A Little Bit of History about Whistling Tea Kettles
The sound of whistling tea kettle is unmistakable. It lets you know you’re just moments away from a nice hot cup of tea or hot chocolate. The history of tea kettles goes back many thousands of years, but whistling tea kettles haven’t been around quite that long. Here’s a little history about this important item in many kitchens, as well as some other interesting information.
Who Invented Whistling Tea Kettles?
Right after World War 1, a sheet metal company in London began producing a whistling tea kettle. Sholom Borgelman, who later changed his name to Borman, is credited with the invention. However, many people believe the whistling tea kettle originated in Massachusetts in the 1950s.
Why Does a Tea Kettle Whistle?
For a short science lesson, read on. As water is heated in a tea kettle, the boiling water creates pressure and steam inside the kettle. Because there is only so much room in a tea kettle, pressure begins to build up. More and more steam will be created, but there is nowhere for it to go. When there is no more room for the steam to go, the pressure pushes that steam through the hole faster and faster. Eventually, the steam rushes through that small hole so fast that vibrations are produced. This is what makes the tea kettle whistle.
Different Styles and Types of Whistling Tea Kettles
You’ll find whistling tea kettles in just about every shape and design you can imagine. Many people collect tea pots and kettles and some of these kettles can be worth thousands of dollars. There is also some variation in the whistling sound as well. Some are rather subtle, while others are shrill or shrieking. This is to ensure the kettle does not burn dry while on the stove and ruin the kettle or start a fire.
Popular Whistling Tea Kettle Brands
Just about any manufacturer that makes kitchen accessories also makes a tea kettle. Not every tea kettle whistles. The most popular whistling tea kettle brands are Le Creuset, KitchenAid, Chantal, and Copco. Most of these tea kettles will run you between $25 – $70. The nice part about these high quality kettles is that they will last much longer than some of the other brands. A bargain tea kettle may only last a year while some of the most expensive models may last a life time!
A Few Final Thoughts
When most people hear the worlds “tea kettle,” they think of the whistling variety. It’s a sound that can be very relaxing to some people since it signals a cup of tea in just a moment. For others, it may be a very annoying sound and they won’t have whistling tea kettles in their kitchens. It’s all a matter of personal preference!
Whistling Tea Kettles Tip #1
Never use a scrubber or a cleanser that can scratch on your stainless steel tea kettle. There are many cleansers that you can use that won’t scratch the surface. Think of the outside of your tea kettle like the outside of your car. If it will scratch your car, it will scratch your tea kettle.
Whistling Tea Kettles Tip #2
If you have an older cast iron style of tea kettle and you have rust inside, then you can remove the rust with soap and water. Once you have removed all the soap, wipe the inside down with a cloth and a touch of olive oil. You do not want it saturated, however. Just a small amount will coat the rusted areas.
Whistling Tea Kettles Tip #3
There are several whistling tea kettles today that allow you to remove the whistle. It’s simply placed on the spout when you want it. Whistling tea kettles can be very nice if you’re heating up water when everyone else is sleeping!