Electric Kettle? Smart Kettle Is Steamin’!

I have never owned an electric tea kettle like this. I am used to the plastic ones you get at the dollar store that my mom used to use…

I made a huge decision that had been in the works a long time. About a month ago I got rid of the microwave. I think it wastes energy, but more than that it was making me a lazy cook…and since we are also trying to move toward an off grid lifestyle it needed to go.

I kept meaning to get a kettle but didn’t do it and then a few weeks ago Chef’s Choice International contacted me about reviewing their cordless Smart Kettle 688. I was glad to try it!

The Smart Kettle is programmable. You can warm the water to the exact brewing temperature that is right for what you are brewing. It will then keep the water at that temperature. It shuts off automatically when the desired temperature is reached and it even beeps if the water level goes too low.

Other cool features:

• Read the temperature in either Fahrenheit or Celsius
• Can set it for a rolling boil
• Stainless steel – it looks nice
• Has a water gauge on the handle area
• Detects the boiling point at all altitudes
• Saves energy

Down side? You have to use at least 16 oz of water. If you are only going to drink one cup of tea you have a lot of hot water left. It was hard for me to figure out the directions at first. My kettle was set to Celsius and  it took me a little bit to figure out how to change it to Fahrenheit.

I liked this a lot. The water was brought to my desired temperature in less than a minute, slightly faster than the microwave. Great for warming the water for tea fast and accurately brewing different tea leaves at their best temperature.( Which reminds me..I have meant to post a chart of that for the past two months and keep getting distracted….) You can also do other cool kitchen things with it like blanch vegetables and make soups.

Disclaimer -  The Chef’s Choice Smart Kettle 688 was sent to me as a review item by the manufacturer. I did not pay for it and I get to keep it.  It retails for about $100.00.  I did have to promise to name my next child Edgecraft, however. (o.k. not really, I am just saying that….).

image:marye audet