Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle and Toaster Set review: A perfect kitchen duo?

Having a toaster and kettle set can bring uniformity to your kitchen. Russell Hobbs is one of the UK's leading household appliances brands, and it also become the primary kettle maker, globally. One of its newer duos is the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle And Toaster Set.

Made from polished stainless steel, both products are designed to make life in the kitchen as simple as possible. This is shown in the kettle with its rapid boil promise and the toaster with its multiple toasting settings.

Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle and Toaster Set overview

How we tested the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle and Toaster Set

Our tester is a 79 year-old who has owned several kettles and toasters throughout their lifetime, so they know what they want from the kitchen appliances. They set up the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle and Toaster in their kitchen and tested it over four weeks, making plenty of cups of tea and toasted snacks.

As well as commenting on the overall build and appearance of both items, they tested the efficiency of the kettle - seeing how long it would take to boil cold water - and how user-friendly it was (the weight, shape of the kettle etc.).

For the toaster they also tested its usability, commenting on the number of settings it has. They also tried slices of bread and bagels, to whether it can toast different bread items with ease.

Testing the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle and Toaster Set

"On first impressions, both of the products look nice together when I put them on the kitchen counter; the stainless steel captures and reflects the light."

Testing the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle

"The Russell Hobbs kettle is a lightweight kettle but looks great on the counter, especially with the matching toaster."

Usability

Our tester said: "I appreciated the three red markers inside which let you see how much water you need to add for one, two or three cups but some people might prefer to be able to see this in a clear section on the side without lifting the lid. Luckily it’s very easy to lift the kettle lid off, compared to others I’ve used where it’s stiffer to remove, so it’s easy to look inside while you’re filling it up.

"I’d also prefer to have a light that shows when the kettle is on – apart from a click when you press the button, there’s no sign to show that the kettle is on. However, it boils quickly - it takes 45 seconds to boil one cup’s worth of water - switches itself off, and pours well without dribbling or spurting water which are probably the main points I’d look for in a kettle. It’s also lightweight so as an 79-year old woman I had no problem lifting it."

Build

"While the design is stylish and minimal, it’s worth bearing in mind that the silver does attract finger marks and heats up when the kettle is boiling so best not to touch the metal parts!"

Testing the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Toaster

"Like the matching kettle from the set, this is a lightweight entry level toaster but offers good value for money from a well-respected brand."

Usability

"There are three settings – toast, reheat and defrost – and you can change the heat/toast level from 1-7 and stop it early if needed.

"When it comes to toasting, I can’t fault it – it toasts evenly on both sides and fits a standard size of bread. I have my doubts as to whether it would fit a larger slice than average but this is the case with most toasters I’ve tried. It fits both bread and bagels so sizeable enough. While it’s not ideal for larger families as it only has space for two slices, it’s ideal for a single person or couple."

Build

"Like the matching kettle, the silver looks great but attracts finger marks. It has a crumb tray which makes it easier to clean up and it looks great on the side and would blend into most kitchen decors.

Our tester’s verdict

"All-in-all, I’d say this is a very good entry level kettle. I’d like to have seen a couple of changes, such as a marker on the outside to show the amount of water that’s inside and a light to show it’s on, but these are minor points when you consider it boils quickly, pours well, and makes a good cup of tea!

"The toaster only has two slots, but it fits a full-sized piece of bread and works just as you'd expect it to.

"The set does what it needs to, and looks good while doing it, and all for a decent price so while it’s not all-singing, all-dancing, the Russell Hobbs Lincoln Kettle And Toaster Set is a reliable option for most smaller households."

Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about theatre, TV and film. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.