• Cornpop@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    1 day ago

    We do? I have one. Know lots of people that have them. They sell them at Walmart for like 20 bucks.

    • mesa@piefed.socialOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      I think certain regions of the US do have them and others do not at all.

      For example, where I am at, I have only met one other person in real life that has one. But I do hear about a lot of my friends on the east coast having them. Dunno.

  • KarlHungus42@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 day ago

    I think the better question is; why is there a weird stereotype in Europe that Americans don’t use these? We have one and just about everyone I know who regularly drinks tea does as well. It might not have been as prevalent a decade ago, but these are extremely common now.

  • Soapbox@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 day ago

    I have one, but it only gets used a few of times a month. Usually by my wife when she just wants to make a small amount of coffee in the French press, or to boil water for instant foods. If you don’t really drink tea, they aren’t that useful for the amount of counter space they take up, and I can see why they aren’t as common here as they are in the UK.

    • Cornpop@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      I switched to induction and could not be happier. Love that thing. So much power, instant temp control like gas, low fire risk. I recommend induction to everyone.

    • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      120V vs 240V.

      One has much more power available to achieve the same in a different time.

      For example: I can easily boil 0.5L to 100°C of water in about 2-3min.
      And the kettle is rated for 2kW.

      • Cornpop@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 day ago

        Voltage is only half of the equation. It’s wattage that determines how fast a kettle can boil water, but the UK does generally have higher wattage kettles than the USA. Most are 1800 here in the us, while they can be up to 3000 in the UK.

        • rroa@reddthat.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 day ago

          That’s exactly the point. Home connections are limited to a specific amperage (15 or 16) pretty much all across the world - certainly not beyond that anywhere. Voltage remains the only difference: 120 vs 240. With 120V at 15A you can only go up to 1800W which does take a long time to boil water.

          Yes, you could have multiple phases to get to 240V in 120V countries to boil water faster but these would be special outlets and not meant for a kettle that you could buy from a Walmart.

      • joel_feila@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        actually that the why they are slower. most plug in devices in the usa are limited to 1.5 Kw. weather you used a 120v or 240v current it would just change how many amps it draws

        • chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          2 kW @ 120 V is 16.7 A, which exceeds the 15 A limit on most household wiring in North America. To be able to achieve that you’d need to get a 20 A rated circuit installed by an electrician which means pulling out and replacing the wiring with a heavier gauge.

          The advantage of 240 V rating in the UK is that you can draw more power with less current, so you don’t need the wiring to be so heavy for a high power appliance like a kettle.

        • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          Well yeah.
          But if both are rated for 6 or 8 Amps and can only supply 240 or 120V, you are bound to that.
          Thus the volts are important as well.

          • joel_feila@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            Something rated for so few wouldn’t be a good heater. At 1.5 kw that typical cut off for small devices in USA. You draw 12 amp. Plug it into a larger 240 vlot circuit and it draws amps but you still only get 1.5 kw of heating. Same time to boil water

    • BradleyUffner@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 days ago

      Yep. I’ve got 2. One in the house for hot chocolate, and one in my woodshop for um, woodshop things.

  • Durandal@lemmy.today
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    39
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    3 days 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.

    • BeardedBlaze@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      I’m in US. It takes roughly 2.5 minutes to reach 200F (coffee), and roughly 3 minutes to reach 213F (tea) and I’m talking 1 liter of water.

      Also, good luck fitting 1 liter in most microwaves.

    • PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      9
      ·
      3 days 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.)

      • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        28
        ·
        edit-2
        3 days ago

        I have never once (unintentionally) superheated water in a microwave, and I’ve been using them since about 1980 (and God knows we were idiots with them back then).

        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.

        • mesa@piefed.socialOP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          3 days ago

          He goes into it in another video on the channel. Almost everyone I know uses a microwave for water.

        • RBWells@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          3 days ago

          Huh. I have. Didn’t know what it was, but heated the water, dropped in a spoon and it boiled over aggressively even though it didn’t look like it was boiling.

          We do use a kettle, this happened at work - the microwave there was a lot stronger than mine, and I couldn’t get the water to look like it was boiling.

          • beastlykings@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            2 days ago

            Same here, happened when I was young. Thankfully I wasn’t holding it in my hand, it was on the counter. I didn’t get burned

    • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      3 days ago

      Voltage isn’t equal to the level of power though, a 110v can provide the same power as 240v. I think tea drinking just isn’t as popular in the US.

      • ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        3 days ago

        It’s not, but you need over twice the current to supply the same power, and since many safety measures and physical constraints limit the current, it effectively means the power limit is more strict.

        This is assuming the same cables and breakers etc being used for both voltage ratings. I know there are specific wiring and connection systems for high amperage stuff in 110v places (probably for some 220-240v places too, but I’m in a place with notoriously bad electrical everything, fuck if I know)

        • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          3 days ago

          Makes sense, I think you’re right and that the wattage still ends up being lower overall in the US.

      • beastlykings@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 days ago

        Jokes aside, you can microwave small smooth metal vessels. Like mixing bowls and such.

        Do so at your own risk, if it doesn’t specify that it’s microwave safe.

        But you can buy ones that specifically say they are microwave safe. It just means they’re extra smooth, nowhere for charges to accumulate or concentrate. Might have something to do with it’s size too, not being resonant at 2.4ghz, but don’t quote me on that part.

        Useful if you don’t want to take leftovers out of the plastic container first, and if you’ve had glass explode on you before.

    • Jesus@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      I have a nice electric kettle that I use for pour over coffee, but my morning tea, I just nuke a tea bag in water for a minute and a half, and move on with my morning.

      I’m great in the AM. I just want caffeine.

      • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        You microwave the water with the tea bag already in it? At least drop the bag in after microwaving… The superheated instant boiling thing can be mitigated with basically anything in the water. Hell, my local water is hard enough to avoid it straight from the tap.

        • Jesus@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          2 days ago

          I microwave with the bag in. You want nucleation sites during heating so bubbles can form. If you ge over 100c with water in a smooth container, then add tea, that’s how you instantly boil over.

          That said, I’m in the camp that wants their black tea just under the boiling point. It’s less bitter and doesn’t need cream or sugar. I know that a certain time, cup size, and power level usually sticks the landing between 95c and 100c.

        • topherclay@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          The superheated instant boiling thing can be mitigated with basically anything in the water.

          A teabag, for example.

  • 2piradians@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    2 days ago

    I do. And my kettle boils water faster than the electric stove.

    So when I boil larger quantities of water I prefer to boil ~2/3 in the kettle and 1/3 on the stove with a lid on for max speed; my time rarely feels more wasted than when I’m waiting for water to boil.

    I also use the kettle for hot drinks, of course. I’ve kept one since I lived in the UK.

  • JcbAzPx@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    2 days ago

    The thing we use hot water for the most is coffee, which has its own device. For the few times we would need it for something else we either use the stove top kettle we inherited from grandma or the microwave.

    Having said that, it’s not like electric kettles don’t exist here. They seem to be becoming more popular.

  • GaMEChld@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    I do. I have a nice temperature control pouring kettle. But I imagine that unless a person is into tea or a coffee enthusiast, most Americans are probably fine with a drip coffee machine and a microwave is fairly fast at boiling a mug too.

  • kmartburrito@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    13
    ·
    edit-2
    3 days 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.

    Edit - also Technology Connections (my favorite nerd out YouTube channel) did a video on this.

    And I’m an absolute bonehead for missing that this is the same video as OP posted. Please forgive me for being excited as an American that uses kettles!

    • ADTJ@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      3 days ago

      I’m curious since you guys still use 240V for washer, dryer, cooker, EV charger, etc. Could you legally install a 240V socket (with a different plug type) and use an appliance from a 240V country?

      I get it would probably be overkill for a kettle alone but I’m curious why it’s only common for some things. Is it regulated, like do devices need a special approval to be allowed to run 240V in US?

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 days ago

        It’s perfectly legal to install a 240v outlet. They’re most common for electric stoves and dryers, but you also see them for machine equipment in a garage or workshop, air conditioners, electric heaters. There’s no reason you couldn’t have one in a kitchen.

        Finding an appliance to use it might be different. Not only would an appliance for another place be designed for different electrical system (eg 50Hz instead of 60 Hz) but there would be none of the typical certifications and it would have a different plug. Technically there’s nothing stopping you, but you’re probably past the threshold of plausible deniability.

        That being said, it was tempting!

        • beastlykings@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          2 days ago

          I’ve thought about doing this. In fact, if I ever own or build a house, I’ll be adding 240v plugs for exactly this reason. Something like a nema 6-15 or 6-20, with a GFCI breaker in the box to make it (presumably) legal.

      • kmartburrito@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        3 days ago

        Nope, it generally is not a good idea to try that. It might possibly work, but European power typically runs at 50hz (50 cycles per second) and the US is designed at 60hz. This small difference can mean that a European device would operate more quickly than designed. This is especially an issue with devices that have internal timers or motors.

        Also, we have different plugs in the US for our 240v appliances, which would mean an interesting plug adapter situation.

        So it could possibly work, or it could break the thing, or start a fire. Generally not for the faint of heart and definitely should consult an electrician.

        • ADTJ@feddit.uk
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          You’re right about the frequency for sure, most things with an AC motor for example wouldn’t handle it.

          But a quick search shows people have done this for things like kettles without issue.

      • joel_feila@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        the legality would depend on code and regardless of voltage we do have 60 htz not 50 htz. That would only matter if there was a clock in the device. You also need to make the wire in the wall can handle it. Fun fact a lot of cheap device with times use the electrical frequency to keep time. That could also lead to wearing down of some parts faster.