800, "The Ranger"
> wrote:

>Kettles are no longer something that one should be embarrassed about;

This is news to me! When was anyone embarrassed about kettles? Bad
enough I'm supposed to be embarrassed by being 3 years behind the
style in eyeglasses, now I find out too late that I was supposed to be
embarrased by having a tea kettle. ;>

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

Curly Sue > wondered in message
after I
> wrote:

> > Kettles are no longer something that one should be
> > embarrassed about;
> >
> This is news to me! When was anyone embarrassed about
> kettles? Bad enough I'm supposed to be embarrassed by
> being 3 years behind the style in eyeglasses, now I find out
> too late that I was supposed to be embarrased by having a
> tea kettle. ;>

My Sainted Mother(tm), my MIL and dozens of their friends stash their tea
kettles away. As one said, "I don't want anyone to /see/ it!"

The Ranger

On Thu, 05 Feb 2004 23:38:29 GMT, "leo"
> wrote:

> We considered instant hot but there is no
> hole is available in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.
>
You can use the hole that's normally reserved for the
sprayer.


Practice safe eating - always use condiments

"leo" > wrote in message
...
> OK it is not about pots and pans but a relative. We are looking for the
> perfect kettle if there is one. We considered instant hot but there is no
> hole is available in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.
>
> leo
>
>
I want a tea kettle that has a nice, broad, flat bottom that fits over the
large burner on my cook top.
Janet

On 2004-02-05 18:38:29 -0500, "leo" > said:

> OK it is not about pots and pans but a relative. We are looking for
> the
> perfect kettle if there is one. We considered instant hot but there
> is no
> hole is available in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.

Are you looking for a kettle for heating water, or a pot for brewing
tea? If the former, get an electric kettle--they're much faster than
stovetop models. If the latter, get a cast-iron teapot.

--
to respond, change "spamless.invalid" with "optonline.net"
please mail OT responses only

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:37:17 GMT, Scott >
wrote:

>Are you looking for a kettle for heating water, or a pot for brewing
>tea? If the former, get an electric kettle--they're much faster than
>stovetop models. If the latter, get a cast-iron teapot.

Cast iron teapot!!!???? Good grief! Does it come with matching
teacups?? I'm imagining a tea party of orcs. :>

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

"Curly Sue" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 16:37:17 GMT, Scott >
> wrote:
>
> >Are you looking for a kettle for heating water, or a pot for brewing
> >tea? If the former, get an electric kettle--they're much faster than
> >stovetop models. If the latter, get a cast-iron teapot.
>
> Cast iron teapot!!!???? Good grief! Does it come with matching
> teacups?? I'm imagining a tea party of orcs. :>
>
> Sue(tm)
> Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

I have a small cast iron tea pot - a Japanese tetsubin. I use it for
brewing my green tea and love it.

It's not that heavy...and I did see a catalog with little cast iron tea cups
to match. I'll stick with my mugs.

Paula

anything without a whistle....I've always hated those...the noise is similar
to finger nails scratching a blackboard...slowly from top to bottom..

Harriet & critters
"leo" > wrote in message
...
> OK it is not about pots and pans but a relative. We are looking for the
> perfect kettle if there is one. We considered instant hot but there is no
> hole is available in the counter top. Thanks for any help here.
>
> leo
>
>