KENWOOD 0W21011137 ZJM811PU Mesmerine Stainless Steel Rich Plum Jug Kettle, 1.6L Capacity, Pink/Purple

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It scored well in terms of insulation, with the water temperature still measuring 71.6°C an hour after boiling — so you could return later for a second cup of tea if you wanted. It’s easy to pour a small amount of water out of the spout without any dribbling, and the accuracy is easy to control too. We noticed that if you remove the lid soon after boiling, you can catch and burn your hand on the steel parts, however. Kenwood Mesmerine Jug Kettle review: Ease of use and manual The kettle’s stainless steel body is more of a benefit inside, where it should make descaling easier. Even the kettle’s internal minimum and maximum markers are made from steel – although, disappointingly, they’re the only water markers the kettle has, and the minimum is hard to see while filling. The Russell Hobbs Structure Kettle is easier to fill thanks to its rear window.

If you're fussy about how brown it gets (hey, no judgement here), look for machines with adjustable shade settings. As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting gadgets and appliances to the test to highlight best buys for families. Why you can trust us Next, consider the features of both appliances and their capacity. Make sure they’re both a suitable size for daily use – such as a four-slice toaster instead of a two-slice in larger households – and include the functionality you need, such as easy pouring from a kettle, and a defrost option if you often make toast straight from the freezer. If one appliance fits the bill but the other one doesn’t, it may be worth looking at a different range. Don’t buy both just because they match; consider each appliance carefully to make sure it suits your needs, or you may end up replacing one of them further down the line. How much should I spend on a toaster and kettle set?The kettle has a wider than usual spout but still pours smoothly. There’s also a clearly marked water window, showing the max and min fill, as well as cups from four to seven (not litres). Its water window lights up blue when it’s on, while a button on the lid flips it up for filling – good for those who sometimes mix up levers. It’s speedy, too: a litre of cold water took just two minutes and 12 seconds to boil. What could prove to be a problem is the kettle’s minimum fill – around 900ml – meaning that if you only want to make one or two small cups, you will always be boiling more than you need. Breville kettles also come highly recommended and, while none of them made our final cut, we also heard lots of good things about De’Longhi during our research process.

Energy efficiency: One-cup or eco-friendly kettles are better for the environment and will use much less energy than standard kettles. An auto shut-off feature will also help to save energy. The mirror-like stainless-steel parts of the kettle at the top will be more of a challenge to keep spotless – during testing, I found that watermarks and fingerprint smudges tended to show up daily.This is a single-temperature kettle which doesn’t make an audible noise, but a light illuminates on the base to show when it’s boiling. The base feels a little lightweight and flimsy compared to the kettle, but it’s adequate. Kenwood Mesmerine Jug Kettle review: Performance It would go particularly well in a modern kitchen with its blue light-up feature when in boiling mode, and a permanent limescale filter means it’s suitable for hard-water areas. The external casing of some kettles can get extremely hot. Often, those with a brushed stainless steel exterior reach hotter temperatures than other materials – not ideal if you have young children in the kitchen. Kettles with an auto shut-off feature will automatically stop when water begins to boil or if the kettle is lifted from its base. Bagels are best toasted in a model with v ariable width slots that won't squish them, while a high lift function does what you'd expect, meaning no burnt fingers. Do your kettle and toaster have to match? There’s a lot more to kettles than just boiling water for your brew. Here are some features you may want to consider investing in:

Safety features: You might also want to go for a kettle with plastic rather than stainless steel casing so that the body of the kettle never gets too hot. An auto shut-off feature will stop the kettle from boiling if it's lifted from its base. Boil-dry protection: Many kettles now come with safety features such as boil-dry protection, which means the kettle won't turn on if there’s not enough water in it. The double-walled design is spot on - the exterior can't burn you if you were to touch it and the cord can be coiled up inside the base securely, making it a great choice for homes with curious toddlers. The anti-slip grip makes it easy to hold and we love the push-button lid – you won't have to wrestle to open this one. It also features boil-dry protection to help prevent damage. First we put our kettle on to see how long it took to make a cuppa – and because we just think more clearly with a mug of tea in our hands.Integrated cord storage keeps everything tidy and safe, and it’s very easy to use. Not only is it lightweight (ideal if you have weak wrists), it also sits on a 360-degree base, which is handy if you’re left-handed or live with a leftie as you can swivel it to wherever you want it to sit. It's double-walled so it’s never too hot to touch - a boon in a kitchen with children about, and its safety credentials are top-notch. It’s got cord storage, a 360-degree, non-slip base and a soft-touch handle that won’t slip in your hands. The kettle is just as good-looking, with a handle that’s easy to grip and a light-up lever to show when it’s boiling. It’s also surprisingly light to carry around, so less of a struggle when full. A good-sized water window with multiple markings in litres means it’s simple to boil only as much water as required, while the minimum boil, though not marked, is an economical 250ml. In our tests, it performed well, boiling a litre of cold water in two minutes and 15 seconds. There are two main types of kettle: jug and dome. Jug kettles are taller, tend to have handles located on the side and will generally hold a larger volume of water.