Electric Tea Kettles: Tea kettles began in China. However, over the course of history many countries such as Japan and Russia also developed tea kettles. In modern day, the beginnings of electric tea kettles began in Great Britain and it popularity has spread through Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and South Africa. Understandably, electric tea kettles are quickly becoming the "kettle-of-choice" in the United States as well. There are many facets of electric tea kettles that are appealing to buyers. Electric tea kettles are known to typically boil water within five minutes, about half the time it takes a stove top kettle to boil. In addition to their fast boil, electric kettles carry additional features that are also popular. For example, most electric kettles use a detachable pot from a 1,500-watt heating element. This allows the kettle to pour easily without the worry of the cord. Many also include an automatic shut-off when there lacks enough water in the kettle to warrant a safe boil. Other kettles offer automatic shut-off once the water in the kettle has reached a boiling point. In addition, a few electric kettles also include temperature settings to accommodate specialty teas or other warm drinks such as hot chocolate.

Electric kettles commonly come in either durable plastic or steel. Although less stylish, plastic kettles often offer wide pour spouts and filters that catch minerals that might damage the appliance. Plastic kettles are also easy to clean and have cool-to-the-touch handles. With these features, plastic kettles are becoming more common.

Steel electric kettles appeal more to décor concerns and less on features. Steel electric kettles are often sleek in design and still provide the fast boil, detachable pot and automatic shut-off that make electric kettles popular. They also provide cool to the touch plastic handles. However, unless insulated to keep the pots cool, many steel kettles carry the same heat concerns as stove top kettles. Steel kettles are less easy to clean and attention to where they are placed on the countertop must be given.

Whether one chooses a plastic or a steel electric tea kettle, both provide two of the most recommended features in tea kettles today, a rapid boil time and a detachable pot from the heating element base. Sure to be popular for years to come, electric tea kettles have certainly made a place in the tea kettle industry.