Boil, Steam Or Cook-An Electric Kettle Has Your Back

Rushing to the kitchen to boil water for a cup of chai can seem like too much of a task sometimes and make you feel reluctant. An electric kettle can make this and other quick meal fixings a breeze.

This nifty appliance can help you prepare snacks and beverages in a jiffy. Be it brewing coffee, boiling eggs or cooking noodles, an electric kettle could be your instant saviour. On a stovetop, heat escapes quickly. The enclosed case of the kettle container retains heat and increases water and air pressure. The heating coil at the bottom of the container also ensures direct heating, which aids faster cooking. Electric kettles typically don’t take more than 2-3 minutes to boil water.

An electric kettle acts as an instant water purifier by boiling the water thoroughly and removing dangerous bacteria, thus averting the risk of water-borne diseases. Hot or lukewarm water also stimulates digestion.

The steam generated from an electric kettle can be effective in treating cough, cold or runny nose. You can use the device to generate steam and inhale it, from a safe distance of course. Most kettles come with an automatic cut-off once the water begins to boil. If that feature is absent, you could simply set a secondary timer to remind you that it’s time to switch off the device.

When buying an electric kettle, check the size based on the number of people for whom you intend to use it. For instance, a 1-litre kettle can serve 2 people. So, you could opt for a 1.2-1.5-litre capacity kettle if you need it for everyone in the family.

Kettle cooking 

1. Chop some vegetables and add them to the kettle with water for a steaming bowl of hot soup. Make sure you use the right amount of water to maintain your soup’s consistency and texture. In a similar way, you could also prep a bowl of instant noodles for those late-night cravings.

2. It’s equally quick and easy to whip up a hearty bowl of oatmeal in an electric kettle, so you don’t skip out on breakfast even on those rushed mornings.

3. Electric kettles work wonders when it comes to boiling eggs. For hard-boiled eggs, set a secondary timer for 8-12 minutes. For a soft-boiled egg, 2-4 minutes is enough.

4. You can even cook rice in a kettle. Simply soak the grains in water for about 20 minutes before adding them to the kettle. You could flavour it with spices or chopped veggies that soften easily, such as carrots, beans or broccoli, or cook it plain for roughly 20 minutes. Remember, the time may vary based on the amount of rice you wish to prepare. For kettles with an automatic turn-off function, wait for five minutes and turn it back on to thoroughly cook the food.

Pro tip: Avoid using electric kettles with an exposed coil at the bottom for cooking. Contact with your food might burn it or make it explode.