BLACK+DECKER 1.7L Cordless Electric Kettle: Review, Pros & Cons

Summary

A 1500-watt plastic electric kettle with a 1.7-liter capacity, dual water-level windows, and a one-touch switch. Check whether you want a plastic-free water path before you buy, as the interior and measuring tabs contain plastic.

Strengths

Simple one-touch operation automatically shuts off when water reaches a boil.
Dual illuminated water-level windows make the fill level visible from either side.
360-degree swivel base lets the jug lift off and return from any orientation.
Removable anti-scale mesh filter catches loose particles during pouring.
Two-year manufacturer warranty offers longer coverage than some competing budget models.

Weaknesses

Fixed interior geometry and red cup tabs can make interior scrubbing awkward.
Lightweight plastic construction feels less substantial than glass or heavy metal kettles.
Lacks temperature selection, variable heat settings, or keep-warm timers.
Kettle jug is not dishwasher safe; only the detached filter can go in the dishwasher.
Mineral scale can accumulate and cause the heating element to slow down if not descaled.

Verified specifications

Model and code	KE1555GY, gray, UPC 050875828025.
Capacity	1.7 liters or seven cups maximum.
Power	1500W at 120V/60Hz.
Materials	Plastic body, handle, lid, and inner red water-level tabs; stainless steel heating plate.
Controls	Single rocker switch, auto shutoff when boiling, boil-dry protection.
Handling	360-degree swivel base, removable mesh spout filter, push-button lid.
Dimensions	9.5 in high, 8.27 in long, 8.5 in wide; weight 1.85 lb.
Warranty	Two-year limited warranty from original purchase with proof.

Full research notes and sources

Operation and cleaning

The kettle operates with a single rocker switch that illuminates the dual water-level windows during heating and automatically shuts off at a boil. The 360-degree swivel base allows the jug to lift off freely without aligning a cord. For cleaning, the removable mesh filter can be washed in hot soapy water or a dishwasher utensil holder, while the interior requires manual rinsing and descaling with white vinegar when mineral deposits build up.

What owners report

A verified Walmart Business purchaser found the interior very difficult to clean and felt the materials were poor. That last review was incentivized, has no starting temperature or water weight recorded, and is not a repeatable timing benchmark. No owner has published a failure rate for this exact model, so treat the cleaning complaint as a known annoyance rather than a defect.

Running costs

There is no subscription and no filter cartridges to buy; the mesh filter is washable and scale is handled with ordinary white vinegar. Heating 1.7 kg of water from 20°C to 100°C needs at least about 0.158 kWh of heat, so at an assumed 85% heating efficiency a full boil draws roughly 0.186 kWh, about 68 kWh a year for one full boil daily, which is about $13.60 a year at $0.20 per kWh. Boiling one liter daily comes to roughly 40 kWh a year, about $8 a year at the same rate. The efficiency figure is an assumption, not a measurement of this model, and your water temperature, load size, scale and energy tariff change the result.

The manufacturer lists the kettle at $42.99, and identical $42.99 pricing is available through authorized sellers including Walmart and Target Plus. Editorial alternatives include the Chefman Fast-Boil 1.8L glass kettle at $27.99 and the BLACK+DECKER KE1700SD stainless-steel model at $34.99.