Steam Kettles

• The steam kettle is a stove-top appliance, usually made of stainless steel, with a spout for pouring. Pour cool water into the kettle and turn up the heat on the stove to heat the water. When the water reaches its boiling point, steam begins to form inside the kettle. The steam rises, creating enough pressure to force itself out of the spout, causing the kettle to whistle. The whistle indicates the water is boiling and ready to use.
  
  

Commercial and Residential Use of Steam Kettles

• At home, steam kettles are often used to boil water for tea or french-press coffee machines. In restaurants, steam kettles can be used for everything from boiling water to sterilizing utensils and trays to steam-pressured cooking of raw food. Commercial-sized steam kettles can be very large, accommodating up to 40 gallons of food. The largest of these industrial items are often bolted to the floors or walls to prevent dangerous spillage. Tilting kettles are preferable when selecting large components. because the tilting mechanism makes them easier to clean.
  
  

Electric Kettles

• Electric kettles are often more efficient and certainly faster to boil water than their steam counterparts. The electric kettle is essentially a plug-and-play appliance. Fill the kettle with water and plug the cord into the wall. Turn on the kettle, and wait for the water to boil. Electric kettles range in design from plastic to stainless steel to steel with plastic-lined heating plates. Some people prefer one material over another, citing differences in boiling time and taste.
  
  

Commercial and Residential Use of Electric Kettles

• The use of electric kettles in the home is essentially the same as that of the steam kettle. Mainly used to boil water for beverages or food, the electric kettle is regarded in many households as a steam kettle stand-in. On the commercial market, large, industrial-sized electric kettles function much as appliances of convenience and necessity for having large supplies of hot, boiling water available and at the ready whenever a recipe demands its use.