Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle
by Medelco
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List Price: Our Price: $8.99 You Save: $6.00 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days Buy Used: from $6.49 (click here) Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle
Customer Review: For Excellent Coffee and Tea!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this glass tea kettle for use with my Bodum Chambord 12-cup coffee press. Although I am not a "coffee snob" I do like a very good cup of coffee, and the best coffee (and tea) is made in glass because there is no chance of tainting your coffee with metallic substances or Teflon.
This kettle is easy to use and easy to clean (you can even put it in the dishwasher if you like). It comes with a heat diffuser for use on electric ranges, but I suggest using it even for glasstop ranges as well. The whistle works well, but is a little more throaty than the high-pitch whistle on your standard metal tea-kettle. I use a probe thermometer and place it in the whistle hole, and let the water get between 200-205 degrees Fahrenheit - which is the proper brewing temperature for the best cup of coffee.
The kettle has a clean, retro design and is very well-constructed. Some reviewers have noted that the handle heats-up. I believe this is most likely because they are using the "big burner" on their stove and not the smaller one that is the proper size for the tea kettle (thus the handle is over the outside of the burner and causes it to heat-up). So just make sure to use the smaller, more appropriate-sized burner to prevent over-heating the handle. Regardless, the handle is pretty strong, and the entire kettle is solidly-built. The kettle is made in Germany, according to the documentation that comes with it (though the company is based in the USA).
I use glass almost exclusively for all of my cooking (like Corning Visions pots and pans, this Kettle, and so on) and if I can offer some suggestions to make sure your glass cookware (like this kettle) last you a lifetime, make sure that the outside is clean and dry when you place it on the burner, and turn the burner on low temperature for a few minutes and then turn it to medium to heat-up. Gently easing-up the temperature like that allows the glass to expand slowly and prevents cracking (which happens when you heat fast - though only rarely). Another tip I mentioned earlier - always use the heat diffuser! You probably won't need it for gas ranges, but for electric and glass-top ranges, use it to be on the safe side. When you take the pot off of the hot burner - DON'T place it on a cold burner or on the counter - this causes the glass to contract quickly and could possibly cause it to crack eventually. Instead, place it on a folded, dry towel or on a pot holder or two. Let id cool before you rinse it or clean it.
All-in-all, this kettle is an EXCELLENT buy! The level of quality of craftsmanship is superb and for the price - it's unbelievable!
Customer Review: LOVE this tea kettle
Summary: 5 Stars
I love tea, love it. I also prefer making my coffee in a french press (less counter clutter + better coffee = happy me) so having a tea kettle is a necessity. Unfortunately, about a year ago I gave my tea kettle away. I did so for a good reason -- I wanted a new one. Unfortunately, it took me about a year to find a new one that I liked. See, I'm cheap, and I'm picky. I needed to find one that:
* Wouldn't break the bank
* Whistled
* Would look nice on my stove
* Was cheap
I admit it, I'm picky cheap, but tea kettles are EXPENSIVE. I finally found this tea kettle, the price was right (you can't beat $11.45!!!) it was pretty looking and it whistled. It also helps that it got great reviews. So, I figured "what the heck". Worst case, I hate it and am out $11.
So, I bought it. And I have to tell you: I LOVE THIS TEA KETTLE!!
Love it! Seriously. I don't think I will ever go back to any other type of tea kettle. I am seriously considering buying a few to keep on hand in case someone (anyone) accidentally drops this and it breaks. OK...so that's the only bad thing I can say about it, it could break if it's dropped.
I have an electric stove (hate it but bringing gas to the kitchen and buying a new stove aren't exactly in the budget right now) so I need to use the included metal thingy to raise the class off the electric burner. The whistle isn't obnoxious, in fact if it was louder it would be OK with me since I often forget I'm heating water, but it gets my attention. Really...it just looks great. I love that you can see the water heating so you can pull it before it gets too hot.
And, here's the #1 reason why I will never, ever, ever go back to a non-glass tea kettle. You can see inside so I KNOW there is no rust, mold, build-up, or anything inside my tea kettle. I know it's clean. I know nothing is peeling off and yucking up my water.
Customer Review: Fantastic Kettle, Soup and Tea Pot all in one!
Summary: 5 Stars
We buy ours from Canadian Tire when they are on sale!! I love that they are glass since it is hard to find glass CLEAR 'pots' these days ;-( The Visionware of years ago that comes in 2 shades are full of heavy metals and do leach as per Dr. Hal Huggins who has tested them. Coloured glass and ceramics contain among many things 'bismuth' My hair analysis revealed I was high in Bismuth (I used these so called healthy glass Visionware pots for years) I went on high dose vitamin c for a year to help clear out some of the metals and stopped using them immediately. A year later my bismuth level was almost nothing! yeah. So clear glass it is and it's hard to find. If you can get ahold of the old Pyrex double boilers they work great too but they are classified many times as 'vintage' and are costly. This little baby works great as a kettle, it works great as a tea pot (I boil the water and then put in the dried nettle, camomile, lavendar etc. or just the tea bags and put the lid on and let steep ;-)) If you have a pureed soup or something that isn't too chunky you can heat it on low on the stove- I do this for the kids all the time, obviously not suitable for a large family serving though ;-( but I use the Le Creuset pots for that. Sure if you aren't careful with it and it gets banged or dropped it's gonna break...ask my husband he keeps breaking them on me!! I tell him DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE SINK OF HOT SOAPY WATER...all it takes is a quick rinse and put them back on the stove or in the pantry where they are safe LOL Ps/. I know they say to use the little metal thing between it and the burner and I do that for a bit but then lose them or forget. I've never had a problem with these breaking while on the stove from the heat....just my husband LOL I always have at least 2 - can't beat the sale price of I think $10 in Canada!! A+++++Customer Review: The BEST kettle I've ever owned
Summary: 5 Stars
This kettle is a revelation for me. I was looking to replce my KitchenAid kettle that started to rust on the inside. The rust is from me neglecting it (not wiping it down after use and such). But I never liked the handle that gets really warm and uncomfortable.
I forgot how I came across this, but I'm so glad I did. Here're 2 things I really love:
1. The handle stays cool, because it's so far off to the side, unlike my old KitchenAid (and most other kettle).
And the location also makes it easier to pour (there's less angle to pour. You hardly lift up your arm). The first time I used it, I actually blurted out "Oh, dang, this is awesome!". With the KitchenAid, I would sometimes use a towel because the handle gets really uncomfortably warm.
2. I can pop this baby in the dishwasher! I don't have to worry about any rusting issue, either.
3. The price is about a third of the KitchenAid! (well, this last one is relative to what your other kettle is).
The negatives are:
1. I obviously have to be extra careful not to bang this around (I tend to smack things on the faucet).
2. I have to watch not to shock the kettle by filling in cold water while the kettle is still hot. I personally wouldn't have this problem. But I can see if someone needs to make multiple batch of coffee (say, during the holidays), you'd have to wait until the kettle cools down a bit before you can fill it with cold tap water, otherwise the glass might shatter.
I still give it 5 stars even with the 2 negatives. The negatives are more like inherent problems, not from bad design. Kinda like cast iron pans.
Customer Review: Perfect Kettle for Coffee!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this kettle strictly for heating water for French press coffee making. Since this kettle is glass there is no chance of it imparting off flavors to the water (then the coffee). I got tired of my metal kettles becoming discolored and rusted, even with proper care. I love the idea of glass for coffee making and this kettle by Medelco is indispensable for coffee making!
It is also easy to clean (dishwasher safe) and looks wonderful. It holds 64 ounces of water when filled to the bottom of the rim, however DO NOT boil that much as it will erupt and shoot steaming water up out of the lid. I feel safe however boiling 50 to 55 ounces of water, which is more than enough for even the largest French presses.
I like to use a probe thermometer to monitor the water temp and stop at 200F, which is the ideal temperature for coffee brewing. This kettle does have a whistling lid that I use (I simply insert the thermometer into the whistling hole). The plastic handle is sturdy and remains cool (remember you can't use HIGH heat and expect the handle to stay cool, I like medium-high heat) to the touch and pouring is easy (the lid must be removed to pour). All the componets are thick and durable (especially the glass). With minimal care this kettle should last a lifetime.
All the features I wanted in a coffee kettle and add to that a fantastic price. Although inexpensive this kettle does not feel cheap. A wonderful value!