Enamel teapots: types and subtleties of choice

Making tea, coffee, cocoa and some other drinks, dishes is unthinkable without hot water. But a pleasant leisure time with a cup of tea depends not only on the capacity of the teapot. It is also important what its appearance is. Enamelled vessels are quite popular and noteworthy.

Many people believe that enamel teapots are hopelessly outdated and out of date. This opinion is fundamentally wrong. It can only be attributed to single models that are really old-fashioned and irrelevant. But it is very easy to find an enamel lined teapot that meets any design and practical requirement. The special coating has the following characteristics:

• does not spoil the taste of the prepared drinks;
• does not provoke allergic reactions;
• does not pose a danger of food poisoning.

However, all this is guaranteed only with proper care. If you have to pour hard water into an enamel teapot, it will have to be systematically cleaned of the resulting scale. The coating must maintain its integrity. If the slightest cracks appear, the dishes will have to be changed. However, this circumstance is somewhat smoothed out by affordable prices.

Enamel teapots date back to the 1960s. But early versions were of dubious merits. The only serious advantage of those models was the beautiful colors. The soot adhered very actively, and because of the poor quality, the enamel split very quickly.

The decisive role is played by the rational choice of a particular instance. Design parameters are largely individual. It is only advisable to think about whether it will be convenient and practical to use a particular product. You should also choose a kettle that matches the style of the set of utensils for tea drinking. However, in any case, you will need to systematically clean out the soot and grease drops. The easiest way is to select products for a gas stove. You can buy absolutely any product to your liking. There are a number of models equipped with plastic handles. You need to check if they are located correctly. If such elements are improperly placed, there is a danger of melting on fire.

But a particular brand of a product should not be given special importance. “National origin” also does not matter. Much more important is the material from which the kitchen utensils are made. You should also pay attention to such nuances:

• electric or simple fire heating method;
• product geometry;
• teapot dimensions.

The classic colors of enamelled utensils were gray, green and blue. Fortunately, modern technology allows you to achieve a much wider color gamut. Metallic gray (which can be dark or light) is considered the most practical solution. It can be used in almost any interior. The exception is kitchens and dining rooms decorated in country, Provence, Scandinavian, exotic national styles.

If there is no such problem, gray metallic will add modern touches to the kitchen composition, diluting prim and strict motives. This product will look especially good together with a set of household appliances similar in color. But the black teapot is considered almost a universal solution.

A dark piece of kitchen utensils needs to be supplemented with accessories similar in tone, and also diluted with the introduction of white or red. But it should be understood that very dark teapots, like pure white teapots, can easily get dirty. Especially many problems arise when they have a glossy surface. If the need for constant care does not scare you, you can give preference to the white version.

Connoisseurs do not advise purchasing all culinary utensils in white only. This will create a blurry and blurry composition. Sometimes products of bright colors are also used - yellow, blue, violet and other saturated colors. It is necessary to consider how a certain paint affects the overall mood of the interior. This is sometimes even more significant than your own preferences, since the atmosphere should satisfy the guests as well.

The handle should not be over or near the spout opening. It is easy to get burned by placing your hand there. It can even occur from splashes that appear when the lid is dropped into water. Because the wider the lid, the better and more practical the product. It is even more correct to choose a kettle with a valve: when it is closed, the lid will not fall down at any tilt.

Some firms offer models with very low spout placement. It is convenient to pour water out of there, but too little of it fits inside. This design, in addition, leads to the appearance of a mass of scale. The best spout placement is slightly above mid-height.

It is quite possible to ensure that the new kettle works as long as possible. To do this, before using for the first time, perform the following steps:

• the kettle is washed;
• fill up to the upper allowable limit;
• boil the collected water;
• let the kettle cool down.

Do not leave a heated kettle on the gas stove. However, it is unacceptable to place hot dishes on a wet, cold surface. The best option is a special stand made of heat-resistant material.To cope with scale, an aqueous solution of citric acid is boiled in a kettle. If the tools at hand do not inspire confidence, you can pay attention to the proprietary formulations (they are used strictly according to the instructions).

Kettles can be distinguished by their parameters and some additional details.

• Teapots equipped with a whistle are very convenient. Thanks to them, there is no need to constantly wait until the water boils. But models without a whistle have another advantage - they are the cheapest.
• Models with a wooden handle look more interesting than those equipped with a plastic handle.
• As for the volume, everything is very individual here. You should not chase excess capacity. Because of it, you will have to overpay for gas or electricity. However, a too small 1 liter version is completely impractical. It is useful only for people who are at home alone and, moreover, occasionally. Therefore, in most cases, products with a capacity of 2.5 - 3 liters will be the best choice.
• Comparison of domestic and foreign products plays an important role. Russian firms use the spraying technique. It is less practical than the submersible technology used abroad. Therefore, imported products, even in spite of the increased price, are much better suited. There is only one argument in favor of domestic developments - collections that are customary in design.

Alternatively, you can consider another type of metal kettle - made of stainless steel. This option has its own differences. This material is more prone to deformation. On the surface of such a kettle, streaks and dirt can appear much more often, which are difficult to remove. While enameled dishes are much easier to clean. The service life of stainless steel cookware and enamel cookware may or may differ.

Since quite a few people prefer goods made in Russia, it makes sense to start with Russian-made teapots. Good positions were won by the products of the Magnitogorsk plant "Enamel", which has been operating since the late 1950s. During this time, production lines and technologies have been significantly updated. The company has managed to achieve an excellent balance between cost, performance and design considerations. The enameled tableware ratings consistently include the products of the Cherepovets LLC “Stalemal”.

Of foreign brands, the following are distinguished by good characteristics:

• Belarusian Omelia (this company actively uses modern technologies);
• chinese Mayer end boch (distinguished by the use of first-class steel and reliable coatings);
• Japanese concern Ejiry (its engineers have developed a technology for the production of glass enamel mixed with powdered sugar).

Agness products may, however, be as good as Japanese-made products. This concern uses excellent, reliable steel. Glass-ceramic enamel is made using completely safe coloring components. The handle is fixedly mounted and made of bakelite. This type of plastic is characterized by low thermal conductivity, and therefore burns are excluded during normal use.

Agness enamelled kettles are suitable for any (except induction) cookers. But they are guaranteed to be suitable for washing in dishwashers. The company makes every effort to ensure that the details are worked out clearly and competently, so that there is a flawless design.

In the next video you will find an overview of the Mayer & Boch Mini enamel teapot.