# I bought a teakettle that I'm not supposed to use high heat on **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955 "2010-11-08T20:37:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/1 "2010-11-08T20:37:59Z")
This is pretty stupid. I just bought a new teakettle. After bringing it home, I read the instructions that were inside the kettle. They specify that high heat should not be used! WTF!!! It’s for boiling water, the faster the better! Who uses medium heat with a tea kettle? By the way, it was not cheap and was a good brand. I am going to boil it whatever way I feel like and if it breaks I’ll just trash it. (Yes I know, mundane and pointless…) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/2 "2010-11-08T21:08:45Z")
Is it a tea pot or a tea kettle? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/3 "2010-11-08T21:13:17Z")
[Tea kettle](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&biw=1440&bih=676&q=tea+kettle&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9121031888623988454&ei=qWfYTL6ZOsyanAeawfTKCQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=5&ved=0CEsQ8gIwBA#) – the kind you normally boil on the stove. Not the cute little thing you brew tea in on top of a doily. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/4 "2010-11-08T21:15:35Z")
Why not take it back and get one made for boiling water? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/5 "2010-11-08T21:17:23Z")
Because I’m too lazy!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/6 "2010-11-08T21:17:38Z")
Once my grandparents bonded an enamel kettle to their glass cooktop. I guess the two are specifically not supposed to be used together? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/7 "2010-11-08T21:18:21Z")
Just a WAG, but perhaps it does its job perfectly well when used as designed, and turning the heat up higher doesn’t get the job done any better and will only damage the kettle? Not that you’d expect the manufacturer to know about his own product, obviously. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/8 "2010-11-08T22:12:52Z")
Well, the thing about a stovetop kettle is that it will not go over 100 degrees Celsius until all the water has boiled off. It doesn’t matter how hot the burner is _ **until** _ it boils dry. Once it boils dry, then it matters very much and you could melt the solder off the bottom plate. Perhaps this is someone trying to warn you not to let it run out of water… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/9 "2010-11-08T22:15:51Z")
Is yours glass like this? > **[Whistling Glass Tea Kettle](https://www.kitchenkapers.com/products/whistler-tea-kettle)** > > This 12 cup Whistling Glass Tea Kettle is made to withstand high temperatures and can be used on both electric and glass stovetops. It features a heat resistant phenolic handle and is dishwasher safe. I have a glass one and IIRC the directions said not to use high heat. But, I’ve had it seven years and it hasn’t broke yet on a electric range. Now, gas??? It might melt the gas. I’m not sure. The kettle is rated for gas/electric. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/10 "2010-11-08T22:27:01Z")
I’m betting it’s made in the People’s Republic of China. Their directions are often misleading. Just use common sense and you will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/11 "2010-11-08T22:28:35Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Perhaps this is someone trying to warn you not to let it run out of water… No, it had a separate warning for that. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/12 "2010-11-08T22:29:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I have a glass one and IIRC the directions said not to use high heat. It’s stainless steel (supposedly). ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/13 "2010-11-08T22:44:04Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Well, the thing about a stovetop kettle is that it will not go over 100 degrees Celsius until all the water has boiled off. It doesn’t matter how hot the burner is _ **until** _ it boils dry. True up to a point, but this does assume that the kettle is a superconductor - clearly it’s possible for the base of the kettle to exceed 100 C and there will be a temperature gradient to consider across the thickness of the base. That could cause distortion if you’re brutal. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/14 "2010-11-08T22:50:48Z")
I’d just use it as directed. I had to replace a burner on someone’s stove a few weeks ago because the bottom of his kettle partially melted onto it. Generally I assume directions and warnings are there for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/15 "2010-11-08T22:52:33Z")
Judging by the picture, I think it’s the same kettle we have. Which we’ve used for several years now on high heat with no noticeable damage to kettle, stovetop, or anything else. Of course, I didn’t think to read the directions on ours (it’s a _teakettle_, fer Og’s sake!), so I don’t know if it came with any warnings or not. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/16 "2010-11-08T23:02:50Z")
I wonder if the directions meant high heat as in not for use in the oven, don’t put it in the oven, and as long as it’s just used on a burner with water in it, it’s fine. (Not that anyone with a brain would put a tea kettle in an oven, but manufacturers have to direct to the lowest denominator most of the time!) I have an enameled kettle I’ve used since 1993 with no problems - it’s heavy, though. If you’ve got a fairly heavy-weight steel kettle, I can’t imagine you’ll hurt it on the stove. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/17 "2010-11-08T23:02:57Z")
All this is why I got myself an electric kettle. It was great until some negligent dumbass PUT IT ON THE STOVE. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/18 "2010-11-09T05:38:05Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > [Tea kettle](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&biw=1440&bih=676&q=tea+kettle&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9121031888623988454&ei=qWfYTL6ZOsyanAeawfTKCQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=5&ved=0CEsQ8gIwBA#) – the kind you normally boil on the stove. Not the cute little thing you brew tea in on top of a doily. I have an oxo that looks almost exactly like that, and I’ve been using it on the stove on high for about 6 years now with no problems. I have no idea whether the instructions said not to use it on high. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/19 "2010-11-09T05:42:20Z")
I bought my kettle from Ikea a decade ago. I like it because it has a neat two-tone whistle. I can’t seem to find another like it. (Not that it needs to be replaced.) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955/20 "2010-11-09T05:48:30Z")
I second the motion to just use it as directed and see how quickly it heats up. I’ll bet it heats up more than quickly enough. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bought-a-teakettle-that-im-not-supposed-to-use-high-heat-on/559955.md?page=2)