Kettle
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While water boils equally well in a saucepan, it's easier to pour from a kettle, and because the water is enclosed, it boils more quickly and uses less fuel. Tall jug kettles boil particularly fast because less water is needed to cover the heating element, as well as those with concealed elements (look inside the kettle and you should see a smooth, flat base, rather than the 'curly' element.
It's a good idea to flick the switch on the kettle as soon as you start any task, so there's boiling water on hand for jobs like skinning tomatoes, making stock, soaking pulses and bringing dried mushrooms back to life. Boiling a kettle for pasta cooking water is another time and fuel-saver.
Some kettles filter the water which means you get fresher tasting hot drinks. But even those with built-in filters need regular cleaning to remove crusty lime scale.
Lime scale is also a problem with glass-walled models. They may look attractive to begin with, but over time the residue from constant boiling can ruin their good looks.
Never boil a kettle without checking that there's enough water to cover the heating element.
Some kettles filter the water which means you get fresher tasting hot drinks. But even those with built-in filters need regular cleaning to remove crusty lime scale.
Lime scale is also a problem with glass-walled models. They may look attractive to begin with, but over time the residue from constant boiling can ruin their good looks.
Never boil a kettle without checking that there's enough water to cover the heating element.
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