Abstract: An electric kettle heated by a thermostatically controlled electric heating element includes a conduit for ducting steam produced by boiling water in the kettle to a steam chamber adjacent the thermostatic switch on the kettle for cutting power to the heating element upon sensing steam temperature. A steam exit from the steam chamber is located under the kettle and is spanned by a metal cap external to the exit and supporting a porous, absorbent filter pad through which the exiting steam must pass. The filter pad acts to condense and absorb the exiting steam so that no steam is observed from the bottom of the kettle and the accumulation of condensate on the surface supporting the kettle is minimized or eliminated.