Origins of the Electric Tea Kettle

The modern electric tea kettle has its origins in the old fashioned cooking pots that hung on a metal hook balanced over the cooking fire. They were made from iron then, heavy to carry and had a little device on them to make it easier to pour the water out. They also had no protection from the heat fro the woman as she poured the water. The metal kept the heat in.

In the United States the development of the electric tea kettle followed closely on the heels of the development of the stove. Stoves were cooking facilities that went from a fire to heat food over to a flat top with heated elements to cook on. They became easier for a woman to cook on. The kettle then came out of the fire, had its bottom flattened and was able to be placed on one of the heated elements to boil water.

Interestingly as the kettles were used more they went from being simple vessels to boil water in to things that were made from a variety of materials, cooper or enamel, and then decorated to become an attractive kitchen appliance. They were not to become the electric tea  kettle as we know them until sometime in the early twentieth century. They began as having a heating element that they sat on and then over time the element was put inside leading up to the many different kinds of electric tea kettle that can be bought now.

The modern electric tea kettle is made of either steel, iron, aluminum or some amalgamation of plastic and metal. The plastic models, made of heat resistant polypropylene or polyethylene, usually have an area made from metal   that house the element that does the heating. That protects the plastic and helps to keep it from melting.

Nowadays the electric tea kettle is found in the homes of most Americans. They are simple devices, lightweight, cool to the touch and quick to boil water for that morning cup of green tea or instant coffee.