The Kettle

A kettle is a special pot for boiling water. It has a handle for carrying and a spout for pouring. Some kettles sit on the stove, while others are electric. Kettles are used to make tea, hot cocoa, and instant soup.

Kinds of Kettles

Stove kettles are placed on a hot burner to heat the water. Many of them whistle when the water boils. Electric kettles plug into a wall and heat water even faster. They turn off by themselves when the water is hot. Both kinds have been helping people for a very long time.

A Long History

People have used kettles for thousands of years. Early kettles were made of clay or metal. The first electric kettle was invented in 1891 in the United States. It was slow at first and took over ten minutes to boil water. Today, an electric kettle can boil water in less than two minutes.

Fun Facts

• The whistling tea kettle was invented in 1921.
• In the United Kingdom, almost every home has an electric kettle.
• Some kettles can keep water warm for hours after boiling.

Did You Know?

The word 'kettle' comes from an old Latin word 'catillus,' which meant a deep cooking pot.