52 Things We 💙: Cuisinart PerfecTemp kettle

Wirecutter picks that have withstood the test of time Illustration: Sarah MacReading Boiling water is easy, but almost boiling it is tricky. The [Cuisinart PerfecTemp electric kettle]( can handle it. by Sarah Witman If you’ve never experienced the acrid, bitter taste of burned tea leaves, count yourself lucky. If you have, you understand why an electric kettle—capable of heating water quickly, and to precise temperatures—produces more-flavorful tea than a standard stovetop kettle. For the same reasons, an electric kettle can also brew better French-press and pour-over coffee. After almost seven years of testing dozens of electric kettles—literally watching water boil with a stopwatch in hand, and [using an instant-read thermometer]( to verify temperature accuracy—we still think the [Cuisinart PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle]( is the best one. The PerfecTemp boils water in just four minutes and keeps it warm for up to half an hour. The PerfecTemp boils water in just four minutes and keeps it warm for up to half an hour, maintaining a constant temperature within just two degrees. The handle has six temperature-control buttons—clearly marked with the degrees Fahrenheit and the type of beverage best brewed at that temperature—plus two big buttons for “start” and “keep warm.” I typically use the PerfecTemp for brewing jasmine green (175 °F) and Earl Grey (200 °F) teas throughout the day, and then a silver needle, lavender, rose, and orange blossom (175 °F) blended tea in the evening. It’s also handy for making a quick cup of instant ramen. Wirecutter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more](. The tea on kettles The PerfecTemp was launched in 2010, around the time that the company first started selling electric kettles. For a nation that was founded [in no small part]( on a tea-taxation squabble, the US consumes far less tea per capita than places like [Turkey, Ireland, the UK, and Russia](. But that number has risen over the past decade. “We got into this marketplace when we saw trends of more refined teas and especially tea leaf usage increase,” said Mary Rodgers, director of marketing communications for Cuisinart. Some people may prefer the graceful elegance of a gooseneck spout (like the one on the [OXO Brew Adjustable Temperature Pour-Over Kettle]( another one of our picks), the pastel tones of a retro-inspired kettle, or kettles made of solid glass. But even with the hundreds of options on the market, we think Cuisinart’s design has withstood the test of time. Cuisinart guarantees its PerfecTemp kettles for up to three years, but we've used one in our office every day for more than five years without issue. When to buy We used to see this electric kettle go on sale more regularly, but we haven’t seen a decent sale since September 2019. We expect more sales during the fall. The numbers $70 Average street price $50 Best price we’ve ever seen Make it last The best way to clean the PerfecTemp is with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Its spout has a removable scale filter, making it easy to clean out the mineral deposits that often form there. Avoid using harsh cleaning products, like Lysol wipes, since they can degrade the kettle’s components. In particular, some of our testers reported that the labels on the control buttons faded away over time. Copyright © 2020 Wirecutter, Inc., all rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for our newsletters. You are free to unsubscribe at any time.‌ Our mailing address is: Wirecutter, Inc. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018‌ [View this email in your browser]( [Unsubscribe from this list]( | [Update subscription preferences‌](