cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/20260613
Its quicker in the US because of the voltage difference. In the UK kettles are quicker.
Big benefit to a kettle is not heating the container in the same way, making it easier to pour/brew. Also no timing involved as the kettle turns itself off once the water has boiled (whatever the volume) where as in the microwave you have to get the time right for whatever your bpiling.
Kettle is also great for boiling water for cooking - you can put freshly boiled water into a pot and then get it up to boiling or simmer on the hob fast.
To be honest, I was just testing if crossposts were working from Photon (they don’t on Lemmy UI on 0.19.4)
also some of them have temperature control. it’s awesome. I can set it from 40 to 100 degree with 5 degree intervals. also it has option to keep the water warm up to an hour
Which is nice because not all teas/infusions are made for 100C. Also if you just want to warm up water to warm up baby milk.
Found the Brittish ;-)
My old trusty just died in multiple ways, the top broke (the plastic “handle” to open it broke) , the poutruding thingy fell off and it doesn’t stop when the water boils, all in a couple of months.
Gotta get a new one, any great ones I should consider? I live in France and there are not a lot of different ones to choose from.
Kettles are more efficient and thus faster at a given wattage.
The only reason a microwave would be faster is if you have low-wattage kettle or a 220v microwave, in which case it isn’t an apples to apples comparison
I use neither a microwave nor an electric kettle, but a stovetop kettle. What kind of troglodyte trash monster does this make me?
As a Brit, using a whistling stovetop kettle is perfectly acceptable for tea making!
Thank you. Between our lower outlet voltage and my strong aversion to taking up unnecessary kitchen real estate, I’ve never seen value in an electric kettle.
Now to get back to the British/American animosity, I rarely drink tea. I use my kettle to heat water for coffee in the French press.
I do enjoy a good herbal in the winter months, but something like Earl Gray is a rare occasion for me.
After your, rather notorious, party in Boston, I’m just glad you’ve upgraded to using hot fresh water, rather than cold salty water.
It’s also worth noting that tea, like coffee has a WIDE range of qualities. I’ve found most/all American teas to be well below par. This is particularly prominent in earl grey. Most earl grey sold in England is, quite frankly, shit. You only really notice when you have the good stuff.
Electric kettles are just easier to use and it’s the difference of what, 1 minute?
i don’t have a microwave, but isn’t there a chance water can “overheat” in the microwave and instantly, explosively vaporise when you put something in? is this just super rare, so nobody cares?
Technically? Yes. Practically? No.
You’d have to be trying to microwave distilled water to even have a shot.
Technically, yes.
I think the scenario would require you to heat up pure H20 in a perfectly clean non porous glass. The H20 would not bubble and boil so the temperature would raise above the boiling point.
Once anything is introduced, like a spoon or a tea bag, into the liquid it would explode with steam and super hot water.
I’m sure someone smarter than me could explain it more better.
the water and the container would need to be very clean and the container would need to be very smooth and free of surface defects for that to happen. even microscopic cracks or scratches in glazing or glass can act as a highly effective starting point for boiling.
think scraping over the bottom of a glass with a spoon: that might be enough already to create those kinds of scratches.
I’ve never had water explode in a microwave. Never had a potato explode in the microwave either.