Le Creuset Enameled Steel Whistling Tea Kettle

Comment: I received this teakettle for Christmas 2009. By April rust was evident around the lid opening, around the pouring end of the spout, and at the point the spout joined the body where there was a hairline gap in the enamel. I followed the instructions--never left water in the teakettle, never let it boil dry, didn't bump or jostle it. I contacted Le Creuset and they said to send it back at my expense and they would decide if it merited replacing. Three weeks later the replacement arrived. It is now July and every time I put the lid on the teakettle flakes of rust pop out from under the stainless steel ring around the opening. In the last few days the rust has emerged from under the ring, so I called Le Creuset again. After being put on hold twice and finally getting referred to a supervisor Le Creuset agreed to pay the shipping to return the teakettle. As compensation they will give me a credit that I can only use to buy Le Creuset products from Le Creuset at Le Creuset prices. If I want to get a stainless steel teakettle from them I have to pay an additional $35, although I could get a third enamel on steel teakettle that most likely will rust before Thanksgiving at no additional cost. What a bargain! This is a terrible product with terrible customer service.

Comment: This is the second Le Creuset tea kettle I've owned, and neither has been a disappointment. My first was the Zen tea kettle. I loved it's graceful shape. I am enjoying this one no less. In fact, I am surprised at how much satisfaction this little tea kettle has provided. It's a little work of art. The color and shading are very attractive, it has a pleasing shape, and it's well made.

The whistle is a bit unpredictable, but that's a small thing. It was never intended as a safety feature but as a convenience. To those who complained that the lid is too tight, I would point out that this is a good thing, since it keeps steam from escaping around the rim. You don't want that to happen when you're handling the kettle. To those who complained about the stopper and about burned fingers, I would say read the directions before you use this product. If you wait a moment for excess steam to escape the spout you won't burn yourself. In all the years we've owned Le Creuset tea kettles we've never experienced any burned fingers by following that practice.

You do have to take care of the enamel finish, but that's the nature of enamel coating. If you bang it too hard you will chip it, and if you use abrasive cleansers you will dull it. If you take care of it properly it will last a long time and provide much more than satisfactory service. I am sold on my Le Creuset tea kettle.

Comment: We received this as a gift and it will replace our old Revereware tea kettle. I do have an issue with the whistle, however. Our old kettle has a beautiful song, as the note will slowly rise in volume and pitch until it settles on it's final, unmistakable note at full boil. The whistle on the LeCrueset cannot seem to settle on a single note, it warbles and garbles random pitches and volumes in a very awkward way. Is this what the designers and engineers planned, or did they forget to actually try it? Maybe the sound of the whistle was never a consideration or they got a really good deal on the hardware. Either way, I've heard a lot of tea kettles in my life, and appreciated a good many of them, but this one sounds obnoxious.

Comment: I love my kettle - it boils water quickly but the whistle isn't very loud - that's my only gripe!

Comment: The tea kettle has a vibrant cobalt blue color, which enhances any kitchen. It also has a good capacity and a pleasing whistle sound!