Customer Reviews

Chantal Stainless 1-4/5-Quart Classic Teakettle

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

... start with a Chantal tea kettle. After having purchased tea kettles that didn't whistle consistently even when full (the OXO Good Grips Uplift for one), it is nice to finally have one that does. No longer do I have to worry about putting the kettle on and forgetting about it! The water is heated very quickly, and it has a nice sounding harmonica whistle that is just the right loudness. I have a gas stove and the handle did get hot. Another reviewer had a good idea about using a pot handle hotpad (the Woolworks wool one fits well), but the handle cools so quickly that I find that I usually don't even use it. This is the nicest looking tea kettle that I've seen. Even though it is 2.5 quarts it's not as big and clumsy as some of the others. One look at the bottom of this kettle, and you know that it is sturdy, sturdy, sturdy! Most definitely a high quality kettle.

For two or three times the price of an equally attractive and useful kettle I fell for the Chantal whistler. What was I think? Once again you don't always get what you pay for. The design, especially of the heavy wire handle suggests that the form actually functions, in this case to dissipate heat and make the handle cool enough to lift. Alas, no: you have to dress the handle in an asbestos-appearing little pot holder that comes with the kettle. One more thing to misplace, one more layer of complexity in the early morning routine. And filling or pouring isn't a breeze either. As for the whistle - anyone can whistle - better. And the whistle mechanism frequently fails due to moisture buildup. Come on Chantal - it's a kettle and there's bound to be steam: that's the point for goodness sake! And it isn't a perky little kettle whistle nor is it a romantic foghorn. It's a ho-hum harmonica at best. OXO makes a much better whistling kettle that fills and pours far more reliably and accurately and has a heat protected easy grip handle - at 40% of the cost. Chantal, for all its design pretense is ultimately poorly designed. It's not a kettle I'd recommend.

Have had this teakettle for over five years with perfect service. Earlier, I had a blue enamel Chantal from Williams-Sonoma, and the interior enamel began flaking off. W-S is known for excellent customer service and cheerfully allowed me to replace it with this model (plus the difference in price between the two models, about $30 at the time).

The kettle came with a handle-shaped pot holder-like sleeve for using the handle after boiling water. However, the salesperson and the user manual both warned that the holder is NOT safe to leave on the pot while heating: you slip it on only when the pot is boiling, and you remove it immediately after use (between use, you can store it on the kettle handle). Seems like an after-thought workaround.

Earlier this year, I saw the same kettle at the home of a relative. She had a silicone handle on her kettle handle that apparently is safe for use when heating. I didn't take the time to note whether this was a specific Chantal product or whether she adapted a silicone pot handle from another manufacturer (e.g. Le Cruset or Cuisinart). It's a shame Chantal does not provide a silicone holder instead of the less than ideal holder supplied with the kettle. One star deduction for the pot holder issue, otherwise a great product.

I've owned the large Chantal classic stainless teakettle for about 10 years and it's still looking and sounding great. Yes, it boils water just fine, and it also gently reminds me when the pot is hot. For me, the low harmonica note is much more pleasing than a shrill whistle--particularly because it's audible throughout my open-space house. My teakettle has moved from state to state with no dents or dings, unlike the cheaper brands I've owned, whose colored coating has chipped or plastic parts broken. The bottom is still perfectly flat and smooth--I even used it on a flat cooktop with no problem (the manufacturer says it's suitable for induction cooktops). As advertised, the wide removable lid makes it easy to clean the interior, although I haven't noticed any deposits that warrant scrubbing. I was told by the store (Williams Sonoma) to hand-wash it, a possible drawback; fortunately a soapy sponge does the trick, because it's a target for spills and splatters on my crowded range. This was my first splurge on cookware for myself, and my guilty qualms and sweaty palms were well worth it: apart from its enduring utility, this teakettle is the one pot in my kitchen that's on "display," front and center, day after day. I'm not trendy, and fortunately, this 25-year-old design isn't either. It may not be the prettiest teakettle, but to me, its enduring form and function strike just the right balance.

I bought this high end kettle thinking I would get a reliable tea kettle. Although it is beautiful, the handle gets extremely hot and requires a pot holder to pour the water. The tea kettle gets stains from my gas burner and this requires extra maintenance. Lastly and most disappointingly was that the kettle leaked from the pour spout only 1 year after I purchased it. For the price I paid, I thought I could get at least 7 years out of it. I would not recommend purchasing this kettle. I'd look for something more reliable for a more affordable price.

I was really excited to get this teakettle as a Christmas present. I loved the design, loved the harmonic whistle, and it seemed really sturdy and durable. I washed it and heated up water for my first cup of tea only to find tiny metal shavings swirling around in the bottom of my teacup. I have tried many different gentle cleaning methods and run several changes of water through the kettle, but each time there are tiny bits of metal in the water, sometimes more, sometimes less. I don't know if I just got a defective kettle or they all tend to do this, but just be careful -- those swirly bits at the bottom of your cup might not be tea leaves! Really disappointing considering the price. The hunt for a good kettle continues.

I've had this kettle for three years. I bought it because it looks good. The two-tone harmonica "whistle" is nice, emitting a nice lower pitch sound at the beginning of a boil, progressing to a Flinstone's quarry lunch-whistle pitch with a harder boil. It's fine. Any whistle is supposed to get your attention, right? That's the whole point. My main problem with this kettle is how hot the handle gets after even just a moment on the burner. Apparently it comes with a little sleeve for it now (mine didn't) but at $120 should you really have to use a pot holder to get it off the stove? For those reviewers who said the handle doesn't get hot--I have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. In three years I've gone through heavy-use phases where I made back-to-back kettles full of hot water (to fill a pump pot) plus coffee & tea, moderate-use phases where I used it for my French Press every morning and for tea every night, and low/no-use phases. The whistle has never failed to function (as one reviewer stated) nor have I ever, ever, EVER been able grab the handle without a potholder. In fact, it has burned me when my kitchen towel isn't exactly covering the entire handle. Ridiculous lack of performance at this price.

I have had my lovely shiny grey Chantal tea kettle for about six years now and I still am amused to hear the harmonica sing. I manage the handle easily, it pours fine, and it's fun to show friends. I've never regretted spending this much money on this classy kettle!

I bought this kettle for looks and that is all I got. It gets so hot as to be unusable and I had to make myself a little sleeve to put on the handle to even hold it. The finish has not held up well and even though I use commercial stainless steel cleaners and polishes it still looks horrid. In general I do not recommend Chantal products - I have had two saucepans that held up well, but a roaster and stockpot have been huge disappointments. If you actually want to USE your kitchen utensils, I would avoid this brand.

This kettle is fantastic. It's expensive, but worth every cent. It's very attractive with a nice polished stainless steel finish and a classy design. The quality of the kettle is superb with a thick solid base ideal for glass-topped stoves. It is also the best pouring kettle I have encoutered and has a unique two-tone whistle which sounds like a train approaching!
Some reviews indicate that the handle gets too hot to hold but I have not found this at all. It stays quite cool and I have not needed the included fabric holder.
Overall I would say, without a doubt, this teakettle is the best that you can buy.