Kelly Kettle
- By John Fenna
- Last updated: 16/12/2016
The Kelly Kettle is available in aluminium or stainless steel and has a long and glorious history of boiling water quickly and efficiently in the outdoors, in practically any weather, and is the “traditional kettle of West of Ireland fishermen”. I have owned an aluminium version of the large Kelly Kettle for several years and it has proved excellent. Here I am reviewing the stainless steel version of the medium sized ‘Scout’ model.
How It Works
The kettle is basically a double-walled chimney of stainless steel with water held between the walls. A small fire lit in the base and fed from down the chimney will boil the water in about 3-5 minutes (depending on the fuel used), the semi-conical internal shape of the kettle giving a large surface area for efficient heat transfer and almost blast furnace efficiency in the burning of twigs, paper, leaves etc.
Once the water boils, carefully lift and pour, using the spout’s chain (that holds the cork) to tilt the kettle. The silicone stopper should be used for transport only and has a handy clip to keep it safely away while the kettle is in use.
Coming with a drawstring bag and full instructions, the Kelly Scout Kettle has a capacity of 1.1L and measures some 26cm high (packed) x 18.5cm widest diameter and weighs about 1kg. The Scout Kettle SST costs around £47.95.
Cooking Accessories
Also available is an accessory pack comprising a 2-piece grill, saucepan, frying pan and handle (which fit into the base of the kettle for storage) and allowing you to do some more adventurous cooking with your Kelly Kettle. This cookset costs around £16.50.
The Kelly Kettle range also includes a 2-part fold-fl at cruciform pot stand that sits in the top of the kettle’s chimney (without obstructing the feeding of fuel into the kettle) and allows you to cook as the kettle boils. The pot stand costs around £5.50 and is great for making (amongst other things) toast – if you use non-smoky fuel – noodles and other quick-cook edibles.
The cookset and pot support sit inside the base of the kettle for transport.
Go Anywhere Cooking
Stunningly simple, tough and efficient, these iconic pieces of outdoor kit are used worldwide to great effect. The aluminium kettle I have had for years is showing some signs of wear and use, but still works well, but the SST models will probably last even longer. The supplied stuff sack is big enough to pack easily and is strongly made.
Full sets of kettle, cookset and pot support are available, the Scout Kettle Kit costing around £69.50 with everything fitting into the supplied stuffsack with room to spare for a brewkit and/or some dry kindling