whatilearned
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/30/steamed-up-kettlegate-or-is-the-new-york-times-pile-on-just-a-storm-in-a-teacup
TIL: most Americans boil water using a stove or a microwave instead of an electric kettle
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As a US citizen new to the idea, I fucking love my electric kettle. Super fast, and way safer than a stove top.
In the UK home power is 230volts. In the US most home power of 120volts with 220volt circuit for specific circuits for clothes dryers and oven/ranges.
Which means boiling water is faster from normal outlets in the UK. Hence electric kettles just work better.
How many in the UK have a coffee maker?
Yeah I’m we don’t have a tea-drinking culture so we don’t really have kettles. Also it takes just as long in the microwave so why have a special device for it.
Why the hell would anyone bother wasting money or counter space to buy an extra appliance when you’ve already got a microwave and measuring cups
It’s the way to go if you’re a regular coffee drinker and prefer the ritual of making it yourself over a machine. You can dial in the precise temperature for your French press, Aeropress or pour-over instead of waiting for the kettle whistle and then winging it. I only started using one a year ago and it’s a real game changer.
Edit: Elecric kettles, I mean.
Once I used a kettle, won’t go back.
There’s such a thing?
It’s an extra appliance for no reason to most people who don’t drink tea everyday, which as far as I can tell the only reason they have them. It’s wasteful and yet Americans are made to look bad for it
A Non tea drinking Brit is still obliged to have tea bags and a kettle. Would be such a foreign concept not to have one just sat on the worktop
Americans don’t tea. Why would we need a kettle?
It’s quite slow in the US due to 110 V electricity in homes. In Europe, with around 230 V, water boils around twice as fast. There you see a big difference to other appliances.
Wtf is an electric kettle?
Oh how barbaric! *twists mustache and puffs on pipe*
WOT
DO AMERICANS REALLY
COR! AMERICA AMERICA AMERICA! RIGHT CHUFFED I AM
Do you cook pasta in an electric kettle
I’m American, I use an electric kettle, and was introduced to it by a coworker. I didn’t realize they were uncommon.
I love my electric kettle and I’m in the US. Sure, it’s an extra appliance, just like a coffee maker is an extra appliance. But I use my kettle more than I would ever use a coffee maker.
I used it this morning to boil water for my oatmeal, then again about an hour ago to make broth with bullion for a dish I’m cooking tonight. My husband will use it to boil some water for ginger tea once he gets home from work.
Three uses in one day. Even my microwave hasn’t been used as much today. All of these people acting so smug about how they can use their microwave – sure you can. But there’s no need to be smug just because you haven’t personally experienced why it’s convenient. Just accept that for some people it is. I’m not mocking all of you out there with coffee makers taking up space on your countertop.
My wife drinks tea several times a day and WILL NOT use an electric kettle. We had one at my previous job and I was surprised at how fast it boiled the water and recommended it to her. She has her kettle on the stove right now, in fact. And, for some reason, she never turns it all the way, keeping it on 7 or 8 instead of 10. Guess she likes it to be even slower.
I have a regular kettle and an electric kettle, and the 2-3 times a week I want tea I usually just microwave the water.
I may be a monster.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c)
Here’s an in depth answer to why.
Fuck yeah I fucking love America and fucking love my stove even more
Distilled water on the stove still taste better.
White people thinking they know how tea works
just nuke it…duh
what do you need some fancy kettle for..
Well not all of us some of us got smart
Keurig makes hot water.
My drip coffee maker is fine, as it is what I use 90% of the time, if I need something that requires hot water separately I just use the stove. I can also use my drip coffee maker without a coffee or filter to get hot water.