Non-Toxic Kettles & Teapots: Plastic-Free Ways to Boil Water
A kettle is the one appliance in our kitchen that heats water every single day, and for years ours was a cheap plastic one. When it died, I went looking for kettles where the hot water only touches steel or glass. Here's what I found.
The concern with plastic kettles is simple: it's plastic in direct contact with boiling water, many times a day. Research on how much actually migrates from kettles is limited, so I'm not going to tell you a plastic kettle is dangerous. But since steel and glass kettles cost about the same and last longer, it's an easy swap when yours wears out.
What to look for
- Stainless steel or borosilicate glass on the inside, including the lid underside if possible.
- "No plastic contact with water" in the listing. Many electric kettles still have a plastic lid, a plastic water window or a plastic filter, so read the details.
- Stovetop kettles skip the electronics entirely and are usually all metal or glass inside.
Start with your water, too. If you're filtering it, see our countertop water filter guide.
Electric kettles
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Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
Saki Luna Electric Kettle, 1.75L
A 304 stainless steel electric kettle with temperature presets that is sold as having no plastic or silicone in contact with the water, which is the main thing I look for in an electric kettle.
Why we picked these
- Saki Luna Electric Kettle, 1.75L No plastic or silicone touching water A 304 stainless steel electric kettle with temperature presets that is sold as having no plastic or silicone in contact with the water, which is the main thing I look for in an electric kettle. Worth knowing: The outside handle and base still use plastic, as on almost every electric kettle.
- COSORI 1.7L Electric Kettle, No Plastic Contact with Water Big family-size kettle A full 1.7-liter kettle listed as having no plastic in contact with the water, with a wide opening that makes it easy to wipe out. Good for pasta water and a pot of tea in one boil. Worth knowing: The outer body and handle are not all-metal, so check the listing if that matters to you.
- COSORI Electric Gooseneck Kettle Temperature control + pour-over A small 0.8L gooseneck kettle with temperature presets and keep-warm, listed as having no plastic contact with the water. Handy for green tea and pour-over coffee. Worth knowing: The base and handle are plastic.
- Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Gooseneck Kettle Premium pour-over kettle A precise stainless electric gooseneck with a hold-temperature mode. Expensive, but well loved by coffee people for good reason. Worth knowing: The base and handle are plastic.
Almost every electric kettle has a plastic base and handle. Those don't touch the water, so I don't worry about them.
Stovetop kettles
Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
OXO Brew Classic Stainless Steel Tea Kettle
A plain stainless stovetop kettle with a whistle.
Why we picked these
- OXO Brew Classic Stainless Steel Tea Kettle Simple stovetop whistler A plain stainless stovetop kettle with a whistle. Nothing electric, nothing plastic touching the water. Worth knowing: The handle and spout cover are plastic-coated, and they stay cool.
- Le Creuset Demi Stainless Steel Tea Kettle, 1.25 qt Small stainless kettle A compact 1.25-quart stainless stovetop kettle, a nice size for one or two people making tea. Worth knowing: It's small, so pick a bigger kettle if you boil water for the whole family.
- Fellow Stagg Stovetop Pour-Over Kettle Stovetop gooseneck A stainless stovetop gooseneck with a built-in thermometer in the lid, for pour-over without an electric base.
- Cafe Brew Collection Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle All-glass stovetop kettle A borosilicate glass stovetop kettle, so only glass touches the water. It works on gas or electric coil burners (check the listing for your stove type). Worth knowing: Glass can break with sudden temperature shocks; never heat it empty.
Teapots for steeping
Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
Sweese Porcelain Teapot with Stainless Infuser
A glazed porcelain teapot with a removable stainless steel infuser for loose-leaf tea.
Why we picked these
- Sweese Porcelain Teapot with Stainless Infuser Porcelain teapot A glazed porcelain teapot with a removable stainless steel infuser for loose-leaf tea. Pour from the kettle, steep, serve. Worth knowing: Not for the stovetop. Heat the water in a kettle first.
- Toptier Leaf Porcelain Teapot with Stainless Infuser, 37 oz Embossed porcelain teapot A white porcelain teapot with an embossed leaf pattern and a stainless steel mesh infuser. Pretty enough for the table. Worth knowing: Not for the stovetop. Use it for steeping water you've already boiled.
- Teabloom Stovetop & Microwave Safe Glass Teapot Glass teapot with glass infuser A borosilicate glass teapot with a removable glass infuser, so the tea only touches glass. The listing says it's stovetop and microwave safe. Worth knowing: Glass can break if knocked or shocked with cold water when hot.
- Teabloom Virtuoso 2-in-1 Glass Tea Kettle & Steeper Glass kettle + infuser A borosilicate glass kettle-and-steeper with a glass handle, a thermometer and a stainless steel loose-leaf infuser. Teabloom says no plastic is used. Worth knowing: The lid is silicone, and a few reviewers report the glass cracking, so treat it gently.
Porcelain teapots like the Sweese and Toptier are for steeping only. Boil the water in a kettle, then pour it in. Don't put them on the stove.
Care tips
- Descale with a mix of white vinegar and water, then boil and dump fresh water once or twice.
- Don't leave water sitting in the kettle for days. Empty it and let it dry.
- Glass kettles can crack with sudden temperature changes, so never heat one empty or set it hot on a cold, wet surface.
Making coffee too? See our plastic-free coffee maker guide.
