G.E. Electric Water Kettle: Designed so you do not get steamed.
Written: Dec 22 '04 (Updated Jan 07 '07)
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Pros: Easy to use, reduces steam, boils water quickly.
Cons: Only 1.7 liters capacity, high electricity usage.
The Bottom Line: An easy way to get hot water.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: G.E. Chrome Electric Kettle 168950 |
I had knee surgery last February and I knew I was not going to want to walk around for a few weeks. So I thought the easiest thing to do was to get an electric teakettle and use that to heat water for my food. For the first week I ate a lot of instant oatmeal, cup o'noodles, and hot tea for comfort. It did the trick and I was thankful for the foresight.
I thought I would never use this tool again after I got better but I found out how wrong I was. I used this almost every day for various types of foods and drinks because it is so much more convenient than using the stovetop. I eventually took it to my work and use it 2-3 times a week for cup o'noodles and teas. I make sure to take it home when we entertain friends because of the convenience it offers.
How it works
Once you fill the kettle with water you place the kettle on the stand. There is a plastic lever on the back of the unit that you press down to activate the unit. Once the water is boiling the unit automatically shuts down.
Features
Automatic shutoff- The unit shuts off when the water is hot enough.
Anti-dry boil feature- This unit will not turn on if there is no water in the unit. I have not figured out how it works yet but it works.
360-degree stand- The kettle can be placed in any direction.
Anti-steam features- Keeps the steam from burning the user and keeps a majority of it in the kettle
Capacity
I measured out 6 cups and 6.7 ounces.
There is a line on the inside of the unit that says where the maximum capacity is. There is also a measurement line on the outside of the unit. The maximum this line says is 1.7 liters. Basically there is enough for 3 large cups of hot chocolate or 6 tea cups of tea.
My uses and cleaning the unit.
Um, to heat water? It should not be used for anything else or for heating other liquids because it is not easy to clean out.
I have not cleaned out the inside because all I have had is water, but I have cleaned the outside. All I do is get a damp cotton rag and wipe it down. If you want to shine the chrome then I suggest you use a specialized chrome polish that can be found at any auto parts store.
I have not had any issues with calcium deposits because I only use bottled water. If your water supply is high in minerals then you may want to do the same.
How long does it take
At full capacity it takes 7 minutes and 15 seconds until it shuts off. If you are just doing a single serving then it will take less than 3 minutes until it shuts off. There have been times I have been in a rush at work and I just heat it for 2 minutes and pour the water in the cup o’noodles. The water is actually hot enough at the time.
Insulation properties
Although this will keep water warm enough for about 15 minutes it is not insulated and therefore will not keep things warm enough for most applications.
You can set the kettle on almost any surface because the bottom is only slightly warm.
How much steam is released?
Actually very little. There is a wire mesh on the pour spout that seems to condense some of the steam that tries to escape. There is a small plate at the top of the spout that also condenses some of the steam. The unit has the spout on the side instead of the top, so this design feature seems to keep the steam at the top of the dome instead of leaking out of the spout. My mother’s stovetop kettle had the spout on the top and this released a great deal of steam out of the top without condensing on a dome top or mesh. I always had to be careful not to burn myself when making tea with that kettle.
Ergonomics?
Not much to this unit but the one feature I like it the handle design. It is easy to grasp and easy to pour. It is also easy to put the kettle on the stand.
Electric usage.
It is listed at 1500 watts, and by my calculations the amps are 12.5.
Likes
-Comfortable handle
-Very little wasted steam
-Heats up quickly
-The steam doesn’t burn you when you pour.
Dislikes
-The capacity is not as high as I would like it to be for hosting parties.
-No way to control temperature.
-There is always a little bit of residual water in the unit.
Durability
see update.
Dimensions & Weight
Diameter: 8 inches
Height: 10.5 inches
Dry Weight: 2 pounds, 9.25 ounces
Summary
My father worked for G.E. and the electronics he bought with his employee discount did not meet my standards. So usually his employee discount went unused. It was for this reason the when I originally went to Wal-Mart to buy this I did not think I was going to like this product, but it was the end of January and I needed something. But during all the times I have used this product I have not had a single problem with it. It is a very well designed unit that is easy to use. It also is a relatively safe unit to use because of some simple design features. The only time I had burned myself was when I opened up the top lid just after it finished boiling. The burn was minor and it was my own fault, not a problem with the design. The unit works well and heats water quickly. Definitely a good buy.
Update1-07
Soon after posting the original review I took the kettle home permanently because it was used so much by my wife and I used it for my french press coffee maker also. and...
The handle on the unit broke at the screws. So now it leaks. There was no cause for the break, it just broke. Now we have used this 1-3 times a day since owning it so it has been used a great deal but I didn't expect it to only last this long. So with that I'm knocking it down a star.
Other reviews you might be interested in.
Nesco food Dehydrator.
Jack LaLane Juicer.
Quick Chop.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 30
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