Electric kettles have been around for a long time. In tea drinking countries they tend to be more popular, but with the rise in tea drinking in the United States, the electric kettle is gaining popularity.

Many of the early electric kettles were made of ceramic, with an exposed element. You had to watch them or they would boil dry. The newest generation, though, are made of either plastic or stainless steel. The element is more likely to be exposed in the plastic versions, whereas because of the material used, a stainless steel kettle has the element built into the base, which makes the kettle easier to clean and prolongs the life of the element.

The reason this review is focusing on the stainless steel version, rather than the cheaper plastic, is because of durability and the concerns in recent years regarding chemicals leeching from plastic into food and liquids when heated.

All of the kettles reviewed have the following in common:

• They are stainless steel;

• they are cordless (that is they have a base and the kettle can be lifted free of it)

• and they all have an automatic switch-off mechanism so that the kettle will not boil dry.

Breville have always had a good reputation for making excellent kettles. The Ikon stainless steel kettle, thankfully, lives up to that reputation for the most part.

It is well designed, with a grip handle and a button the automatically open the lid for refills. It works fast, and you will have your water heated in less time than you would have on the stove. The large lid makes it easier to clean the inside of the kettle as well. As well as all the standard features, a 'ding' sounds to let you know when the kettle has finished boiling. Not all electric kettles have this feature, and if you are the kind to walk away from a kettle and forget you've boiled it, this is a great reminder.

Beware, though, because the sides of this kettle will get hot when it is heated. Don't leave this, or any kind electric kettle anywhere where little hands can get at it. The only other real design fault is the position of the water gauge, which cannot be easily seen when filling up the kettle, because it is on the opposite side of the handle.

Some consumers have reported on opening the box, and when first in use that there has been a strange smell, sort of like burning rubber, when first used. The manufacturer claims that this smell is from a protective coating on the stainless steel, which is used in the manufacturing process. Be sure to clean this kettle thoroughly before use following the manufacturer's instructions to get around this.

Overall, Breville make some of the best kettles on the market. Their prices are on par with other kettles of similar make and design, and are worth the investment if you drink a lot of tea or instant coffee.

The Chef's choice electric kettle looks more like the traditional on the stove model. The design is good, and it is ergonomically easy to pour. Like most electric kettle models this one boils the water fast so you won't have to wait long to get your tea or coffee. The water gauge is in a good position and can be easily read when filling it up.

Chef's choice have designed a kettle that looks good on the bench if you leave it out, and with the top opening lid it's easy enough to clean inside and out to keep it looking good.

With this kettle the sides do get hot when it is boiled, so do not directly touch the sides and keep the kettle out of reach of anyone who is likely to get burnt or pull it off the kitchen bench.

The major disadvantage with this particular kettle is that the automatic switch-off has a delay of a minute before kicking in. They may have designed it this way so that your water is on a rolling boil, which it might not be with other models. It can have consequences if you leave the kettle under woodwork, or somewhere that steam can damage.

The only other real complaint about this model is that some consumers have mentioned the smell, similar to that of the Breville model. On the whole this seems to be a minority of cases, though.

This is a good, reliable kettle that does the job its intended to do.

This is a more traditional-looking electric kettle. For people trying to match the more modern-looking electric kettles into a classically decorated kitchen, this is a good choice.

Performance-wise, the Cusinart Kettle is good - on par with the other two kettles reviewed on this page. It boils fast and cuts off just after reaching a rolling boil. It's reliable, and there have been few complaints about its overall performance.

Surprisingly, the smell which has been reported on both the Breville and Chef's Choice kettles does not appear to be a problem with the Cuisinart version. This alone puts this kettle in a class of its own. The main design fault, instead, is with the kettle lid. It can stick after boiling and is sometimes even hard to remove when the kettle is cold.

Overall, this is a reliable and easy to use kettle, with more to recommend it than its competitors. If it fits into your kitchen design, even better.

These three kettles all fall into the mid-pricerange. This makes them a good choice, especially if you are unfamiliar with electric kettles. Their main selling points are their fast boils, and overall reliability.

Of the three the Cusinart Kettle rises above the rest as it is reliable, and does not have the smell which has been associated with the other kettles.

The Breville is next. It's a great kettle from a manufacturer who has been making them for years. The onlyreal sticking point with the model is the smell that some consumers have reported.

Last, but not least is the Chef's Choice. The reason this kettle comes last is because of the extended boil. While it is not really a problem in the right kitchen it can be a hassle if the only place you have to position it is under cabinets.