It’s amazing how items from bygone eras can make an unexpected comeback.  Not so long ago, people were ditching traditional stove top kettles for their electric counterparts.  Now, many people are looking at all the cables they have in their home and wondering what went wrong.  Stove top kettles are, therefore, making a triumphant return - and the good news is, they’re a lot better than they were in the old days.

Points to look for on a stove top kettle

Stove top kettles are slower to boil than electric kettles, but good stove top kettles will still boil more quickly than inferior ones.  They will also have appropriate safety features such as insulation on the handle and (usually) a lever or button to lift up the spout for pouring.  They’ll be quiet in operation up until they boil when a lot of them (not all) will start to whistle.

Assuming a stove top kettle ticks all the right boxes in terms of build quality, safety and performance, the other two main criteria to consider are capacity and aesthetics.

Are you looking for the best stove top kettle in the UK?

Here is our pick of the best stove top kettles on the UK market and an explanation of what we like about them.

Best Stove Top Kettle UK

Editors Pick

MILVBUSISS Cast Iron Stove Top Teapot

Runner Up

Victor Cast Iron Tea Kettle

Best Budget

Esyhomi Stove Top Whistling Kettle

KING HOFF Whistling Kettle

This stove top kettle from King Hoff is what we’d describe as a “get the job done” option.  It has a 3.4L capacity and works on most hobs (gas, electric , induction , ceramic and halogen).  The base is solid, which means it needs a bit longer to heat than other options, but it also means that it is very robust.  The handle feels reliable and stays cools and it’s easy to open the spout with just one hand.

This kettle comes in five colours and the copper version would be a nice option for people who want a traditional look but modern performance.

KitchenAid Stove Top Kettle

This 1.9L stove top kettle from KitchenAid works on all hobs including induction ones.  Overall the build quality is everything you’d expect from KitchenAid, but it does have one quirk we find rather annoying, which is that the heatproofing on the handle is only applied at the top and bottom, not at the sides.  We assume this is for aesthetic reasons but we’d rather have had it fully insulated.  On the other hand, to be fair, it does appear to stay cool even when boiling, so perhaps we’re being a bit over cautious and the spout-opening mechanism is excellent.

Overall the performance is outstanding, this stove top kettle really heats up quickly, especially on induction hobs where there is minimal vibration.  At the end of the day, however, the performance by itself isn’t enough to justify the price tag (in our opinion), you’re basically a premium for the brand name and the looks.  The looks are very nice indeed, especially the coloured options which really pop.  You’ll have to decide for yourself if they’re worth the money.

KLAUSBERG iweks Kettle

This 2.7L stove top kettle from Klausberg works on all the main hob types (gas, electric, ceramic, halogen and induction).  It isn’t the quickest stove-top kettle we’ve ever tried but, again, that’s because of the thick base, which helps to ensure that this stove-top kettle lasts over the long term.

We’re fine with the safety features on this stove top kettle.  The handle can get slightly warm to the touch but it’s nowhere near enough to be uncomfortable, let alone unsafe and it’s easy to open the spout using the button on the handle.

At the end of the day, however, like the KitchenAid, this is essentially a product you buy because you love its looks (or that you avoid like the plague because you hate how it looks).  Basically whether or not you buy this stove top kettle will probably depend on the overall look you want for your kitchen.

Le Creuset Kone Kettle with Whistle

Rather like the KitchenAid stove top kettle, this 1.6L stove top kettle from Le Creuset capable ticks all the right boxes for build-quality, safety and performance (including working on all heat sources including induction), but realistically it is sold (and priced) as a lifestyle option.  In fact, the big difference between the KitchenAid stove top kettle and the Le Creuset stove top kettle is that the KitchenAid stove top kettle is designed to blend in with most forms of decor, whereas the Le Creuset stove top kettle is clearly intended to deliver that vintage vibe.

If you’re going for a traditional look, then this stove-top kettle could be a great accessory for your kitchen (and it does actually work with traditional cookers such as agas).  Again, however, you’re paying for the brand and the design so you’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not it’s worth it.  We don’t know whether or not this will influence your decision, but the spout is operated by a lever rather than a button (presumably in line with the vintage aesthetic), so we’d give this kettle a few seconds to cool down before pouring.

Prestige Enamel 1.4 Litre Retro Stove Top Kettle

This 1.4L stove top kettle from Prestige can be used on all stove surfaces, including induction hobs.  As you’d expect from Prestige, the build quality is really good and we particularly appreciate the fact that the lid fits very snugly which ensures a swift boil, especially on induction hobs.  The handle is well-insulated and it’s easy to flip open the spout.  Pay attention to the whistle, i.e. wait until it has completely stopped before pouring or this stove-top kettle will splutter, especially if you have it full.

To be perfectly honest, this stove top kettle has a fairly nondescript appearance, which we suspect is 100% intentional to allow it to blend in pretty much anywhere.  In other words, this stove top kettle is very unlikely to be a style statement in your home, but it won’t be an eyesore either and it will get the job done.

Prima 3.5L Stainless Steel Whistling Kettle

This 3.5L stove top kettle from Prima can work on all main hob types (gas, electric, ceramic and induction).  We find the styling of the handle a bit odd in that all the insulation is towards the back and the front of the handle is metal, except for the lever to operate the spout.  We assume that this is the reason the insulated bit of the handle does seem to get quite hot during the later stages of boiling so it’s a good idea to leave it to cool for a few seconds, before pouring.  On the plus side, there is a lever to open the spout, which helps to protect your hands.

Other than that, the build quality is solid, in fact this stove top kettle is actually quite heavy so you may need a bit of practice to judge how to fill it from the spout without looking inside.  Once you have it filled, however, the boiling process is pretty brisk.

Pykal Whistling Tea Kettle with iCool - Handle

This 2.8L stove top kettle from Pykal works on all stove tops including halogen and induction hobs and we’ve come to think of it as the ultra-modern retro kettle.  Basically, it consists of an iron core “sandwiched” between two layers of aluminium and covered in stainless steel.  The entire handle is insulated with iCool handle technology.  We’ve no idea what this actually is but the handle does definitely stay cool and there’s a conveniently-placed (and insulated) button at the front to open the spout.

Given the iron core and thick base, it’s hardly a surprise that this stove top kettle is on the heavier side although it’s still light enough to be easy to use.  Heavier stove top kettles do tend to be the longest-lasting ones and we’re quite prepared to believe that this stove top kettle will literally last for years.

Aesthetically, this stove top kettle is fairly plain.  It’s definitely not “functional decor” but it’s definitely not ugly either.  Basically it’s just visually bland, but it does its job really well and it has one of the loudest whistles we’ve ever heard.

Soulhand Pour Over Kettle

This 1L stove top kettle from Soulhand works on all main hob types (including induction) and is basically the stove top kettle for serious coffee drinkers.  The handle is insulated, but there is no mechanism to open the spout because there is no whistle to open.  Instead, there is a thermometer on the top of the lid so you can heat the water to the exact temperature you need for your beans and a gooseneck spout for precision pouring.

Essentially if you’re seriously into coffee then you can probably stop right here.  If you’re not, then, honestly, you’ll probably find this stove top kettle more of an irritation than a benefit.

SUSTEAS Stove Top Whistling Tea Kettle

This 2.6L stove top kettle from Susteas works on gas, electric radiant and induction hobs.  Like the Pykal stove top kettle, there is an iron core “sandwiched” between two layers of aluminium and covered in stainless steel.  The back of the handle is well insulated (as opposed to the whole handle on the Pykal) and there is an insulated lever to open the spout.  Also like the Pykal, this stove top kettle is on the heavier side, but unlike the Pykal, it has been beautifully styled.

The manufacturer describes this stove top kettle as having a timeless, classic design and we completely agree.  As far as we’re concerned it’s really stylish and would look gorgeous in any kitchen.

VonShef Stainless Steel Stove Top Kettle

This 2.2L stove top kettle from VonShef works on all main hob types including induction hobs.  Build quality is solid and there’s plenty of insulation on the handle, although we’d have preferred to be able to open the spout with a button press on the handle rather than a lever on the spout itself.  Although this is well-designed so it doesn’t get too hot, as far as we can see, you’d either have to hold the main handle with one hand and open the lever with the other or open the spout before picking up the kettle, but perhaps we missed something.

As you can tell from the fact that this stove top kettle has made it to our top 10 list, this isn’t a deal-breaker for us.  Basically we see this stove top kettle as covering all the basic points decently and coming in at a very decent price.  In other words, it’s great value for money and we think it’s a very solid option for people who just want to heat water regularly to make standard tea and coffee, especially if they’re on a budget.

Best stove top kettle - conclusion

Any of the stove top kettles on our list could be the best stove top kettle a person could buy.  It all depends on an individual’s needs and wants.  That said, there are a few pointers we can give.

Best traditional stove top kettle

If you want a traditional European look with modern performance, then we’d suggest the Le Creuset.  If you want an actual modern version of a traditional tea kettle then we’d suggest the Victor stove top kettle.

Best prestige stove top kettle

If brands are your thing then the obvious options are the KitchenAid stove top kettle and the Le Creuset stove top kettle.  If you aren’t that fussed about having a genuinely premium brand, but would like a stove top kettle which looks like it’s from a prestige name, then we’d suggest the Susteas stove top kettle.

Best copper stove top kettle

The King Hoff stove top kettle comes in five colours, one of which is copper and we think it looks very nice.  It definitely performs well.