Choosing a kettle isn’t only down to the aesthetic appearance or the price. So you don’t purchase a kitchen-cookware to be dumped after some uses, some purchase and background information is needed. It’s nearly impossible to find kettles not made in China. The industrious country produces a lot, but, sadly, most of its productions are of poor quality. With an emphasis on durability, non-toxicity and post-sales service, we narrowed down our search to the best kettles not made in China.
We looked at 40 kettles, most of which were made in the USA, UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, and France. We found out that the Italy-made Alessi 9093 is the overall best kettle you should buy. This is due to its simple and innovative design, safe stainless steel construction, and large capacity. Asides the Alessi model, we also selected 4 other equally high-quality tea kettles. Exercise some patience and read through the review and you’d definitely find one which suits your needs and fit your budget.
Whether you’re looking for an electric, traditional, or induction-type kettle, our team spent hundreds of hours analyzing the products and customers feedbacks. These informed our selection choices. Based on these analyses, the criteria we considered in our choice of these products include the material, its capacity, the ease of use, warranty, dimensions, and the country of origin. These are standards that we think users have to look for in a good quality teapot or teakettle before deciding to move to the acquisition stage. Right after the in-depth reviews of the selected 6 kettles, we have also prepared a buyer’s guide which extensively focuses on features to watch out for during your purchase of kettles not made in China. The buyer’s guide is rounded up by a couple of frequently asked questions by potential buyers.
More features: whistling bird and lid can be replaced; handles and whistling birds are available in different colors
Made in Italy and designed by Michael Graves, an American designer, and architect, the Alessi 9093 is a kettle with a non-electric stove. The model is particularly suitable for those who do not need or do not want to buy an electric kettle but who at the same time want an object that lasts practically for a lifetime.
The 2-liter kettle has an anti-thermal cover – it does not heat and therefore does not burn in the hand. It has an ergonomic handle with wavy intersections to insert the fingers and hold with the best grip. The lid features a black plastic knob used to raise the cover. Meanwhile, the spout sees the presence of the now famous whistle fluttering with the bird.
With the small reproduction of a fluttering bird, this design probably characterizes one of the most popular products of Alessi. In addition to being a rather nice design, it is also extremely useful — the now known little bird whistles when the water begins to boil.
The bird and the handle cover can be of different colors depending on the model chosen. For example, on the Amazon tab, you can select the white, black, white-steel or the blue model.
The kettle is of course made of 18/10 stainless steel and boasts a polished chrome exterior finish.
More features: suitable for IH, sheath heater, Rajientohita, halogen heater, gas stove, en black heater; whistling sound
Made in Japan, the Yoshikawa Yj1943 stainless steel appliance is also a non-electric and whistling gas kettle. However, this differs from the Alessi 9093 in terms of capacity and price. While the Yoshikawa model can contain between 1.9 to 2.5 liters of fluids, it comes at more than half the price of the latter.
After sensing that the liquid has reached boiling point, the kettle’s spout makes a pleasant but not ear-piercing or shrill sound like many whistling kettles. However, a verified customer quipped that the kettle doesn’t whistle all the time when the water boils. So users have to be on the watch-out and not totally depend on the whistle. Asides that it is a tea kettle not made in China, the device is attractive, functional, and has a unique whistle sound. Besides, the large interior of the 2.5-liter maximum kettle makes it easy to clean.
More features: integrated thermometer; heat-resistant handle; gooseneck design; safe for induction stoves
The Soulhand Gooseneck Kettle strikes the ideal balance between price and functionality without compromising on the design. It’s made from high-quality aluminum & stainless steel and has a beautiful gooseneck outlet design that’s not only aesthetically appealing but also helps to control the speed and size of the water flow. It’s more curved than other brands in the market, ensuring a perfect pour every time. This kettle also has an integrated thermometer that allows you to keep track of your water temperatures and an ergonomic handle that’s easy to hold. The handle is also heat resistant, preventing you from getting burned while the lid is airtight to prevent spills.
The Soulhand Gooseneck Kettle has an upgraded bottom. It was previously made from stainless steel, but the current model has a triple layer base made of a combination of stainless steel – aluminum – stainless steel. This increases its durability, and it can stay rust-free for more than a decade. You can use this kettle on most stoves, including electric coil, glass tops, gas, and induction cookers.
More features: dishwasher safe; safe for use on all types of heat sources, including gas, electric, and induction, and oven safe up to 500F; different color options
Whether they are round or square, the kettles of La Théière de Staub bring a certain grace to contemporary cuisine. These models combine the traditional, modernity and internationality.
Constructed and designed in enameled cast iron and black matte, the Staub model is a product from France. The traditional teapot can be used to heat, infuse, and serve tea.
Thanks to the heavy cast iron, the model offers high natural heat redistribution and retention properties. The rough matte enamel surface also ensures better browning, roasting and braising.
The only reason a product manufacturer will attach a lifetime warranty to a product is that they are certain it will last for a lifetime.
It supports all types of heating systems – this is a great tea kettle for induction cooktops, as well as electric, gas, and oven. However, it has a small capacity of 1.15 liters and weighs 2.4kg. Also, it is a rather traditional teapot, and the only way you can know the water inside has reached boiling point is when the water overflows on the stove.
More features: electric samovar tea kettle; anti-heat handles; keep-warm function
The teapot is made of porcelain and features anti-heat handles. It also has a water filter which is made of stainless steel. In addition, all the materials are BPA-free and the entire product is design with ease of cleaning in mind.
Since the SAKI model is an electric samovar, you can use it as a normal kettle in closed rooms. It does not produce smoke, like a charcoal samovar. This also reduces the risk of injury. Also, the electric samovar has a keep-warm function. With this, the water is kept at a hot temperature as long as you want it. This saves 90% of energy and time because you don’t have to boil the water again.
If there is too little or no water in the kettle, it switches off automatically so that nothing is damaged.
More features: handmade; whistling sound; tin embellishments; vintage design
The Simplex Kettle Buckingham is another tea kettle not made in China. Made by hand in England, the tea kettle is a premium device made of solid copper. It features a stay-cool ebonized beech handle and tin embellishments. In addition, it whistles when the water starts to boil.
This copper tea kettle isn’t unnecessarily priced. It is made of the finest and purest metal. This construction gives it high water heat retention than any other average tea kettle. The whistling bird’s spout has a delicate curve-shaped for the perfect pour. Its melodious sound, without shrills, notifies you as soon as the water is boiling. The tea kettle is designed for use atop gas stoves. In summary, it is a Rolls-Royce that boils water to stay hot. It is a complete classic from Newey and Bloomer.
However, there are some dud versions which broke down after a few periods of use, as complained by users. Finally, the kettle doesn’t in any way come cheap, but if you seek traditional style with a good touch of quality, this is it!
Even if your taste is important in choosing the kettle that suits you, to avoid opting for a poor quality product, it is also essential to be well informed about the characteristics of each model that interests you. This is why, in this guide to buying the best tea kettles made in USA, UK or Italy, we will explain the main characteristics on which you should focus. These include, but not limited to, the product origin, price, construction material, the capacity of the device and the comfort of use.
Below are a couple of features/criteria to watch out for, while purchasing your water or tea kettles:
We absolutely don’t have anything against China. This great country is a Colossus in the industrial market. However, it’s unfortunate that many of their products are of very poor quality.
Their cookware may be cheap, but they pose great hazards to human health, asides from their durability. For example, poorly baked ceramic cookware from the country has been documented to cause lead poisoning. But no one can question the fact that they are very affordable and are the most abundant on the market.
Instead, cookware from Europe and North America are more advisable to buy. This is because many standards are set for the production of conventional and traditional appliances.
In essence, the most renowned countries for the manufacturing of high-quality and safe-to-use cookware are Italy, UK, US, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy; to mention a few.
There are several types of kettles, each with very specific characteristics and advantages.
This feature is important since it allows you to know in advance the durability and safety of use of one model compared to another. An excellent material for a kettle is that which is resistant to heat and which does not break easily even if it happens to slip from your hands or bump against another object.
Generally, a kettle is made either of plastic, glass or stainless steel. On the one hand, as resistant as plastic is, a large number of people have complained about bisphenol. It’s seen as a dangerous product for health but is accompanied by certain models. On the other hand, glass poses no risk on the presence of any chemical. But in some models, it breaks easily when the temperature is too high. As for stainless steel, it is solid and does not release any chemical even when the heating temperature is very high. Hence, it is considered as the ideal material for a kettle.
If you are wondering how to buy a kettle with better value for money, take the time to know the capacity of each model that catches your eye. It is important to take this criterion into account to know in advance if the model you are interested in is large enough to meet your needs.
If you plan to use the kettle yourself and take it with you wherever you go, it is best to opt for a small portable model with a capacity between 0.7 to 1 liter. An example is the Staub model in our review. On the other hand, if you are a large family or you plan to use the kettle to prepare the tea for your guests, it would be wise not to go below 1.5 liters.
WarrantyThe warranty offer and return policy are a guarantee of quality, safety, and durability. If a cookware manufacturer fails to provide a warranty or at least a return or money-back policy, then alert your sense of suspicion. On our list, you could see models (for example, the Alessi kettle) which offer a 60-day return policy and a 2-year warranty period. Some manufacturers even go to the length of a lifetime warranty. This is a surefire criterion that assures you of quality.
There are no fast rules on what dimensions your kettle should be. However, what’s certain is, the smaller the dimensions, the portable it will be. However, note that the smaller the capacity will be. Dimensions may be an important criterion for individual users and those on the move. If you want compactness, choose models from 10 × 9 × 8 inches downwards. However, if your model will spend most of its life on the kitchen countertop, prioritize other features.
It’s also necessary to find out about the level of user comfort that you will enjoy by using one model over another. The level of comfort that a kettle can offer you is verified in particular by its handle and its capacity to stop automatically. Ensure that the model you are interested in is large enough, ergonomic and non-slip. These allow you to grasp it each time you use it easily. Also, confirm if the model has an automatic shutdown function so that you can use it unattended to.
Extra featuresThe last element of comparison for a complete product analysis is the inspection of its functionalities and extra features. Among the most interesting, we can cite the water level indicator, the control panel or the boiling alarm (whistle).
You can buy a good teapot for as low as $50. Some models could cost 5 times that. However, the price varies depending on the material used, the level of porosity of the device and the ability of the functionalities to facilitate the tea making process. For some teapots made with special materials like copper, like the Simplex Kettles Buckingham model, the price is always high. But they offer long-term usability and keep-warm functionality. Regardless of the price, teapots are objects that can have a fairly long lifespan. So they always represent a good investment.
First, the use of aluminum utensils or cooking with aluminum foil are factors related to poisoning by this metal. The aluminum is deposited in the brain. It’s recognized as one of the factors related to mental disorders such as Alzheimer among other health problems, although not identified as a direct cause.
Cast iron is also seen as a toxic material by some sources. However, the most important thing in case of deciding to buy cast iron utensils is when the manufacturer can certify that they do not contain lead.
Enamels and varnishes of metallic or clay casseroles may also contain lead or other heavy metals. Besides, if the enameling is worn or deteriorated by a blow, the food is exposed to the material in the base.
Tea or coffee making starts with the purchase of a kettle. But choosing a great one doesn’t come in a whim. We follow a specific protocol to compare and evaluate the best kettles not made in China. Out of the 5 we brought to the fire, we found the Alessi 9093 Kettle as the overall best due to its simple but yet functional design. The Yoshikawa Yj1943 Kettle, which is made in Japan, comes next for its large capacity, boiling alarm and its unbelievable low price. The latter makes it the undisputable budget pick for the review. Our third recommendation is the Soulhand Gooseneck Kettle that looks as good as it functions. It has a beautiful design, has a durable triple-layer composite base, and comes with an inbuilt thermometer. The outlet design is slightly more curved than other models to control the flow of water.
We do hope this review will help you make an informed purchasing decision.
