this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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A kettle is such a default kitchen item in the UK that I find it kinda crazy that it's not standard somewhere like the US, though I know I've seen the difference in base voltage being a factor before.
I went to visit a friend in the US (los angeles). She asked me what I want for breakfast and I said just some tea please and nothing else. I saw her going from confusion to terror in 5 seconds. And I was like whats wrong? Is everything ok?
Eventually she boiled water in a mug in the microwave, put in some pieces of apples and called it tea.
A few weeks later I went for work in the bay area. I just cannot start a day without tea. I saw the hotel I stayed in had a bit of difficulty in the tea department. Decided to buy my own kettle so I can have my tea in the room. Naively went to an electric store to buy a kettle. There was none. I was like WTF. Went to target, there were none. Only stove ones. But my room didnt have a stove. Then it hit me americans just dont boil water like the rest of the world.
I'm an Aussie living in the USA and I've got a $10 kettle from Walmart... somewhere. They do exist. I don't use it often any more because we have an espresso machine now, and it can produce instant hot water.
That is pure insanity, wtf USA are you alright? I always use my kettle at least once a day. For tea or for heating up pasta water much faster
Target sells electric kettles.
So does Walmart.
Even Best Buy sells electric kettles.
I dont want to call bullshit, but I'm definitely smelling it.
It was 2011. There were only stove kettles. 🤷🏽
Just use the microwave. It's pretty much as fast. Hotel lobbies often have one.
DO NOT MICROWAVE WATER
there's a risk it will basically detonate when you take it out and you will be covered in burns.
I think it's a default item everywhere except north America.
As part of reviewing a stay, Airbnb always asks if the place had a coffee maker. I've only ever ticked yes in the US, Canada, and Indonesia.
(edit: I should clarify, it asks if there was a coffee machine, but it DOESN'T ask if there was a kettle, showing the US-centric app design.)
You're a psycho if you don't have one in Canada. Don't lump us in with america
We stayed in a few different places across BC and Alberta. I can remember they all had drip coffee machines, but I can't actually remember if they were equipped with kettles, too! That being said, the addition of drip coffee makers could have been for American tourists (I did make good use of them though).
I stayed in Ontario for a while and the house didn't have one, but I bought one no problem
Voltage isn't an issue iirc, just that it isn't in our "culture" to use kettles. Of my extended family (20+) there's only 2 who have kettles.
voltage is a bit of a factor - electric kettles heat water more slowly (about half) in the US than in somewhere like the UK. There's a definete cultural aspect as well, but I think more people would hop on it if (as in the UK) having one meant basically instant access to boiling water
The amount of time it takes for our US kettle to reach temperature is ridiculous. My wife and I have a kettle that I only really use when I make us a pot of tea. It takes about 5 minutes to bring a liter of water to a boil and it doesn't get much better with less water. If I'm just making one cup, I'm just gonna put it in the microwave.
I've seriously considered getting a 220V outlet installed just for a proper kettle. We like our hot beverages, so I kinda think it would be worth it.
Might need to descale your kettle. Mine doesn’t take 5 minutes to heat a liter, and it’s on 120v.
Totally agree, I used to use an electric kettle for my coffee every morning and while waiting for it to boil, I could
All before being ready to pour
It's still the fastest way to heat water. It's just that people don't really care. It has nothing to do with the fucking voltage.
Yeah sorry I meant to say I know I've seen it mentioned as a factor before, didn't know whether it's actually true or not. If that's not a factor, get on it Murica.
Voltage * Amps tells you how fast the water will boil. So lower voltage can be fixed with higher amps.
The UK runs at 230V and 13A, ~3kW max. The US is typically at 120V and 15A, 1.8kW max. Though 20A circuits exist, 2.4kW.
But US kettles are 1800W or less. Doesn't matter what the circuit can support. Have a 240V plug wired from your oven or range circuit, then buy the UK version.
In Canada, the building code requires 20A sockets in kitchens. Obviously this only impacts new construction.
Continental Europe too. The first kitchen device I bought was a kettle.
You can make tea, coffee, cheap ramen, clean the drain.... It's universal!
How do you fit the kettle down the drain? ;)
You just have to push really hard.
Our kettle died and I guess we didn't replace it quick enough for my mother in law, because she showed up with a new one a few days later. Only cost a couple of dollars, but it's been going strong for the last 6 years.
At least for me, it's pretty pointless since I already have a kitchen appliance that spits out hot water relatively fast: the coffee machine
In Australia, I only drink tea IF I’m feeling like it in winter which is it that often. Don’t drink coffee. And yet I’m still surprised it’s not something that’s in every house…
There’s just not as many tea lovers here in the U.S. I think. I got one a couple of months ago though (I am a tea lover). Game changer.
The lack of tea lovers in the US is definitely the issue. Most grocery stores have disgusting low quality tea so most Americans don't like tea. I've been sending family high quality tea for years now and they love it but can't find anything remotely close locally.
I order loose online, but I’ve also found some bags that are quite good. Thompson’s Irish Breakfast is a personal favorite. Oh and I timed my kettle today; 1.5L takes 6:15 to boil.
There's a great video about why it isn't widespread in the US on YouTube by Technology Connections.
Same, I was so surprised it's even mentioned, I thought it's one of the things everyone has.