Best Electric Water Kettle for Under $30 - The Aroma AWK-115S

I bought my Aroma Electric Kettle about a year ago. Since the moment I opened the box, I have been completely pleased with my purchase. Why did I choose this model instead of all the others?

Cordless Electric Kettle: It's nice to be able to pick up the kettle and take it with me to set on the table. The small round base is plugged into the wall to heat the kettle, but after the water is heated the kettle can be removed without dragging a cord around with it.

Stainless Steel Finish: Not only does it look sleek and shiny on the counter top, but it's also healthier. I specifically avoided the plastic electric water kettles. The fact that plastic particles from containers leak into liquids and food, especially when heated at high temperatures, is well documented. If I'm going to be boiling water, I think I'll avoid doing it in a plastic kettle.

Speed: When I want to make herbal tea or hot cocoa, I just add some filtered water, plug it it, and wait about 90 seconds. By the time I've picked the type of tea I want and set out my mug, the water is done boiling.

PRICE: For under $30, it's hard to find a stainless-steel electric water kettle. One year later, it still looks good and works great.

UPDATE: August 2011 I've had my Aroma Electric Water Kettle for over 2 years now, and it's still working great! I've never had any problems, and it still boils water for my hot chocolate in the morning in less than 90 seconds. It still has a very high rating on Amazon and is one of their best-selling small kitchen items. This little kettle is well worth the money.

Since you only use the kettle for boiling water, it doesn't involve much cleaning for the inside. If you live in an area with high amounts of minerals in the water, you may notice a buildup of precipitate inside the kettle after a few months. This is easy to remove. Just add 1/2 cup of white vinegar, fill the kettle up to the top with room-temperature water, and let it sit for about an hour. Pour out the water and vinegar, and scrub off any residual buildup. The kettle even comes with a removable mesh over the spout which helps prevents the mineral scale from being poured into your cup.

To clean the outside of the kettle, just use any natural all-purpose cleaner to wipe it down, and dry it off with a lint-free towel. If you really want to see it shine, you can use a stainless-steel polish as is used for refrigerators to remove fingerprints.

Make sure to never submerge the kettle or the base since there are electronic parts that won't function if they get wet!

An electric water kettle may also be called an electric "tea" kettle, but both are designed to only heat water.

Having hot water on hand can be very handy. Not only can you quickly make a hot mug of herbal tea or a tasty cup of gourmet hot chocolate.

Another of my favorite uses for the hot water is to make oatmeal. Just pour it on, stir, and wait a few minutes and it's ready. You can make several types of instant soups in the same way.

Sometimes in the winter I just enjoy sipping on warm water as a way to stay hydrated and warm. Having previously worked in assisted living, I noted that a lot of the older residents drank just plain warm water--pretty wise if you ask me!

I also occasionally use the hot water to clean and disinfect because it is hotter than I can get from the hot tap water. I use my electric water kettle at least twice a day for these various purposes, and I'm sure there are more ways I haven't thought of yet.

I read some reviews before buying my Aroma Electric Water Kettle, which said that it doesn't always shut off or that the on switch broke after a short time.

If it seems like it doesn't shut off automatically, make sure that the lid is completely shut. There is a tight seal which prevents some of the steam from leaving and allows it to reach a certain temperature before it triggers the device to shut off. It the lid is not fully shut, this feature will not function properly. Also, always fill it above at least 0.5 liters. If you only put a small amount of water in, it may not register the temperature accurately.

It may seem like common sense, but be gentle with your kettle. The switch to turn it on and off is close to the bottom and can easily be bumped into things and broken if you're not careful. When you do shut the lid, do it gently and don't twist or force it. I've never had any problems with my kettle. There is a one-year warranty for defects, but it doesn't cover damage from bumping it, dropping it, or letting the kids play with it.

By keeping your Aroma Kettle clean and handling it with care, you should enjoy many hot cups of tea for a long time to come.