OXO Good Grips Anniversary Edition Uplift Tea Kettle

by OXO

• Natural cork handles help resist heat
• Spout opens automatically when Kettle is lifted
• Loud whistle signals when water is ready
• Large lid opening for convenient filling and cleaning
• High grade stainless steel and zinc construction guards against rust

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.2 x 9.5 inches ; 2.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B003AIKP22
• Item model number: 1466009
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,151 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Color: Brushed Stainless Steel

OXO's Kettles – The Pressure is On

In 1998, OXO introduced its first Tea Kettle. Safety and practicality were the guiding principles during the development process, and our little Kettle came complete with an innovative steam shield.

Through user feedback, we realized we missed a key consumer insight – that a Tea Kettle, while a practical kitchen tool, is often a centerpiece in the kitchen. Users would leave them out on the stovetop when not in use and some even coordinated their entire kitchen decor around their Kettles. While the steam shield was innovative, it was considered by many to be unsightly (some likened it to the "Flying Nun"!).

In 1999, we corrected the aesthetic flaws to our otherwise safe, practical and well-performing Kettle with the Uplift. The kicker is that all of its elegant aesthetics came as a direct result of making the Uplift safe and easy to use.

OXO Good Grips Uplift Tea Kettle

Fun Fact:

The OXO Uplift Tea Kettle has an iconic shape that has become an instant American classic. It is the most requested OXO item used in propping television and movie sets. Look for it next time you watch "The Big Bang Theory!"

Problems Identified

• Handles on tea kettles are positioned too close to the steam and hot water at the spout, making it uncomfortable while pouring
• Angle of kettle handles combined with weight of filled kettle make it difficult for users to lift and pour without straining wrists
• Fine motor skills required to open kettle trigger to pour hot water; difficult for many older users to maneuver
• Small opening on top makes it difficult to clean interior of kettle

The Process

• The quest for the perfect interaction point between the spout and the handle (so the kettle would not open when carried around filled with water, but would open easily when tipped forward) led us to the current connection between the spout and handle, one that resembles a splash of water.
• The same connection point was also designed to keep the spout open if the user chose, so that they could keep the Uplift's whistle quiet while boiling water, which is especially handy when preparing an early morning cup of tea.
• While designing an opening large enough to be easy to clean, we needed to ensure it wasn't so low as to limit the maximum water level, but we still needed to keep it in balance with the spout for aesthetic reasons.
• Through user research, we learned that steam would sometimes escape from the lid and unfortunately heat the handle, so we added a silicone seal to minimize any unintended heat transfer and keep the kettle safe and easy to use.

OXO Good Grips Classic Tea Kettle

OXO's Solutions

• Large, comfortable handle is angled away from the spout and is heat resistant and non-slip, even when wet
• Handle angle allows user to hold Kettle comfortably and without wrist strain, whether filled with water or nearly empty, by adjusting grip accordingly
• Whistle spout opens automatically when Kettle is tipped to pour – no awkward buttons or levers to press
• Wide opening on top of Kettle enables easy access for cleaning and can also be used as an opening to fill Kettle

The OXO Story:

In 1990, OXO staged a revolution (of sorts) by offering an easy-to-use, high-performing alternative to uncomfortable and ineffective kitchen gadgets. OXO's innovative take on the traditional Swivel Peeler, complete with its pudgy black handle, raised consumers' expectations of what could be expected from household products.

Today OXO offers over 800 products, each developed with a close (some might say "obsessive") attention to detail. Our goal is to deliver products that maximize comfort AND performance, illustrating our mission to create innovative consumer products that make everyday living easier.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Tea Kettle; Works Well August 22, 2011

By Tesla Aldrich

Color Name:Brushed Stainless Steel

When my husband told me he wanted a tea kettle, I decided to look for the most attractive one I could find. This is it. (The other one that nearly made the cut is this lovely Le Creuset enamel job, also available in stainless:Le Creuset Enamel-on-Steel Whistling 1-4/5-Quart Teakettle, Caribbean)

The mechanism for opening the pour-spout is a bit unusual; the entire handle lifts up and the spout cover lifts out of the way. This sounds kludgey, but actually works quite well. When I realized this, I thought it would be impossible to pick up the teakettle by the handle without accidentally popping it open. In fact, it's quite easy; I've never had it pop open accidentally.

The cork stays nicely cool even when the kettle boils.

The whistle is inoffensive, if not inspiring.

Given the choice, I would absolutely buy this again.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Nice Tea Kettle July 15, 2011

By Mr. Knowledge

Color Name:Brushed Stainless Steel|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really like the design of this tea Kettle. It boils quickly, whistles, holds water well, no leaks. Handle is cool to the touch. The pour mechanism works well. It is very classy!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Right! November 25, 2011

By Les

Color Name:Brushed Stainless Steel|Amazon Verified Purchase

Searched all over for a stainless steel kettle that did not have steam escape when boiling, did not dribble when pouring, whistled, did not have any plastic in touch with the water, required only one hand to pour, and held a decent amount of water. It was a gift for my daughter and her husband. It seemed like basic requirements. After a frustrating number of weeks of finding kettles that had part of the requirements, or were no longer being made, we FINALLY found this kettle. My daughter and her husband love it! It does what is asked of it and looks nice on the stove as well. The cork handles are a nice addition and allow them to not have to use a hot pad when using this kettle. Thank you OXO for another winning product!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Eye Catching But Poor Function June 2, 2012

By D. Gainer

Color Name:Brushed Stainless Steel|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was looking for a kettle that both looked modern and attractive and functioned well. This kettle looks modern and attractive, but has two flaws that led me to return it.

First, the lid didn't fit the body perfectly - there was a very tiny seam between the body and the lid - and as a result steam & heat leaked out the top of the kettle when it was on the stove. As a result, the handle would be really hot by the time the kettle boiled. Not dangerously hot, but uncomfortably hot.

Second, the lid opens and closes based on how you hold the handle. That works well enough when the kettle is full, but by the time the kettle is 2/3 empty, it's almost impossible to open the lid.

Finally, the one I was sent showed up dented and with a chunk taken out of the nice cork handle (the cork is really nice), but that's probably not standard.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for me February 1, 2012

By Kimi

Color Name:Polished Stainless Steel|Amazon Verified Purchase

I spent hours on Amazon research the best tea kettle because I'm a student and don't have enough money to just buy and see what works and what doesn't. I couldn't me more pleased with this and am so glad I paid the little bit extra to get this. Everything is stainless steel so I know that it wont really rust or fall apart. It is easy to clean it and fill it up (even if you fill it up at the sink like I do, not all tea kettles you can do this) and the pouring mechanism is neat it takes some getting used to but once you do it's awesome! The handles never get to hot with the cork, the whistle on mine isn't very loud FYI, I like that it isn't that loud just because I have a small place and it doesn't need to be screaming at me so I can hear it, it has a pleasant whistle. Anyway couldn't be happier use it 2 times a day if I have any problems with it in the future I will be sure to update to let everyone know but right now couldn't be happier!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars cork it November 4, 2012

By Stella Robinson

Color Name:Brushed Stainless Steel

I usually steer clear of Oxo products, but made an exception for this kettle. I liked the look of the cork handle and thought that it would be more functional than the typical tea kettle. It's a disappointment. The cork gets very hot, the whistle doesn't whistle. The uplift device is useful, but complicates filling the kettle -- you have to use the lid. I don't like it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good enough December 19, 2011

By Canuto B. Borromeo

Color Name:Brushed Stainless Steel|Amazon Verified Purchase

The tea kettle is designed nicely and seems durable. I'm not entirely sure how long that cork handle and cover will last, but it is visibly constructed with quality in mind. Like some other reviewers, I noticed that the whistle doesn't really start blowing until the water is at a full boil. However, I can hear it start to bubble, so it's easy enough to keep an eye on.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect in the New Kitchen November 15, 2011

By K. Morley

Color Name:Polished Stainless Steel|Amazon Verified Purchase

A bit pricey but it works and looks perfectly. Polished chrome is much easier to clean than the brushed I had prior. Metal section of the main filler top does get a little hot, be careful