TIL you americans don't own electric kettles and microwave water instead

what the OP is not actually conveying is that in the UK they're on a whole different technological level with kettles, and I'm only partially ironic: I was used to a crappy series of kettles in Italy until I moved to London and bought a massive one that heats a couple liters of water in a matter of seconds. it's a real game changer.

Microwaving water is fast and easy.

Now that I have a house and way too many appliances, I mostly use an electric kettle, but I'll still use the microwave if I just need to warm up a cup of water. It's very rare that I actually need to heat/boil water, though -- I don't drink hot tea or boil food regularly.

I have one, I use it when making coffee (french press, etc).

I have an electric kettle.

I think the majority of Americans don't though because there isn't a need to boil water often/regularly. Fewer tea drinkers (most that do use stovetop tea pots?) and coffee drinkers use drip coffee makers.

Buying an electric kettle was eye-opening for me. Didn't realize how essential of a kitchen piece it would be. Used to just boiling on a stove before.

galv said:

"i have an electric kettle and it does a fine job, but i'll never understand the outrageous overreaction a lot of euros have towards americans microwaving water. Like it's not a big deal at all."

It is a big deal.

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I've never seen a compelling argument as to why. It's always ridiculous overreaction and an almost intentional effort to not understand that water doesn't become some dangerous nuclear concoction due to evil science magic.

This thread is ridiculous, I've never heard of a single person in my professional or social circles here microwaving water. Plz.

"I just put it on the stove"
What year is this?

I just use a saucepan. Works fine.

I microwave my water, come the fuck at me!

nobody microwaves water

Now that I think about it, when I want hot water I just get it from the Keurig machine.

I have seen all walks of people heat all kinds of things up in the microwave at work. This includes water for noodles, water for tea, water for instant coffee, etc.

Mad Max said:

Electric kettles don't work too well on 120V, so they're not much faster in america than using other methods of getting water to boil.

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Makes sense why you wouldn't bother then

Sucks though

I have a water kettle used nearly daily in conjunction with a French press. Grind the beans. Heat the kettle. Come back and press.no worries about boiling over.

What exactly am I heating this water for so frequently I need a dedicated device to do it? If I need to heat water for tea I just use my kettle on my stove.

I use a stove top kettle.

American resident here. Have been using electric kettle for years.

They're fantastic.

I don't need another bulky kitchen appliance.. stove top is fine.
I see people microwave water at the office all the time..

Who gives a shit?

Microwaving water is for ramen, tea is made from a kettle heated on the stove.

Anoregon said:

I've never seen a compelling argument as to why. It's always ridiculous overreaction and an almost intentional effort to not understand that water doesn't become some dangerous nuclear concoction due to evil science magic.

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For real. Microwave ovens are completely safe

ive never microwaved water in my life

Even if people do heat water in the microwave I don't really see the controversy in that. I mean microwaves heat water fine. Its water, its not that complex. What are you worried your water is going to end up soggy if you heat it in the microwave? I mean I suppose it could be difficult to control the temperature in a microwave but if you are just trying to get water from cold to hot. What's wrong with a microwave?

It's not safe to microwave water for a prolonged amount of time. The vapor can get in the circuitry. I think that's what the repair man said about my broken microwave.

Wait till you find out they don't use videts lol

If you thought that was crazy wait till you get a load of this:

Americans don't boil their potatoes. They microwave them.

Quikies83 said:

I don't need another bulky kitchen appliance.. stove top is fine.
I see people microwave water at the office all the time..

Who gives a shit?

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Your other points withstanding .. electric kettles are hardly what you would call a bulky appliance.

They're the size of a small water jug and take roughly 8 to 10 inches of real-estate on your counter top.

Futureman said:

I heat my water on the stove top you freak.

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Same.

I have never seen anyone microwave water, ever.

Random Painted Highway said:

I have a water kettle used nearly daily in conjunction with a French press. Grind the beans. Heat the kettle. Come back and press.no worries about boiling over.

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Boiling over? I've never has a stove top kettle boil over...

TIL non-americans like to ask their American friends about American things then use that to generalize the entire country.

Anoregon said:

Oh boy it's this thread again, time for some rationale and non-hyperbolic discussion.

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You know who else wanted rationale and non-hyperbolic discussion?

Satan

I've never heard of people microwaving water. I just have a small kettle.

(Canadian here, basically a cold American) I have an electric kettle, but I still don't really get why it's some big deal? Do you drink tea all the time or what? I feel like I use it a few times a year.

I'd probably boil water in a pot on the stove if I didn't have one, not microwave.

I so rarely boil water that it would be a waste of space. If I need to boil water, I put it on the stove.

We have a stove kettle, but I'll use the microwave if I'm just having a single cup or am work. Why dirty up another thing?

An electric kettle is hands down the most "it's useful but why would i bother buying one?" appliance i can think off.

Like, fuck buying more crap, the stove is perfectly fine.

Dennis8K said:

If you thought that was crazy wait till you get a load of this:

Americans don't boil their potatoes. They microwave them.

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We also clap whenever we buy hamburgers at the hamburger store.

I don't even own a microwave. I just use one of these on the stovetop:

chandoog said:

Your other points withstanding .. electric kettles are hardly what you would call a bulky appliance.

They're the size of a small water jug and take roughly 8 to 10 inches of real-estate on your counter top.

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That's valuable real estate, especially for something that won't be used regularly.

chandoog said:

Your other points withstanding .. electric kettles are hardly what you would call a bulky appliance.

They're the size of a small water jug and take roughly 8 to 10 inches of real-estate on your counter top.

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I live in a Tiny Home. Counter space is a premium.

I used to use the Stove... but now I just use my Keurig Coffee thing. I just don't put a K-Cup in there.



This is fine right? I'm not exposing myself to health hazards am I???. >_<

I microwave water, then put it into a french press for coffee... Cuts time to coffee injection down by like 3 minutes, so that's acceptable losses on culture.

I have an electric kettle, but I drink a lot of tea. Most Americans drink more coffee than tea.

BocoDragon said:

(Canadian here, basically a cold American) I have an electric kettle, but I still don't really get why it's some big deal? Do you drink tea all the time or what? I feel like I use it a few times a year.

I'd probably boil water in a pot on the stove if I didn't have one, not microwave.

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UK residents do drink tea all the time, yes.

who the fuck microwaves water?

Americans not owning bidets is the serious offender. Whenever I travel to the US for work, particularly when partaking in the American diet, I shudder before going to the bathroom.

backfire

I've microwaved a cup of water before, it makes the coffee look and taste fucked up