Americans: why don't you use kettles?

[Epona]

Ain't read thread cos its a longie, but here is walmarts selection of kettles
http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/electric-kettles

The "Bella 1.2 liter" is delightfully twee

 

[Epona]

see my post above, Walmart, a major supermarket (or whatever Americans call them) sell kettles.

Yes I know, at least I read through the first couple of pages of the thread

 

[Maurice Picarda]

Ain't read thread cos its a longie, but here is walmarts selection of kettles
http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/electric-kettles

All it took was this thread for popular demand to take off and for Walmart to rustle up some reject stock from Asda, change the plugs and give the benighted Sepptonians what they were missing. Well done, Urban.

 

[8den]

What does tea have to do with it? I do drink tea, but mostly use my kettle to heat up water - you know when you have to bring a pan of water to the boil to cook something? It takes a fraction of the time in a kettle - boil water in the kettle, pour it into the pan 2 minutes later when it is boiling. If I had to bring an actual pan of water to the boil I think I would die of boredom in the time it took!

Because American houses only have 120 volts even if they have kettles it will take longer to boil a electic kettle in the US than in the UK, because we have 220v kettles. Kettles draw more power than most domestic appliances.

 

[Epona]

Because American houses only have 120 volts even if they have kettles it will take longer to boil a electic kettle in the US than in the UK, because we have 220v kettles. Kettles draw more power than most domestic appliances.

Yes yes, I saw that and I don't buy it - there are plenty of things in common usage on the other side of the pond that use nearly as much and yet are in usage - not ALL our kettles are even 3000W, a lot of them are 1200 which puts them on the same level or lower as most electric power tools, and about the same as a microwave oven or waffle iron.

 

[8den]

Yes yes, I saw that and I don't buy it - there are plenty of things in common usage on the other side of the pond that use nearly as much and yet are in usage - not ALL our kettles are even 3000W, a lot of them are 1200 which puts them on the same level or lower as most electric power tools, and about the same as a microwave oven or waffle iron.

Crispys explanation made sense to me. Combined with a Culture that didn't value the importance of a brew every 2 hours or so.

What do you want from us, most America houses have a waffle iron which is basically a appliance that is used to cook one breakfast item. Similarly the Japanese have rice cookers, and that boggles my mind, Who can't cook rice FFS.

 

[Epona]

Crispys explanation made sense to me. Combined with a Culture that didn't value the importance of a brew every 2 hours or so.

What do you want from us, most America houses have a waffle iron which is basically a appliance that is used to cook one breakfast item. Similarly the Japanese have rice cookers, and that boggles my mind, Who can't cook rice FFS.

I want nothing from you whatsoever, except an acknowledgement that it is cultural difference rather than something imposed by the electrical grid, which sounds a bit trite

 

[peterkro]

Because American houses only have 120 volts even if they have kettles it will take longer to boil a electic kettle in the US than in the UK, because we have 220v kettles. Kettles draw more power than most domestic appliances.

U.S. electrical systems are a joke although the nominal residential voltage is 120 it's more common to be 110 or 115.They also have a weird two phase 208v for some larger appliances.Not to mention 60hz supply is more likely to kill you (heart harmonic) than 50hz.

E2a: plus the connectors they use,problem waiting to happen,you'd lose you're licence if you tried that in the U.K.

 

[8den]

I want nothing from you whatsoever, except an acknowledgement that it is cultural difference rather than something imposed by the electrical grid, which sounds a bit trite

I've acknowledged it's a culturally difference, combined with the lack of power. Hot tea as a beverage isn't widely drunk in the US. More so these days, So you're more likely to find a kettle in the US. I'm fairly confident there was one in my Uncles in the 80s. But they're 1st Gen Irish Americans so that would make sense.

 

[Epona]

I've acknowledged it's a culturally difference, combined with the lack of power. Hot tea as a beverage isn't widely drunk in the US. More so these days, So you're more likely to find a kettle in the US. I'm fairly confident there was one in my Uncles in the 80s. But they're 1st Gen Irish Americans so that would make sense.

Sure, but a kettle doesn't make tea, it boils water for a whole number of uses. It is not like a coffee percolator or waffle iron that only has one function.
To be fair, we often find ourselves on the same threads and often disagree over sometimes small points, I hope you don't take it personally when I argue back - I do quite enjoy this sort of discussion

 

[Maurice Picarda]

Waffle irons also function as hair straighteners.

 

[8den]

Ah yes because thats a winning combination, hair in a breakfast making appliance.

 

[8den]

Sure, but a kettle doesn't make tea, it boils water for a whole number of uses. It is not like a coffee percolator or waffle iron that only has one function.
To be fair, we often find ourselves on the same threads and often disagree over sometimes small points, I hope you don't take it personally when I argue back - I do quite enjoy this sort of discussion

Not at all. I also think it's because most American houses have excellent hot water plumbed to the sink, so the kettle is redundant.

 

[Blagsta]

Crispys explanation made sense to me. Combined with a Culture that didn't value the importance of a brew every 2 hours or so.

What do you want from us, most America houses have a waffle iron which is basically a appliance that is used to cook one breakfast item. Similarly the Japanese have rice cookers, and that boggles my mind, Who can't cook rice FFS.

Japanese rice cookers are ace, we used to have one, but it broke. Perfectly cooked rice every time, without having to worry about timing.

 

[DotCommunist]

Waffle irons also function as hair straighteners.

In hell maybe

 

[8den]

Japanese rice cookers are ace, we used to have one, but it broke. Perfectly cooked rice every time, without having to worry about timing.

I have used a rice cooker, and they're great, it's just I managed before I had one and I manage fine after I didn't have one.

I also think it's because US houses are usually much larger than houses in the UK/Europe. And therefore kitchens in the US are larger with more room for appliances, So you can have a waffle iron, juicer, toasted cheese sandwich maker, pop corn maker, bread maker, rice cooker, coffee filter, industrial blender, mixer, and any number of appliances that could not fit in the UK kitchen.


Says the man who owns a teppanyaki cooker.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Says the man who owns a teppanyaki cooker.

Ah, but teppanyaki cookers are absolute essentials. Kettles are not.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Crispys explanation made sense to me. Combined with a Culture that didn't value the importance of a brew every 2 hours or so.

What do you want from us, most America houses have a waffle iron which is basically a appliance that is used to cook one breakfast item. Similarly the Japanese have rice cookers, and that boggles my mind, Who can't cook rice FFS.

Same goes for kettles. Who can't cook hot water?

(I do own both a waffle iron and a rice cooker. I own them because I use both fairly regularly. I used to own an electric kettle but never used it so I gave it away.)

 

[8den]

Ah, but teppanyaki cookers are absolute essentials. Kettles are not.

It depends. Over here we make about 5 cups a tea a day. I make okonomiyaki how often?

 

[SpookyFrank]

Top tip for Americans: you can boil water quicker by simply dunking your waffle iron in a big pan of water.

 

[8den]

Same goes for kettles. Who can't cook hot water?

The hob takes too long, You can't boil enough hot water in a microwave to make a pot of tea, unless you fill a jug and wait ten minutes, and even then it's not properly boiled (or if is it's spitting water and you're risking 2nd degree burns.)

Over here when moving house the 1st box youopen has the kettle, the tea bags, milk, and hob nobs. Lets you know where our priorities are from the get go.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Who can't cook hot water?

Americans can't, hence this thead.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

It depends. Over here we make about 5 cups a tea a day. I make okonomiyaki how often?

Okonomiyaki are such a great way to use leftovers. I can imagine using it fairly often.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Americans can't, hence this thead.

We can cook hot water so well we don't need crutches like kettles.

 

[DotCommunist]

doing it on the hob takes so long it begins to feel like some tedious tea/coffee ceremony you are visiting upon your own self. First thing in the morning I want my water boiled swiftly so that I can get the hot sweet tea into my stomach as soon as possible. Feels like I can't even focus my eyes properly before I have had a brew

 

[SpookyFrank]

We can cook hot water so well we don't need crutches like kettles.

I suppose it must be a piece of piss now you guys have that awesome flammable water thanks to all the fracking.

 

[cesare]

I suppose it must be a piece of piss now you guys have that awesome flammable water thanks to all the fracking.

 

[8den]

Okonomiyaki are such a great way to use leftovers. I can imagine using it fairly often.

You'd think that. But the additional ingredients (kimichi, japanese brown sauce, seaweed, fish flakes) which aren't things you find in a Irish supermaket and either require a special trip to the Asian supermarket or ordering online, mean it's a bit of a faff. Then you forget it's there, and it gathers dust along side pizza stone, and other devices which I keep forgetting I own.

 

[Epona]

Not at all. I also think it's because most American houses have excellent hot water plumbed to the sink, so the kettle is redundant.

LOL We have hot water taps too, mine are very efficient, but see I was always taught that you couldn't drink that because it was hot but hadn't been boiled and may contain bacteria. Also our hot water doesn't always come from the water mains, in a lot of older properties it comes from a tank in the loft and you don't drink it or cook with it.....

... actually this could be a really good explanation as to why we all use kettles

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

I suppose it must be a piece of piss now you guys have that awesome flammable water thanks to all the fracking.

I really did LOL.