While teapots and teakettles often look very similar, these objects are designed with different functions in mind. A teakettle is specifically designed for stovetop use, allowing the user to heat water for tea or other purposes. A teapot is a container for brewing tea which may or may not be safe for use on a hot stove. Most kitchen supply stores sell a number of different teakettle and teapot styles and designs to meet an assortment of needs.

A kettle is a pot designed to be used over a fire or stove for cooking. The word comes from the Latin catillus, meaning “a deep dish or pan for cooking,” and historically every household had a kettle, as it was a crucial piece of kitchen ware. Various cultures also derived smaller kettles which were specifically designed for boiling water which could be used to prepare teas, tisanes, and other foods; by the 20th century, other types of cooking pans had emerged, but the teakettle endured.

Typically, a teakettle is made from metal or heavy stoneware pottery, since these substances can withstand repeated heating and cooling. The basic kettle design includes a lid which can be lifted to fill the kettle, and a spout for easy pouring, along with a handle so that the kettle can be lifted or moved. A well designed teakettle has a handle which will stay cool while the kettle heats. While tea can be brewed in a teakettle, most people reserve the kettle for clean fresh water only.

A teapot can be made from an assortment of materials, since it does not have to withstand the heat of a stove. Teapots are found in porcelain, ceramic, stone, wood, metal, and glass. Hot water is poured from a teakettle over tea leaves in a teapot so that tea can be brewed. Many teapots include strainers for the purpose of brewing loose leaf tea, although some cooks prefer to use tea bags for easier cleanup. In some cultures, teapots are designed for both stovetop and brewing use; heavy Japanese cast-iron teapots, for example, can be heated on the stove and used to brew and serve tea.

In addition to teakettles designed for stovetop use, some companies make electric kettles. Electric kettles plug into the wall and quickly heat their contents with an internal heating element. These kettles are much more energy efficient than traditional stovetop kettles, although they may not be as aesthetically pleasing.