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Why don't Americans use electric kettles?

⁨44⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨mesamunefire@piefed.social⁩ to ⁨videos@lemmy.world⁩

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c

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Comments

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  • SaneMartigan@aussie.zone ⁨23⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago

    I use an induction kettle on the induction stove top in Australia (240v).

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  • scarabic@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Uh we do.

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  • ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works ⁨51⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago

    I do, buy metal not plastic.

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  • Durandal@lemmy.today ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Some do, but because of the prevalence of automatic coffee machines and microwaves there isn’t as much of a need outside specialty coffee drinkers.

    The argument about speed and convenience doesn’t work in the US because of the outlet voltage as well. The 110-120v outlets don’t provide the same level of power to kettles so they can’t heat up as quickly. If you have a microwave it’s just as fast or faster.

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    • PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      He addresses this some. 120v is still a lot faster than boiling water on the stove. Coffee makers are significant, but boiling water in a microwave is generally a bad idea, given the risk of superheating (not that people don’t do it.)

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      • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        I have never once (unintentionally) superheated water in a microwave, and I’ve been using them since about 1980.

        It just doesn’t happen - there are too many imperfections in our containers, and too many minerals for it to happen much.

        I’ve experimented many times, and the reality is you have to work at superheating water in a microwave.

        For me, it’s taken things like a brand new Pyrex measuring cup (glass), and filtered water. I can do it with other stuff, but I’ve had to boil/cool it multiple times, something that isn’t really going to happen.

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  • kmartburrito@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    I use them all the time! Unfortunately though our power system uses 120v and not 240v so our kettles aren’t as effective here. Still, MUCH more effective than boiling on the gas or electric stovetop/range.

    Ironically it was after I spent time in Europe for work in the early 2000s that I picked up on this and bought one for my house. Now with my family of four, we use them regularly.

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    • DmMacniel@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Uhm your link points to the same video by Alec as the OPs link. Just saying :)

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  • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    120v vs 220v

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    • scarabic@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago

      I’d love it if someone would market a 240V kettle for the US. I’d install the 240 line for it. I mean I use the damn thing multiple times per day, more than my stove, and that has a 240 line.

      Still. I’m not convinced it would make a major difference. Like I said I have a 240V induction stove and I have experimented with how fast I can boil water on that thing in a suitable pot or kettle, versus the 120V electric kettle. It is not a big difference. We’re taking a few seconds.

      In the winter months when we’re drinking lots and lots of warm beverages we plug in the Zojirushi hot water carafe and have hot water all the time, instantly. It does consume some energy to keep it hot all the time, but it’s well insulated and we use a timer to turn it off at night and then on again in time for morning wake-up. Eliminates the wait entirely.

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      • Sludgeyy@lemmy.world ⁨17⁩ ⁨minutes⁩ ago

        You should look into getting a hot/cold water dispenser for your sink. Easy to DIY install.

        They consume ~40w per hour. Where I live it is 15 cents per kwh. That’s .006 per hour, .15 per day, or 55 dollars per year.

        Instant hot/cold water whenever you want it is nice.

        Starting from room temperature water to near boiling takes a ton of energy. I don’t know if keeping it hot for 8 hours takes more electricity than starting it back up in the morning.

        But you’re probably paying half the $55 in electricity right now for the Zojirushi.

        Id pay $25 dollars a year to have instant hot and cold water (even filtered if you wanted) on tap 24/7. Especially if I were like you and used it multiple times a day.

        You only need a 120v outlet.

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  • NatakuNox@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Now coffee drinkers than tea

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  • TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    We do? I’ve had one for over a decade

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    • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Use it all the time, but rarely for tea. Boiling a few eggs last night. Half the water in the electric kettle, half in the pot on high, join half way through to speed up the process. Making ramen, kettle. There is always some reason I find it useful.

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  • Deflated0ne@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    I’m Americwn and I use one. It’s great.

    Got into French press coffee a few years ago and bought one.

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    • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Same here. Got it for French press coffee for me and hot cocoa for the kids.

      Realistically I rarely use it and I really can’t claim it saves noticeable time but it’s so simple and and cheap an appliance that i consider it well worth it

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  • LovableSidekick@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Mainly lack of marketing I think. When I went to England a few years ago they were everywhere. I bought one as soon as I got home.

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  • Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Because we have microwaves.

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  • growsomethinggood@reddthat.com ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    The niche coffee scene in the US uses them, they are excellent for pour overs, French press, etc. But they are not widely popular since dedicated coffee machines are most commonly used.

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    • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      For anyone concerned about the quantity of plastics you consume, coffeemakers have a lot of plastic but kettles do not.

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      • scarabic@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago

        My electric kettle has plastic parts. Also my pour over funnels are plastic. This is not a meaningful distinction between the two.

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  • Funky_Beak@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Australian looking bewildered with their kettle and microwave I like making a cup of tea while I reheat my lunch.

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    • not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Do Americans have multiple microwaves?

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      • mbfalzar@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        I’m an American, and yes, I have two.

        One of them is a cheap $30 one we bought when we moved in and needed to heat meals from frozen because we didn’t have pots and pans yet, and it’s now in its box in the storage closet as a backup in case our good microwave breaks, but I do have two

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  • CuddlyCassowary@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    I’ve used one for ages, it especially helps when boiling water on the stove. I heat it in the kettle first and then pour it in the stove pot. So much faster!

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    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      But one more thing to own, store, manage, for a little convenience.

      I can boil 2 cups of water in the microwave in 5 minutes. Or 4. Takes about the same amount of time.

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      • not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        Five fucking minutes OMFG. Just get a 240V outlet in the kitchen so you can plug in a proper kettle.

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  • Sendpicsofsandwiches@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Because nobody fucking told us about them! I just got one last year and it’s been amazing!

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    • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      Safer for kids as well. They don’t stay on and apparently people say water without something breaking the surface tension can pop in the microwave when you go to pull it out (never had it happen to me, but I have only tried a handful of times in my life… always had a teapot or electric kettle). … Or a pot. I used to just throw the teabags in a pot and pour it into a pitcher / cup after

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  • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    At one point many years ago, there was an fad for a “hot shot” small appliances. I guess it’s a similar functionality to a kettle but with more moving parts. It disappeared as quickly as it appeared though.

    Holy crap, they still exist!

    • …bestreviews.com/best-sunbeam-hot-shot-water-disp…
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    • kmartburrito@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      I have one too! It’s super old but works amazingly for small things like individual cups of tea or hot chocolate for the kids. Got it as a white elephant gift that someone thought was a joke. I was super excited to get it. We have several kettles too.

      Image

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      • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        Wow, exactly as I remember it … from decades ago!

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    • NataliePortland@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      My mom still uses hers. It’s great.

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      • AA5B@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        So does my mom, but hers is really ancient.

        I used to like them but since I got the kettle, I prefer

        • more convenience for multiple cups or for ramen, more flexibility
        • no plastic to drink
        • fewer moving parts
        • easier to empty, dry, put away
        • it looks cooler
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  • Zahille7@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    Cause I’m not cooking noodles backwards

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  • Rentlar@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    They are not universal but reasonably popular in Canada.

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