I used to do house calls a decade ago for IT work. Often customers offered me beverages.
Had a European who worked at the UN for decades make me tea. Blew my socks off. I've never enjoyed tea, but it seems like we just don't know how to make it!
... The next month I was offered tea by a American. I wasn't expecting it being made by a pro, but let him try.
He put "hot" tap water into a cup and tossed a teabag in.
I fake drank it.
As a guy who recently got into tea, any recommendations? I got a box of Yorkshire gold, it's pretty good, but almost tastes a little.... chalky? Malty I suppose is the word. It's good, I'm not complaining, but would be interested to hear recs from someone who knows what's what
We've visited them in person and their tea was so fantastic that even non-tea people loved it. They ship worldwide. I tend to order in bulk these years.
Only one tea has ever come close, and it was a small Asian restaurant out of Vancouver, BC. This store has dozens of amazing varieties.
I've been on a real chai kick and got the biggest available size of this tea a month or so ago and I'm already nearly through it. I love it with milk and sugar, it has some caffeine and a spicy complexity that gets me going in the mornings. It's amazing cold too, if I don't finish the pot before it goes lukewarm I'll put in a glass bottle in the fridge for later.
Oh and buy loose leaf tea. Even cellulose and paper teabags are apparently riddled with micro plastics.
Ya, I need to get off the bags. I had no idea about the micro plastics. I'm running by my kitchen store here in the next few days and buying a basket strainer.
How do you brew yours? I've also seen the little baskets on a string. It seems like that could work. Idk the basket seems like the most straight forward easiest thing to do.
I'm not sure how I feel about the flavors, I always hated them in coffee, I'm hesitant to order flavored tea.
The latching baskets, the little spring spoons, cages, muslin bags, I've tried them all and absolutely nothing is as convenient or easy as just getting a pot with an inset stainless steel infuser. The infuser just fits around the inside of the tea pot rim underneath the lid, and when my tea is ready I can dump used tea leaves right in the compost bin with a good tap or two, rinse it and it's ready for another pot. Highly recommend it, don't mess with anything more complicated.
Main problem is that you don't have a good temperature control, sometimes, you get mid-walm water, sometimes you get boiling water.
Even worse, you have this physical phenomena where water is above 100 degree but doesn't boil, and as soon you move-it it starts boiling. At best it's impressive but it can move into burn quickly.
If you're using distilled water there's not enough minerals in the water to start the boiling process before the temperature crosses 100 C because microwaves heat it up so fast.
It also doesn't necessarily have to be distilled water, but the the closer it is to just H2O, the higher the chance this will happen.
Apparently you can do it by turning off the microwave as soon as it starts boiling, turning it on again and repeating until everything boils at the same time and explodes.
Yeah I grew up without a kettle and just lived with shitty badly heated water. Got myself a kettle after moving out and improved my tea experience greatly.
I got my parents a kettle though because my mom, especially, drinks about 10 cups of hot water a day, but she hates the kettle and won't use it. I do not understand.
My kettle boils a mug's worth of water in less than a minute, and it takes me longer than that for even a brief toilet visit and washing of hands. I have learned not to switch the kettle on until I get back from the bathroom, otherwise I'll be boiling the water twice.
Important factors: 1) Britain has 230V mains power so electric kettles can boil water incredibly quickly, 2) The stereotype about Brits and tea is true in my case. I get through three to six mugs of the stuff per day. 3) Hot tea must be made with boiling water. Power isn't cheap and re-boiling the water adds up over time.
Induction hobs I think are still less efficient than an electric kettle, right? Correct me if I'm wrong. (I have both but I don't have the know-how to measure the effect of either. Just what I've heard.)
Every thermal machine is technically ~100% efficient at producing heat, but then how much heat is spent usefully is another metric, depending on materials used (and subsequent thermal dissipation), loss in cables, etc.
If you have both, and a timer on your phone, should be easy enough to check. Put the same measured amount of water in both and see how long it takes to boil.
Right. The hob needs to heat up entire surface of your cookware, and kettle transfers heat directly from the element below to water - only then some of that heat is dissipated.
Induction directly heats the bottom of the cookware (as opposed to regular hop heating the surface which then heats the bottom of the cookware), and from that bottom the heat is transferred through the entire volume of your utensils. And then food is heated off that.
Right. The hob need to heat up entire surface of your cookware, and kettle transfers heat directly from the element below to water - only then some of that heat is dissipated.
PSA: Microwaving water can actually be super dangerous because it’s possible to superheat it. When the surface is disrupted, it can violently boil all at once and hurt you.
Well, I think it also needs to be in a pristine dish with no scratches. Basically it can only happen if there's nothing in the water to create bubbles and disrupt it, then it could possibly heat up without visibly boiling.
I live in the US and I heat my tea water in an electric kettle. It probably isn't as fast as yours, but it is still close to microwave speed. And I can heat up enough for several cups of tea and have it keep the rest hot. I usually drink more than one at a sitting.
Unless I'm misunderstanding your statement, you're saying it's faster to boil water in the microwave than the kettle? How's that possible? I would think the microwave has more wasted energy
My microwave can boil a single cup of water faster than my kettle. My kettle can boil four cups of water a lot faster than my microwave. It all depends on the microwave and kettle (and the voltage available).
I wonder what the efficiency of absorption is, though. Does 100% of emitted radiation get soaked up by the cup, or does some escape into the surroundings?
It doesn't get absorbed so much as excite the water particles as it passes through. I'd imagine it would be more effective in the beginning when they're standing relatively still.
I honestly don't know which is faster since I've never used a microwave to boil water. An electric kettle is essential for me. It also boils water that can then be used for cooking so for me it's versatile enough to justify the space. Toasters imo have much more limited use and those seem to be common in US households too.
Electric kettle is used more frequently than the coffee maker, and takes up less space. It's faster too. I think it's 2kw, while microwave is 800w. There are more powerful kettles too, up to 3kw i think.
I absolutely don't heat water in the microwave! I have a kettle like any other good god-fearing man.
However as a person who recently got into tea I'd love to hear recommendations on tea. I recently got a box of Yorkshire gold that's been pretty good to me
So, I like loose leaf when I can, but will totally use bags, I grew up with Tetley so that'll always be the tea I'll use for some basic iced tea. Yorkshire gold reminds me a lot of Red Rose, which is the other really common bag tea (and I swear is what my grandmother uses for her water intake). Recently, have some bags from Genuine Tea, it's a Canadian brand and some of their blends are pretty good, there's an elderberry hibiscus one that's great to just toss a few bags in a pitcher and cold steep.
Going to mention more types of teas rather than brands that I've liked in the past, there's a lot of variety and tea (like quality coffee) can totally have a wide range of flavours depending on region, age, processing etc. By no means an expert, I just like trying things.
I like Lapsang Souchong sometimes, can have a strong smoky flavour, don't have any more but we had some first flush Darjeeling tea that was fantastic. I had some nice white tea as well, but you need to be careful, turns super unpleasant if you over steep it or have the water too hot, should be floral and lightly fruity, not pine needles.
Otherwise, I personally like oolong and pu'erh tea the best. I tend to brew tea quick with an excess of leaves, but you'll use the same tea leaves multiple times. Pu'erh can have some earthy subtle flavours, and apparently totally changes as it ages (it's fermented if I recall).
What kind of tea experience are you looking for? A sweet and fruity herbal good hot or cold? Something refreshing and subtle to enjoy with a touch of lemon? Something dark and complicated? Smokey and earthy? There are so many options you should probably think about what you want from your cuppa.
I'd honestly recommend seeing if you have any local brick and mortar tea vendors so you could go get your nose in some tins. If you already know you like breakfast blends, you will get such a better experience from your tea if you can really smell the leaves and let your nose lead the way. Tea doesn't always taste how it smells but a lot of the major notes will be there. If you are unfortunate enough not to have a local place, then if you're in the US, Adagio has lots of samplers and they're usually my go to.
I use an electric kettle but remember that in the US outlets are 120V, so they take a lot longer to heat water than in countries with 240.
So the microwave isn't much less efficient than the electric kettle, mainly because some of the energy is heating the mug/container. The least efficient is a stovetop kettle on an electric stove.
But I'm curious, why are Europeans so horrified by the idea of heating water in the microwave? Is it related to power consumption, or is there some other reason?
But I'm curious, why are Europeans so horrified by the idea of heating water in the microwave?
Not op. But I'm really curious about the whole "microwave water" thing.
For me it's just a completely foreign idea. Maybe because electric kettles are so ubiquitous over here. Like everyone has one, including office kitchens and hotel rooms.
I'm also curious over the practicality. Doesn't it spill over? What kind of container do you use to hold the water? For example if you want one cup of tea, do you just put a cup of water into the microwave? Depending on the container, do you watch it the whole time?
I understand why one may use the microwave to heat water, I also understand it works, but the idea of actually doing it is... mystifying.
Most people would just put water in the mug (ceramic/microwave-safe of course) that they're going to make the tea in and microwave it until it boils or bubbles just short of a rolling boil, which takes 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the microwave's power--you'd learn the time yours takes and set the timer for that. At that point I don't see the difference between that vs. if you poured it into the cup from the kettle. Either way you now have a cup full of boiling-hot water to steep your tea in. No, it won't spill over if you don't fill it all the way up to the brim.
Oh, now I see! You don't understand that a microwave can boil water, you think it can only warm it up a little. Thank you for clearing up my confusion.
Have some class!
Whenever I hear Europeans accuse Americans of being arrogant, I can only laugh. Feeling superior about something like how you boil water is hilarious.
I've always had a stove top kettle, there was no reason to boil water in the microwave for tea. Up until a few years ago, I did not have a microwave. I prefer the even temperature of water boiled in a kettle.
I used to at work. I would do a half filled mug, give it 2-3 minutes of heat so it didn't suddenly boil over, then drop in the tea bag and fill with regular water.
Gin is just what I had available. It's a hot toddy, normally made with whiskey but I'm not a big fan of wood cask spirits. I put it in a thermos to take to a funeral. It was about a 3:2:1 gin:lemon:honey mix. It was sippable but sweet like cordial from the honey. I was putting it in hot water.
My boomer mom will put a tea bag in a mug of water then nuke that until it bubbles to make tea. (Yes, even when the tea bag has a staple).
But, if she is heating up a can of soup, she will dump that into a sauce pan and heat that up on the gas range, on the burner right next to the nice kettle I got her years ago.
In the US, if you go to the store and ask where are the tea towels are, they'll look at you funny, then suggest you look in the T-shirt department.
I'm not a commie, and if god forsook me, how would I know?
OTOH, I still mostly only drink Red Rose and Tetley, and given enough steep time ... say 10 or 15 minutes ... they're not so nasty. And I was born -next- to Canada, so I can't be -too- disabled.
Power is what matters, and power (in watts) = current (in amps) times voltage (in volts). US residential power outlets are 110V and typically cap at 15A, for a power output max of 1650W. But it's also pretty common to have 20A outlets in kitchens, which would max out at 2200W. Still, there aren't a lot of 2000W kettles in the US, and it's pretty standard for the ones you'd buy in a store to only draw about 1500W.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the standard outlet is 230V, rated for up to 13A, for about 3000W. And culturally, in terms of consumer expectations in the UK, the kettles are generally designed to max that out to use the full capacity of that outlet.
So on average, the typical US kettle is only about half as powerful as the typical UK kettle. It's a combination of the US electrical norms and the cultural/consumer expectations, because it is entirely possible to have a 2200W kettle on a pretty standard kitchen circuit in the US.
At home, I always heat the water in a saucepan on my stove. I only use a microwave when I’m making tea at the university, where it’s the only way I can get hot water. These microwaves are always a bit dirty because most students don’t clean after themselves, and I can’t fully enjoy my tea because it feels tainted.
I recommend getting an electric kettle and leaving it on the counter. It's extremely fast. You can fill a measuring cup, dump it in, and 2 minutes later it's boiled hotter than the microwave. And if you drink coffee, a French Press is 100% better than drip.
I don't, my water dispenser has a tap for hot water. If I'm out of water in the dispenser I usually boil it in a pan. That being said heating water in the microwave is not an issue for me, as long as it's just the water before adding the tea.
I always heard that drinking hot water from the tap was unsafe (at least where I'm from) due to the risk of lead being picked up from old pipes. Also sediment from the water heater.
If you live in a place where there are still old lead pipes in the system, which almost everyone in the US does, you should start pushing your city representatives to get it fixed. It's a major hazard in all sorts of ways.
I live in one of the very few cities in the US that replaced all of its lead pipes a couple of decades ago.
Yes, you shouldn't drink hot water from the tap. I have a water dispenser, as in an equipment where you put a 20L mineral water bottle and you can pour either cold or hot water.
Been wondering if those Brio things were any good, I just don't have the money to spend on replacement filters. But hooking a water line up to it and having hot/cold water that has gone through the reverse osmosis process would be nice. They are like $400 though, and $150 after that a year in filters last I saw.
143 Comments
Venicon@lemmy.world · 64 pts · 1y
My wife is a purist from the south of England with several tea brewing options. If I boiled water in the microwave I’d be at real risk of divorce
Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 23 pts · 1y
She is a keeper
Venicon@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
For sure. I am punching and I know it
junkthief@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 1y
What are you punching??
embed_me@programming.dev · 16 pts · 1y
A kettle of water repeatedly to heat it up
Landless2029@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
I used to do house calls a decade ago for IT work. Often customers offered me beverages.
Had a European who worked at the UN for decades make me tea. Blew my socks off. I've never enjoyed tea, but it seems like we just don't know how to make it!
... The next month I was offered tea by a American. I wasn't expecting it being made by a pro, but let him try.
He put "hot" tap water into a cup and tossed a teabag in.
I fake drank it.
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
As a guy who recently got into tea, any recommendations? I got a box of Yorkshire gold, it's pretty good, but almost tastes a little.... chalky? Malty I suppose is the word. It's good, I'm not complaining, but would be interested to hear recs from someone who knows what's what
Wahots@pawb.social · 5 pts · 1y
I always recommend this site: https://theteahouseltd.com/
We've visited them in person and their tea was so fantastic that even non-tea people loved it. They ship worldwide. I tend to order in bulk these years.
Only one tea has ever come close, and it was a small Asian restaurant out of Vancouver, BC. This store has dozens of amazing varieties.
Nefara@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
I've been on a real chai kick and got the biggest available size of this tea a month or so ago and I'm already nearly through it. I love it with milk and sugar, it has some caffeine and a spicy complexity that gets me going in the mornings. It's amazing cold too, if I don't finish the pot before it goes lukewarm I'll put in a glass bottle in the fridge for later.
Oh and buy loose leaf tea. Even cellulose and paper teabags are apparently riddled with micro plastics.
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Ya, I need to get off the bags. I had no idea about the micro plastics. I'm running by my kitchen store here in the next few days and buying a basket strainer.
How do you brew yours? I've also seen the little baskets on a string. It seems like that could work. Idk the basket seems like the most straight forward easiest thing to do.
I'm not sure how I feel about the flavors, I always hated them in coffee, I'm hesitant to order flavored tea.
Nefara@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
The latching baskets, the little spring spoons, cages, muslin bags, I've tried them all and absolutely nothing is as convenient or easy as just getting a pot with an inset stainless steel infuser. The infuser just fits around the inside of the tea pot rim underneath the lid, and when my tea is ready I can dump used tea leaves right in the compost bin with a good tap or two, rinse it and it's ready for another pot. Highly recommend it, don't mess with anything more complicated.
kalkulat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Sooo ... that'd be bad, then?
Denjin@lemmings.world · 47 pts · 1y
No. I put it in the air fryer
Ziggurat@jlai.lu · 24 pts · 1y
I did it when having no kettle,
Main problem is that you don't have a good temperature control, sometimes, you get mid-walm water, sometimes you get boiling water.
Even worse, you have this physical phenomena where water is above 100 degree but doesn't boil, and as soon you move-it it starts boiling. At best it's impressive but it can move into burn quickly.
starlinguk@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1y
Why not heat it on the stove in a small pan?
vaionko@sopuli.xyz · 12 pts · 1y
For me it's the fact that my cast iron stove takes ages to heat up
zxqwas@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1y
Has that happened to you? I've not managed to make super heated water in the microwave.
Ziggurat@jlai.lu · 7 pts · 1y
Yes it already happened a couple of time. It starts boiling either when pulling-out or when putting the tea inside.
Two_Hangmen@midwest.social · 1 pts · 1y
If you're using distilled water there's not enough minerals in the water to start the boiling process before the temperature crosses 100 C because microwaves heat it up so fast.
It also doesn't necessarily have to be distilled water, but the the closer it is to just H2O, the higher the chance this will happen.
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de · 1 pts · 1y
Apparently you can do it by turning off the microwave as soon as it starts boiling, turning it on again and repeating until everything boils at the same time and explodes.
rikudou@lemmings.world · -5 pts · 1y
The water continues to heat ~1 minute after microwaving stops, so I guess it could happen if you take it out very close to the boiling point.
zxqwas@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
That does not sound right. Do you have a source for that claim?
seralth@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
NotASharkInAManSuit@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
No.
garbagebagel@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Yeah I grew up without a kettle and just lived with shitty badly heated water. Got myself a kettle after moving out and improved my tea experience greatly.
I got my parents a kettle though because my mom, especially, drinks about 10 cups of hot water a day, but she hates the kettle and won't use it. I do not understand.
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 20 pts · 1y
Yes, if I need only 1 cup of hot water, I use the microwave.
The electric kettle wants a minimum of 2 cups (1/2 liter), or else it makes funny noises.
starlinguk@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1y
Mine makes funny noises too, but since it has a marker for one cup, the noises obviously don't matter.
real_squids@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 1y
Was gonna say, for one cup it seems like a better use of resources (in terms of power), the only obvious downside is temperature control
Allero@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 1y
You can buy a mini kettle that has a minimum of 250-300 ml, or 1 cup.
jordanlund@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 1y
I used to microwave water for all sorts of things before getting an induction stovetop.
Seriously, it goes from tap water to boiling in 2 minutes. It's a game changer.
Pilferjinx@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
My electric kettle does about the same. Long enough to finish a piss before doing the water things.
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org · 7 pts · 1y
Never mix up things there... 😇
WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Too late. Dumped my tea and drank my piss.
palordrolap@fedia.io · 0 pts · 1y
My kettle boils a mug's worth of water in less than a minute, and it takes me longer than that for even a brief toilet visit and washing of hands. I have learned not to switch the kettle on until I get back from the bathroom, otherwise I'll be boiling the water twice.
Important factors: 1) Britain has 230V mains power so electric kettles can boil water incredibly quickly, 2) The stereotype about Brits and tea is true in my case. I get through three to six mugs of the stuff per day. 3) Hot tea must be made with boiling water. Power isn't cheap and re-boiling the water adds up over time.
Nemo@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 1y
Mine takes longer, but I never brew a single mug. I brew a full pot and I only reason I limit myself to that is because of the size of my kettle.
victorz@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Induction hobs I think are still less efficient than an electric kettle, right? Correct me if I'm wrong. (I have both but I don't have the know-how to measure the effect of either. Just what I've heard.)
slazer2au@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1y
It would be interesting to test. quick, someone poke Technology Connections.
Nefara@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
He already did this one, iirc induction was better for Americans without access to 240v connections.
I think it's this one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c
Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 1y
afaik electric kettles are the most efficient machines around. something like 95% efficiency
Allero@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 1y
Every thermal machine is technically ~100% efficient at producing heat, but then how much heat is spent usefully is another metric, depending on materials used (and subsequent thermal dissipation), loss in cables, etc.
jordanlund@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
If you have both, and a timer on your phone, should be easy enough to check. Put the same measured amount of water in both and see how long it takes to boil.
7EP6vuI@feddit.org · 14 pts · 1y
this only works if both have the same energy consumption.
this is probably not the case, so you also have to measure the energy consumption and then adapt the measured time accordingly.
victorz@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Yeah I meant efficiency, not effectiveness. Like power consumption vs time.
Allero@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 1y
Right. The hob needs to heat up entire surface of your cookware, and kettle transfers heat directly from the element below to water - only then some of that heat is dissipated.
rollerbang@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Not how induction works.
Allero@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 1y
Induction directly heats the bottom of the cookware (as opposed to regular hop heating the surface which then heats the bottom of the cookware), and from that bottom the heat is transferred through the entire volume of your utensils. And then food is heated off that.
Allero@lemmy.today · -1 pts · 1y
Right. The hob need to heat up entire surface of your cookware, and kettle transfers heat directly from the element below to water - only then some of that heat is dissipated.
ComfortableRaspberry@feddit.org · 10 pts · 1y
I did that in the past because we had no electric kettle at home. Today it's the over way round: I have a kettle but no microwave
Romkslrqusz@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 1y
PSA: Microwaving water can actually be super dangerous because it’s possible to superheat it. When the surface is disrupted, it can violently boil all at once and hurt you.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 1y
Generally you need super pure water though, so if you don't have a distiller and brand new unused dishes, it's probably not an issue.
Landless2029@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I use distilled water for espresso and tea... Thankfully I started because of my electric kettle and espresso machine. Keeping the machines cleaner.
Never microwaved distilled water.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Well, I think it also needs to be in a pristine dish with no scratches. Basically it can only happen if there's nothing in the water to create bubbles and disrupt it, then it could possibly heat up without visibly boiling.
kalkulat@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I've doon thot several times now. And so I -almost always- remember to check that the left digit on the timer is one.
Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 1y
I live in the US and I heat my tea water in an electric kettle. It probably isn't as fast as yours, but it is still close to microwave speed. And I can heat up enough for several cups of tea and have it keep the rest hot. I usually drink more than one at a sitting.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 1y
Unless I'm misunderstanding your statement, you're saying it's faster to boil water in the microwave than the kettle? How's that possible? I would think the microwave has more wasted energy
Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 1y
My microwave can boil a single cup of water faster than my kettle. My kettle can boil four cups of water a lot faster than my microwave. It all depends on the microwave and kettle (and the voltage available).
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1y
Huh. I guess the kettle has some thermal mass to it making it less efficient for small amounts
the_crotch@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 1y
Microwave is blasting radiation at 100% efficiency as soon as you turn it on. Kettles heating elements need to heat up before they can heat the water.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 1y
I wonder what the efficiency of absorption is, though. Does 100% of emitted radiation get soaked up by the cup, or does some escape into the surroundings?
the_crotch@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1y
It doesn't get absorbed so much as excite the water particles as it passes through. I'd imagine it would be more effective in the beginning when they're standing relatively still.
viking@infosec.pub · 7 pts · 1y
Not once in my life.
ZeffSyde@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 1y
American electric kettles are also quite a bit slower to boil because our mains voltage is so low. https://youtu.be/_yMMTVVJI4c
JoeKrogan@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1y
We use a kettle or boil it in a pot. I would not even entertain the idea of microwaving the water.
fodor@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 1y
Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org · 5 pts · 1y
I honestly don't know which is faster since I've never used a microwave to boil water. An electric kettle is essential for me. It also boils water that can then be used for cooking so for me it's versatile enough to justify the space. Toasters imo have much more limited use and those seem to be common in US households too.
irelephant@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 1y
I find this interesting, where I live everyone has one, and its used at least twice a day usually.
Michal@programming.dev · 1 pts · 1y
Electric kettle is used more frequently than the coffee maker, and takes up less space. It's faster too. I think it's 2kw, while microwave is 800w. There are more powerful kettles too, up to 3kw i think.
ThisIsAManWhoKnowsHowToGling@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 1y
Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 1y
You are the only normal person there
Wahots@pawb.social · 5 pts · 1y
We just have an instant hot water tap. Can't live without it, haha.
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
I absolutely don't heat water in the microwave! I have a kettle like any other good god-fearing man.
However as a person who recently got into tea I'd love to hear recommendations on tea. I recently got a box of Yorkshire gold that's been pretty good to me
morbidcactus@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 1y
So, I like loose leaf when I can, but will totally use bags, I grew up with Tetley so that'll always be the tea I'll use for some basic iced tea. Yorkshire gold reminds me a lot of Red Rose, which is the other really common bag tea (and I swear is what my grandmother uses for her water intake). Recently, have some bags from Genuine Tea, it's a Canadian brand and some of their blends are pretty good, there's an elderberry hibiscus one that's great to just toss a few bags in a pitcher and cold steep.
Going to mention more types of teas rather than brands that I've liked in the past, there's a lot of variety and tea (like quality coffee) can totally have a wide range of flavours depending on region, age, processing etc. By no means an expert, I just like trying things.
I like Lapsang Souchong sometimes, can have a strong smoky flavour, don't have any more but we had some first flush Darjeeling tea that was fantastic. I had some nice white tea as well, but you need to be careful, turns super unpleasant if you over steep it or have the water too hot, should be floral and lightly fruity, not pine needles.
Otherwise, I personally like oolong and pu'erh tea the best. I tend to brew tea quick with an excess of leaves, but you'll use the same tea leaves multiple times. Pu'erh can have some earthy subtle flavours, and apparently totally changes as it ages (it's fermented if I recall).
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Definitely going to give the lapsing a try. Ty for the rec!
Nefara@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
What kind of tea experience are you looking for? A sweet and fruity herbal good hot or cold? Something refreshing and subtle to enjoy with a touch of lemon? Something dark and complicated? Smokey and earthy? There are so many options you should probably think about what you want from your cuppa.
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Definitely darker. I've been digging the straight black teas. I don't hate green tea, but I've been gravitating towards the breakfast blends.
Nefara@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
I'd honestly recommend seeing if you have any local brick and mortar tea vendors so you could go get your nose in some tins. If you already know you like breakfast blends, you will get such a better experience from your tea if you can really smell the leaves and let your nose lead the way. Tea doesn't always taste how it smells but a lot of the major notes will be there. If you are unfortunate enough not to have a local place, then if you're in the US, Adagio has lots of samplers and they're usually my go to.
MintyFresh@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I just looked and it turns out I do have a tea store in town! Just opened in the last few months. Gonna stop in and sniff around a bit
neidu3@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 1y
Never. Because I don't drink tea.
However, the ones in my household who do use an electric kettle. I've never seen them use the microwave for tea.
kalkulat@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
That's the trouble with electrics ... once you buy one, you feel compelled to use it to get your money's worth, ammiright?
Anyway, a true purist wud NEVER use an electric, wud tha? It'd been over a nice smoky hearth to give it that tang, like figgy puddin'.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
Im not against it, but an electric tea kettle is no slower, and less hassle. Seriously, 2 cups of water boils in under 2 minutes, it's insane.
grasshopper_mouse@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
We have a spigot in the kitchen that only puts out boiling-hot water, so I use that. If that's not working, I'd just boil it in a pan on the stove.
leadore@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
I use an electric kettle but remember that in the US outlets are 120V, so they take a lot longer to heat water than in countries with 240.
So the microwave isn't much less efficient than the electric kettle, mainly because some of the energy is heating the mug/container. The least efficient is a stovetop kettle on an electric stove.
But I'm curious, why are Europeans so horrified by the idea of heating water in the microwave? Is it related to power consumption, or is there some other reason?
AAA@feddit.org · 4 pts · 1y
Not op. But I'm really curious about the whole "microwave water" thing.
For me it's just a completely foreign idea. Maybe because electric kettles are so ubiquitous over here. Like everyone has one, including office kitchens and hotel rooms.
I'm also curious over the practicality. Doesn't it spill over? What kind of container do you use to hold the water? For example if you want one cup of tea, do you just put a cup of water into the microwave? Depending on the container, do you watch it the whole time?
I understand why one may use the microwave to heat water, I also understand it works, but the idea of actually doing it is... mystifying.
leadore@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Most people would just put water in the mug (ceramic/microwave-safe of course) that they're going to make the tea in and microwave it until it boils or bubbles just short of a rolling boil, which takes 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the microwave's power--you'd learn the time yours takes and set the timer for that. At that point I don't see the difference between that vs. if you poured it into the cup from the kettle. Either way you now have a cup full of boiling-hot water to steep your tea in. No, it won't spill over if you don't fill it all the way up to the brim.
Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 1y
Why would you? Have some class!
And if you need such a small amount of warm water to cook. Then take warm water from your tap.
For everything else? Use a kettle!
leadore@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Oh, now I see! You don't understand that a microwave can boil water, you think it can only warm it up a little. Thank you for clearing up my confusion.
Whenever I hear Europeans accuse Americans of being arrogant, I can only laugh. Feeling superior about something like how you boil water is hilarious.
Libb@piefed.social · 3 pts · 1y
We don't. Our simple kettle with its whistle is working great, despite its age. And its much nicer to look at than a microwave too ;)
zxqwas@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Takes longer and usually don't get it hot enough.
LostWanderer@fedia.io · 3 pts · 1y
I've always had a stove top kettle, there was no reason to boil water in the microwave for tea. Up until a few years ago, I did not have a microwave. I prefer the even temperature of water boiled in a kettle.
hansolo@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 1y
I used to at work. I would do a half filled mug, give it 2-3 minutes of heat so it didn't suddenly boil over, then drop in the tea bag and fill with regular water.
SaneMartigan@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 1y
I was fighting a cold recently so used the microwave to heat the lemon juice / honey / gin mixture I was self medicating with.
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1y
Lemon juice, honey, and also gin?!? Genius! Any water, or just that?
We ran out of JD Honey - trump tax and Canadian embargo - and I was gonna add a local bourbonesque booze ... but I never even thought of a gin base.
SaneMartigan@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 1y
Gin is just what I had available. It's a hot toddy, normally made with whiskey but I'm not a big fan of wood cask spirits. I put it in a thermos to take to a funeral. It was about a 3:2:1 gin:lemon:honey mix. It was sippable but sweet like cordial from the honey. I was putting it in hot water.
Opinionhaver@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 1y
Never as I don't drink tea nor own a microwave.
ZeffSyde@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
My boomer mom will put a tea bag in a mug of water then nuke that until it bubbles to make tea. (Yes, even when the tea bag has a staple).
But, if she is heating up a can of soup, she will dump that into a sauce pan and heat that up on the gas range, on the burner right next to the nice kettle I got her years ago.
percent@infosec.pub · 1 pts · 1y
Does the staple cause any issues?
ZeffSyde@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Technically, any metal is a no no, but her microwave has never exploded.
ZeffSyde@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I have heated up a foil lined tetra carton of soup that caused some sparks, but I stopped it immediately and learned my lesson.
hanrahan@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 1y
Jesus invented kettles for a reason, only commies and the god forsaken use the stove or microwave :)
Allero@lemmy.today · 9 pts · 1y
Ironically, commies use a kettle
Klear@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
Pot calling the kettle red
kalkulat@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
In the US, if you go to the store and ask where are the tea towels are, they'll look at you funny, then suggest you look in the T-shirt department.
I'm not a commie, and if god forsook me, how would I know?
OTOH, I still mostly only drink Red Rose and Tetley, and given enough steep time ... say 10 or 15 minutes ... they're not so nasty. And I was born -next- to Canada, so I can't be -too- disabled.
Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 1y
What is a tea towel?
Itwasthegoat@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
A small cloth for drying dishes or worktops in a kitchen
Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 1y
A kitchen towel?
ZeffSyde@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
A towel made of tea, for tea, and by tea.
remon@ani.social · 2 pts · 1y
Never tried it. Is it faster than an electric kettle?
Brkdncr@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
In the US a microwave is faster. Your 220v heats things up faster than our 110v.
fullsquare@awful.systems · -1 pts · 1y
japanese have 100v and don't have this problem
Brkdncr@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Yes they do.
starlinguk@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 1y
V is irrelevant. A determines how much actual power something gets.
PetteriPano@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1y
Amperage determines how much current something gets.
Voltage times amperage determines the power something draws.
More current needs thicker wires, while higher voltage does not.
exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 6 pts · 1y
Power is what matters, and power (in watts) = current (in amps) times voltage (in volts). US residential power outlets are 110V and typically cap at 15A, for a power output max of 1650W. But it's also pretty common to have 20A outlets in kitchens, which would max out at 2200W. Still, there aren't a lot of 2000W kettles in the US, and it's pretty standard for the ones you'd buy in a store to only draw about 1500W.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the standard outlet is 230V, rated for up to 13A, for about 3000W. And culturally, in terms of consumer expectations in the UK, the kettles are generally designed to max that out to use the full capacity of that outlet.
So on average, the typical US kettle is only about half as powerful as the typical UK kettle. It's a combination of the US electrical norms and the cultural/consumer expectations, because it is entirely possible to have a 2200W kettle on a pretty standard kitchen circuit in the US.
Brkdncr@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Find an electric kettle in the US that works as well as one in the UK? They don’t exist here.
Sidyctism2@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 1y
garbagebagel@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Microwave can take 2-3 minutes depending on how hot you like it and how shitty your microwave is. They also tend to not heat evenly.
A good kettle might also take about 3 mins, though some can take up to 5 or 6, but you're guaranteed properly heated water.
Flagg76@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Never we have a Quooker. (Instant boiling water out of the kitchen faucet)
Masamune@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Wait, you guys have microwaves?
Sincerely, Someone who does not own a microwave
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1y
So you heat a whole oven or stove every time you want some leftovers? cries in planet
Masamune@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Not by choice, but unfortunately that is my only option. cries in wallet
What is the difference on environmetal impact for running a gas burner for 5 minutes vs. running an electric microwave for 30 seconds?
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1y
It turns out gas stoves are wildly inefficient and spew most of their heat into the atmosphere instead of the food. This video comparing has been making the rounds again lately.
remon@ani.social · 0 pts · 1y
Just eat them cold.
njm1314@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Always for coffee only sometimes for tea.
troglodyte_mignon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
At home, I always heat the water in a saucepan on my stove. I only use a microwave when I’m making tea at the university, where it’s the only way I can get hot water. These microwaves are always a bit dirty because most students don’t clean after themselves, and I can’t fully enjoy my tea because it feels tainted.
Nemo@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 1y
I've used an electric gooseneck kettle for about a decade, before that I used a stovetop kettle or, if so was really desperate, a saucepan.
mesamunefire@piefed.social · 2 pts · 1y
Reminds me of a Technology connections on electric kettles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMMTVVJI4c
And there was a followup on microwaving water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpoXFk-ixZc
Its very enlightening from both US and European perspectives.
daggermoon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
I do, water is water.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 2 pts · 1y
I microwave water for almost everything that requires boiling water except cooking pasta.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
I recommend getting an electric kettle and leaving it on the counter. It's extremely fast. You can fill a measuring cup, dump it in, and 2 minutes later it's boiled hotter than the microwave. And if you drink coffee, a French Press is 100% better than drip.
seralth@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
andrewta@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
I don’t drink tea or coffee, but my mom microwaves her water for tea.
kalkulat@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
Are you say its only the water temperature that matters, then? Is yer last name 'Kelvin' by any chance?
andrewta@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
I honestly have no idea what your point is
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
My in-laws do that. Just today I ordered them a lighted electric kettle.
arararagi@ani.social · 1 pts · 1y
Not a thing in Brazil
agent_nycto@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Just stick the mug on top of the stove on medium heat n it boils in like two minutes... Less than that is you use a saucepan...
Allero@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 1y
just stick WHAT on top of the stove
My number 1 part of kitchen education was "do not EVER put ceramics on a stove"
Nibodhika@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I don't, my water dispenser has a tap for hot water. If I'm out of water in the dispenser I usually boil it in a pan. That being said heating water in the microwave is not an issue for me, as long as it's just the water before adding the tea.
Blumpkinhead@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I always heard that drinking hot water from the tap was unsafe (at least where I'm from) due to the risk of lead being picked up from old pipes. Also sediment from the water heater.
Curious_Canid@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1y
If you live in a place where there are still old lead pipes in the system, which almost everyone in the US does, you should start pushing your city representatives to get it fixed. It's a major hazard in all sorts of ways.
I live in one of the very few cities in the US that replaced all of its lead pipes a couple of decades ago.
Blumpkinhead@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
I think the risk is also that there could be pipes with lead somewhere in the house.
Though you're right, cities and towns should be replacing old lead pipes as well.
Nibodhika@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Yes, you shouldn't drink hot water from the tap. I have a water dispenser, as in an equipment where you put a 20L mineral water bottle and you can pour either cold or hot water.
LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Been wondering if those Brio things were any good, I just don't have the money to spend on replacement filters. But hooking a water line up to it and having hot/cold water that has gone through the reverse osmosis process would be nice. They are like $400 though, and $150 after that a year in filters last I saw.
knight_alva@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
In America this is the default method for small amounts of hot water.
theherk@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Tangential, but I just learned of a Quooker yesterday. Guy ran boiling water straight from the tap instantly at a house I was viewing. Blew my mind.
Sagan_Wept@lemmynsfw.com · 1 pts · 1y
I walked out of a hookup when she offered tea and put the mug in the microwave
Raiderkev@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
Dafuq is tea? - Murican
ClydapusGotwald@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
In the US I bought an electric kettle because I got tired of using the stove. I don’t understand people who use the microwave it just feels wrong.