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Why don't Americans use electric kettles? (www.youtube.com)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/videos@lemmy.world
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[–] 36 points 1 year ago (9 children)

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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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    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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  • [–] 27 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    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.

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  • [–] -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    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)

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