PerfecTemp Cordless Electric Kettle (CPK-17)
Popular "stainless steel" variable-temp kettle that is actually the category trap - the lid underside, hinge, spout filter, and water window all touch water and are plastic.
Plastic-free verdict: Minimal plastic contact
A textbook example of a steel-bodied kettle that is not plastic-free in the water path. The interior wall is stainless, but the lid underside and its hinge are BPA-free plastic and sit right over the water, the spout filter has plastic joinings, and the backlit water-level window is plastic in contact with the water. It is BPA-free, but multiple plastic parts contact hot water and steam - listed here as a caution, not a recommendation.
Verification: Community reported · reviewed 2026-07-05
What it's made of
| Part | Material | Food contact |
|---|---|---|
| interior wall | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | Yes |
| lid (underside) BPA-free plastic underside sits over the water and steam | Polypropylene (PP, | Yes |
| lid hinge plastic hinge in the water/steam path | Polypropylene (PP, | Yes |
| spout filter stainless mesh with plastic joinings that contact water | Polypropylene (PP, | Yes |
| water-level window backlit transparent window; plastic in contact with the water | Plastic (other / unspecified) | Yes |
| temperature probe seal rubber seal around the temperature probe (reported); contacts water | Natural Rubber / Latex | Yes |
| exterior body | Stainless Steel (304 / 18-8) | No |
| power base | Polypropylene (PP, | No |
The Cuisinart PerfecTemp CPK-17 is a widely sold 1.7 L variable-temperature kettle with six preset temperatures, a keep-warm function, and a backlit water window. Its body is stainless steel, which is why it is often mistaken for a plastic-free kettle. In reality the water and steam contact several BPA-free plastic parts - the lid underside, the lid hinge, the spout filter joinings, and the water-level window - so it does not meet a plastic-free or no-contact-plastic bar. It is a capable kettle; it just is not the one to buy if avoiding plastic-in-water is the goal.
Pros
- Genuinely useful variable temperature presets and keep-warm
- Stainless exterior and interior wall; BPA-free plastics throughout
- Backlit water window and cordless base are convenient
- Widely available and well reviewed for usability
Cons
- Lid underside and hinge are plastic and sit over the water/steam
- Spout filter has plastic joinings that contact water
- Backlit water-level window is plastic in contact with the water
- Marketed as "stainless steel" but is not plastic-free in the water path
Notes
- Capacity: 1.7 L; six preset temperatures plus keep-warm
- Included here as a cautionary example of the steel-body / plastic-water-path trap
- All plastics are stated BPA-free, which does not mean plastic-free
Categories: Electric Kettles
Sources
Every material claim above is backed by these. This is the scattered info we centralized.
- review https://shouldit.com/kettles/reviews/cuisinart/cuisinart-electric-kettle-cpk-17p1/ teardown-style review - lid interior is BPA-free plastic contacting hot water, plastic hinge, spout filter plastic joinings contact water
- forum https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions/Tx390K78EVFX0JS owner Q&A - lid interior/hinge plastic, water-level gauge is plastic, removable water screen and probe seal contact water
- review https://oolongowl.com/cuisinart-cpk-17-perfectemp-variable-temperature-kettle-review/ independent review noting interior is stainless "except for a couple of plastic parts," box states BPA-free