Consumer Reports' Highest-Rated Electric Kettle Has A Quick Boiling Time And Is Easy To Clean

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An electric kettle is one of those gadgets you don't necessarily think you need until you finally get one and wonder how you ever lived without it. While common sight in spaces without a stove, such as dorm rooms and offices, an electric kettle is a major time saver even in a fully-equipped kitchen. However, not every kettle is worth your money and factors like safety, heating speed, and ease of cleaning should be considered. Luckily, Consumer Reports reviewed several brands of electric kettles, and determined that the Secura Electric Kettle SWK-1701 performed the best. 

Per Consumer Reports' model testing, the Secura kettle received very high marks for speed. At full capacity (seven cups), it can boil water in seven minutes. It was also the only kettle that received the highest rating for its ability to cool down quickly — an important safety element. The kettle also has great insulation, meaning that even though the plastic exterior cools down quickly, the stainless steel interior keeps water hot for over an hour after reaching full boil.

Another important aspect of owning an electric kettle is the cleaning. Limescale build ups can happen quickly, requiring regular and necessary kettle descaling. However, the Secura model proved very easy to clean, earning more high marks in this category.

Looking at Amazon reviews, it's clear that customers are very happy with the Secura electric kettle. One customer review gushed, "The reason I chose the kettle was for its stainless steel interior and the durability. Water comes out fast and hot as expected. Good value for the price. Portable and cute looking." Meanwhile, another person boasted about the model's longevity, writing, "Today our kettle died after 5 1/2 years of hard usage, meaning every morning, every afternoon, every evening. It has had to be a workhorse for our household and it delivered. We liked everything about it."

That said, the Secura electric kettle could have some potential drawbacks depending on how you're planning to use it. First, it doesn't have any specific temperature controls, so if you're very particular about, say, the absolute best water temperature for brewing coffee, this kettle might not be the best fit. It also comes without a scale filter, which means that limescale bits could end up in your water if you're not on top of regular descaling. With that said, it's worth mentioning that this is a budget-friendly option, at under $40, and that it outperformed noticeably higher-priced models on Consumer Reports' list, including kettles from Cuisinart and Breville — both of which cost over $100.