Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Medelco 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle
Customer Review: Hire Phil Jackson
Summary: 4 Stars
[Warning: This is a good, durable kettle, it heats up fast, and it does whistle. But you'd still be well advised to remain in the same room with it. It's certainly not something you want to leave on the stove when an unexpected visitor summons you to the front door. In that case, as I've discovered, the smell of burning plastic is more likely to attract your attention before the dependable but mellow whistle does.]
After ruining a couple of my wife's kettles because I went upstairs and forgot about the stove, I decided it was time for a new strategy. Frankly, I hadn't expected to find a whistling tea kettle made of glass. It works O.K. (be sure you have room underneath the kettle for the small wire piece that the instructions say must be placed between the flame/burner and the glass kettle), and it emits a quiet whistle, about as loud as my own whistle--i.e., not loud enough.
I really envy individuals who, rather than relying upon a puckered-up lip sound, are able to put two fingers on their bottom row of teeth and produce a sound that can be heard above the roar of the crowd in a huge stadium. I've asked several individuals to teach me, since no mechanical device is employed. But I'm beginning to suspect that producing such a sound requires certain anatomical features, or a jaw and lip structure, that some of us were not privileged to inherit (probably the reason I failed as a trombonist).
Phil Jackson, the former coach of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, had the loudest, most penetrating yet "natural" whistle of any normal human being I have encountered. That's the sort of sound I need to prevent further melt-downs.
Customer Review: No More Metallic Taste or Contact w/ Plastic
Summary: 4 Stars
I didn't want my tea or coffee to come into contact with plastic or metal. This glass kettle has a lid, which does whistle, but it's plastic. So, I don't use the lid. It has to be removed before pouring anyway. I put a ceramic teacup saucer on top of the kettle to retain heat & shorten heating time. Because I have a glass cooktop, I don't use the wire heating trivet. I tried with & without - no noticeable heating difference.
Other reviewers have said the handle gets hot. I put it on the small burner on HIGH HEAT - handle gets warm - not hot. The only reason I didn't give the kettle 5-stars is because the lid is plastic & has to be removed to pour. The kettle would be perfect with a pourable, whistling glass lid.
The glass seems durable. The handle tight and easy to grip & pour. I haven't had it long enough to know if the handle loosens. It's a very good quality glass kettle for the budget-wise price.
UPDATE (3/31/2010): For 6 months, I've used the glass kettle daily to make tea & coffee. Since I only heat water in it, I don't wash with soap or put it in the dishwasher. I simply empty it after each use and rinse it before each use. The handle is still very tight & sturdy. I'm very pleased with the glass kettle.
UPDATE (11/25/2010): Over a year later: Using at least twice a day - on HIGH HEAT, my kettle is still in excellent condition. The handle has remained very tight/sturdy - no tightening of the screw has ever been necessary. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Medelco Glass Kettle!
Customer Review: Not bad but I wouldnt purchase again.
Summary: 3 Stars
I got this as part of the 4 for 3 deal so technically it was the free item which is a great price. I really wanted to love this kettle but I just couldn't. I got it to replace an old copper bottomed kettle whose spring popped off and time has come but even now the old kettle outperforms this one.
Pros:
Aesthetically pleasing - beautiful glass
You can see the contents inside
Measurements on the side
Heavy duty glass
Heats quickly
Easier to clean than my old kettle
Inexpensive
Cons:
The handle gets really hot
The top has to be removed in order to pour
The spout is too wide and so the water pours at a wider angle and you have to be extra careful when pouring it into something like a hot water bottle or you will burn yourself.
You need to tilt the kettle almost completely upside down to get the water out if you have about 6 cups or less water in it. This also forces the steam to go directly on your hand.
The whistle isn't particularly loud and easy to miss if you are in another room
I can't fit my hand in to thoroughly clean the inside
Overall for a free kettle it isn't terrible but since my primary use for heating water is hot water bottles it is a bit of a pain. Especially with the handle getting super hot and you need to heat water about a dozen times a day, sometimes more. I'll keep using it but if something better comes along I wont shed any tears over losing this one.
Customer Review: Rusted...
Summary: 4 Stars
I love this kettle but for one small defect: I've only had mine 2 1/2 months and the ring/coil inside has started to rust. It's iron, so it won't hurt me or anything but I'm still a little upset about it. Thankfully I got it at Bed, Bath & Beyond and they said I can return it for store credit or an exchange. I didn't see anyone else mention this problem so maybe mine's a fluke. Other than that I love it for it's size and great price.
This is an update to my original review:
I took my original rusted kettle back to Bed, Bath and Beyond like the customer service rep told me to. Well, of course the associate took it back with no fuss and asked me if I wanted store credit or an exchange. I told her an exchange would be fine since I figured mine was a fluke after reading all the other reviews. Now imagine the look on my face when she advised me that the coil that came in mine was actually to go between the kettle and the stove top. The one I got in exchange had a piece of paper in it telling me this... My original one did not. Needless to say I felt like a complete goofball... especially since I've worked in customer service for years and know what it's like to receive a return because the customer is an idiot. She just laughed with me and took it back with a smile. Now that I know this, the coil is on the outside and the kettle works perfectly. I wish Amazon would let me change the starts to 5.
Customer Review: Perfect Kettle for Coffee!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this kettle strictly for heating water for French press coffee making. Since this kettle is glass there is no chance of it imparting off flavors to the water (then the coffee). I got tired of my metal kettles becoming discolored and rusted, even with proper care. I love the idea of glass for coffee making and this kettle by Medelco is indispensable for coffee making!
It is also easy to clean (dishwasher safe) and looks wonderful. It holds 64 ounces of water when filled to the bottom of the rim, however DO NOT boil that much as it will erupt and shoot steaming water up out of the lid. I feel safe however boiling 50 to 55 ounces of water, which is more than enough for even the largest French presses.
I like to use a probe thermometer to monitor the water temp and stop at 200F, which is the ideal temperature for coffee brewing. This kettle does have a whistling lid that I use (I simply insert the thermometer into the whistling hole). The plastic handle is sturdy and remains cool (remember you can't use HIGH heat and expect the handle to stay cool, I like medium-high heat) to the touch and pouring is easy (the lid must be removed to pour). All the componets are thick and durable (especially the glass). With minimal care this kettle should last a lifetime.
All the features I wanted in a coffee kettle and add to that a fantastic price. Although inexpensive this kettle does not feel cheap. A wonderful value!