With LPG prices soaring by the day, electric kettles are paving their way into Indian kitchens. An incredible time-saver, they are used to boil water not only for beverages but also to speed up your regular cooking. After all, it takes 7-9 minutes to boil a litre of water on the stovetop. But just 4-5 minutes in a kettle.
Snapshot of The Best Electric Kettles In India
| Model | Capacity | Power | Double Walled Body? | Time to Boil 1 Litre Water* | Time To Boil Full Capacity Water* | Plug Type | Editors’ Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGuard VKS-17 | 1.7 litre | 1900 Watts | Yes | 3.1 min | 5.10 min | 16 A | 4.5/5 |
| Havells Aqua Plus | 1.2 litre | 1500 Watts | Yes | 3.4 min | 4.15 min | 6 A | 4.7/5 |
| Philips HD9306/06 | 1.5 litre | 1800 Watts | No | 3.2 min | 4.4 min | 16 A | 4.5/5 |
| AmazonBasics | 1.7 litre | 2200 Watts | No | 3 min | 4.45 min | 16 A | 4.5/5 |
| Butterfly EKN | 1.5 litre | 1500 Watts | No | 3.5 min | 5.2 min | 6 A | 3.5/5 |
| Prestige PKGSS | 1.7 litre | 1500 Watts | No | 3.5 min | 6 min | 6A | 3.7/5 |
| Prestige PKOSS | 1.5 litre | 1500 Watts | No | 3.45 min | 5 min | 6A | 3/5 |
Table of Contents
- What To Look For In A Kettle?
- Best Electric Kettles In India
- Other Options We Tested
- Conclusion
- FAQs
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What To Look For In A Kettle?
Electric kettles are available in plastic, stainless steel and glass. We recommend you avoid plastic as harmful chemicals could leach into your water. Glass doesn’t have such a problem. But they are prone to breakage. When we checked the reviews, we were able to find around 1-3% of users reporting about cracked glass. So, it is better to avoid glass as the last thing you want is scalding hot water seeping from a cracked kettle.
Stainless steel is the best option as it is safe and durable. Out of them, kettles with double-walled bodies are ideal as it safeguards you if you accidentally brush your hands against its surface.
Coming to the capacity, most kettles are available in 1.2 litres, 1.5 litres and 1.7-litre capacity. If you are a nuclear family that plans to use the kettle only for boiling tea, then a 1.2-litre option will suffice. But, if you plan to use it to boil water to add to rice or dal so that you can cook them faster, then a 1.7-litre option is ideal.
Wattage is the next important factor that affects the kettle’s performance. Obviously, the higher the wattage, the quicker the water boils. But, this also means, the kettle will have a 16A plug instead of a 6A plug. This may be an inconvenience to many as they may not have 16A sockets in the kitchen. But, it is actually safer as it can take a heavy load without the plug getting burnt or the appliance getting damaged.
Yet another concern many users have is the short power cord. Kettles and other heating appliances by design should have a short cord to reduce the risk of entanglement, tripping over the cord or moving it close to the edges of the kitchen countertop.
Related Reading: Which Type of Cookware Are Safe For Your Health
To find the best electric kettle, we tested 7 of the best selling options available in the market. All options had basic safety features. None of them splattered water outside through the spout while boiling maximum quantity of water at its peak.
They all have a 360-degree swivel base with cord winders, concealed heating element, an auto shut-off and dry heating prevention mechanism. Their mouths are also wide enough that you can clean the insides comfortably.
Cheaper options priced around Rs. 800, even though made of stainless steel imparted a burnt plastic kind of smell to the water. However, the one from AmazonBasics was an exception. But it costs around Rs. 1000.
The better varieties have the lid opening button on the handle, while the cheaper ones have it on the lid itself, which is a bit more difficult to open.
Out of the options we tested, we really loved V-Guard VKS-17. It comes with a 1.7-litre capacity and has a 1900Watt heating element. The design is quite impressive with a copper and black finish. It also has a double-walled body that makes it a safer option. But note that it comes with a 16A plug.
If you are looking for a smaller kettle, Havells Aqua Plus with a 1.2-litre capacity is an ideal choice. It looks quite stunning in a black glossy finish. Just like VGuard VKS-17, it too has a double-walled body. Also, it is made of 304-grade stainless steel, which is more durable and corrosion-resistant.
Related reading: How To Clean Electric Kettle?
Below, you can read the detailed review of these kettles and the other options we tested too.
Best Electric Kettles In India
V-Guard VKS 17 Prime Electric Kettle
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent built quality and aesthetics | Not 304-grade stainless steel |
| Boils quickly | |
| The body is cool to touch |
V-Guard VKS 17 Prime is a 1.7-litre electric kettle that is well-constructed, durable and safe.
It has a 1900 watt heating element that is capable of boiling 1-litre water in around 3.1 minutes and its full capacity of 1.7 litres of water in 5.10 minutes. To withstand the high load, the kettle has a 16A plug.
The build quality of the kettle is excellent. It comes in a copper and black finish which is appealing. The minimum and maximum quantities are marked inside the kettle.
As it has a double-walled body, it safeguards you from scalding if you accidentally brush your hands against the wall. The body isn’t cool as the manufacturers claim. But, it is comfortable to touch.
The one-touch lid opening button is on the handle and it gently opens the lid without splashing water. The mouth is around 10 cm wide, so you can comfortably clean its interiors. The cord is short and can be wound underneath the swivel base.
A few users have complained that the body is extremely thin and dents when you hit it against a hard surface. But, we weren’t able to find such an issue.
A drawback however is that the stainless steel grade is not mentioned in the product manual that comes along. When we checked online, we found conflicting information. V-Guard, in one of their answers to a customer query, says that it comes with a 304-grade body, while another, says it uses 202-grade stainless steel.
We tend to believe that it is 202-grade stainless steel, as manufacturers usually state in the product description if it is in fact made of 304-grade stainless steel.
Compared to the 304 grade, 202 has lower corrosion resistance because of the lower nickel content. So, you may have to take care to clean the kettle and remove limescale buildup frequently.
Price-wise, it is a tad higher than other options on the list. But considering the excellent quality, safety features and quick boiling, it is an option worth considering.
Update after 1-year use- Though it uses 202-grade stainless steel, there was no corrosion. The built quality and performance remain as good as new. However, the copper finish has a tendency to peel off, especially around the lid.
Check Price: Amazon | TataCliq
Related reading: 10 Uses of Kettle Other Than Boiling Water
Havells Aqua Plus 1.2 Litre Kettle
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Aesthetically pleasing with touch cool body | Can’t find any. |
| Volume marking of .5,.8 and 1.2 litre shown inside | |
| Excellent built quality |
Havells Aqua Plus is a compact kettle that looks stylish. It has a glossy finish and is available in Light Blue and Black colours.
The kettle has a 1.2-litre capacity and consumes 1500 watts of power. Just like the previous option from V-Guard, Havells Aqua Plus also has a double-walled body and a lid-open button on the handle. The spout is also similarly designed with perforated holes that provide better control over the flow.
The kettle can boil 1-litre of water in 3.4 minutes and 1.2 litres of water in just 4.15 minutes.
The build quality is also strong with a 304-grade stainless steel body. Just like V-Guard, the mouth is around 10 cm wide. So, you can comfortably clean the interiors. The cord measures around 70 cm in length.
As it has comparatively lower wattage, the kettle uses just a 6 A plug. So, it would be a good choice for those who don’t have a 16A plug point in the kitchen.
Havells has recently introduced the same model in 1.5-litre capacity too.
Update after 1 year: The kettle still goes strong and hasn’t shown any signs of trouble. Its stainless steel finish along the lid has dulled a bit. But otherwise, it works perfectly fine.
Check price: Amazon | TataCliq
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Philips HD9306/06 1.5 Litre Electric Kettle
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent built quality | Given the pricing, it could have had a a double-walled body that remains cool to touch. |
| Volume marking ranging from 1 to 5 cups | |
| 304-grade stainless steel |
Philips generally sells dependable appliances that are with excellent performance and durability. The HD9306/06 electric kettle follows suit. With a strong body, good finishing and basic safety features, it is an option that you can choose confidently.
What we really loved about this kettle is that it has measurement markings for 1-5 cups. This is quite practical as you don’t have to measure and pour using a cup. All other options on the list have just minimum and maximum markings inside the kettle.
The unit has a 1.5-litre capacity and 1800 Watt heating element. It can boil 1-litre water in 3.2 minutes and 1.5-litre water in just 4.4 minutes.
Just like Havells, it is made of 304-grade stainless steel and has a lid open button on the handle. But, doesn’t have a double-walled body. So, if you are not careful enough, you may get scalded.
Also, owing to the higher power, it has a 16 A plug. The power cord measures 75cm in length.
The mouth of the kettle is comparatively a bit smaller. You can put in your hands and clean the interiors. But, it would be a bit cramped as the lid doesn’t open at 90 degrees.
Price-wise, it is almost comparable to V-Guard VKS17. But that it doesn’t have a double-walled body is a letdown.
A 1.2 litre variant of the kettle is also available with the same features.
Check price: Amazon | TataCliq
You may also like our article on Best Air Fryers In India
AmazonBasics Stainless Steel Electric Kettle
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent value for money | Doesn’t have a double-walled body |
| Boils water quickly. | |
| Excellent built quality with 304 grade stainless steel |
Owing to Amazon’s huge purchase power, they are able to sell high-quality products at incredibly competitive pricing.
The AmazonBasics stainless steel electric kettle has a number of premium features. But, its price is incredibly low.
It has a 1.7 litre capacity and 2200 watt power consumption, which is the highest on the list. It heats water very quick, boiling 1 litre water in just around 3 minutes and 1.7 litre water in about 4.45 minutes.
The body is made of stainless steel in a matte finish. So, its looks remains intact without prominent scratches for a longer period.
The kettle has a lid open button on the handle. Its mouth is also pretty wide and the lid opens sufficiently that you can clean its interiors easily.
It is not double-walled. So, if your brush your hands on the surface of the kettle, you may get scalded. However, Amazon has introduced a newer model that is double-walled and it costs just about Rs. 400 more.
As it has a high power consumption, the kettle uses a 16 A plug.
Overall, considering the excellent pricing and premium features, it is definitely a smart choice to consider. Even after using it for almost a year, its performance is as good as new.
Update after 1 year: Though used on a daily basis to boil water and make tea for two people, the kettle hasn’t shown any signs of wear and tear. Though inexpensive, the manufacturers haven’t compromised on quality on this one.
Check price: Amazon
Other Options We Tested
Butterfly EKN 1.5 Litre Stainless Steel Kettle
Butterfly EKN is one of the cheapest kettles available in the market. It may be an affordable option. But in terms of quality, it isn’t the best out there.
The kettle has a 1.5-litre capacity and consumes 1500 watts of power. It takes 3.5 minutes to heat 1-litre water and 5.2 minutes to heat 1.5 litres of water.
The kettle has a stainless steel body. But it isn’t a 304 grade. Also, it has a glossy finish, which is susceptible to scratches.
The build quality is just about average. The worst aspect is that its interiors has a burnt plastic kind of smell which get slightly imparted to the boiled water too.
While all options we listed so far has a lid open button on the handle, in Butterfly, you find the button on the lid. It isn’t exactly an ideal position because the button is likely to be hot immediately after the water is boiled.
The kettle comes with a long cord to please the majority of consumers. But, it comes at the cost of safety as you could trip on the cord or it could dangle from the countertop. And if pulled, it could end up in dangerous accidents.
Owing to its poor safety standards and build quality, it isn’t really an option we recommend. You could rather opt for the AmazonBasics kettle, which is priced just a bit more.
Check Price: Amazon
Prestige PKGSS 1.7L 1500W Electric Kettle
An advantage of Prestige PKGSS electric kettle is that its lid is made of hardened glass can be removed. So, you can put your hands in and clean the interiors comfortably. But, just like the previous option from Butterfly, in terms of build quality, it is just about average.
The unit comes with stainless steel body and has a 1.7-litre capacity. The power consumption is 1500 Watts. It can boil 1-litre water in 3.5 minutes and 1.7-litre water in around 6 minutes.
The build quality is just about average. It doesn’t use 304-grade stainless steel. Also, the handles tend to get a bit warm when boiling water.
When you intently observe, you do notice a mild distaste in the water, which is a dealbreaker when buying a kettle.
Check price: Amazon
Prestige PKOSS 1.5 Litre Electric Kettle
Just like the previous option from Prestige, the water boiled in Prestige PKOSS also has a slight distaste. The interiors have a burnt plastic-type of smell, which is a huge turn-off.
The build quality of the kettle too isn’t that great. It is almost the same as Butterfly in terms of design and performance. The hinges of the lid of the kettle we bought were loose and had a tendency to fall apart.
The product has a high user rating due to its budget-friendly pricing. But, we recommend paying a bit more to buy an AmazonBasics kettle instead of opting for Prestige or Butterfly.
Check price: Amazon | Tata Cliq
Conclusion
The water you drink should be clean and pure. Boiling should only improve its quality and not deteriorate it. Out of the options we tried, premium ones have 304-grade stainless steel, a lid open button on the handle, a short cord and other safety features. More importantly, they did not alter the taste of the water.
Cheaper ones do their job. But when you look into the details, it is has a few deal-breakers like sub-par build quality, burnt smell etc, which makes them a poor choice.
FAQs
Stainless steel and glass are the healthiest kettles to use. Glass however has a risk of breakage, which makes stainless steel the more preferred choice.
There is no known evidence that shows electric kettle to be harmful to health. However, boiling water in plastic electric kettle may leach harmful chemicals into the water, which can adversely affect health.
A cheap kettle uses poor quality raw materials, as a result of which water may have a slight distaste. Also, they usually have low-powered electric coils. Hence, they take longer time to boil water. An expensive kettle on the other hand is quick, well-designed and made of high-quality raw materials. They are usually more durable too.
The higher the wattage, the quicker you can boil water. 1500 watts would be apt for a 1.2 litre kettle, while 1800-2100 watts would be ideal for a 1.7 litre kettle.
Typically, an electric kettle lasts around 5-7 years. Of course, this depends on how gently you use it too. If you maintain it diligently, avoid filling water over its capacity and handle gently, they may last even longer.
Typically a kettle in India has a wattage of 1500-2100 watts. However, considering that they are often not filled to their full capacity and used for just 10-15 minutes a day, they won’t cause a huge difference to your electricity bill.
Opt for kettles with low wattage if you are concerned about electricity consumption. Agaro Esteem Multi Kettle is a good choice as it uses 600 watts of electricity and has 1.2 litre capacity.
What about Kitchenaid kettle ? Please advise.
KitchenAid is a reputed brand that offers high quality products. In India, their products are quite expensive as they are all imported. We have not tested their kettles. But from what we understand, their kettles are definitely high quality and of course classy in appearance.
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