(Replying to PARENT post)

Americans don't really do electric kettles, largely on account of using 110V mains, which limits power to around 1100W, making it a lot slower than ~2000W electric kettles in the 200+V world.
👤askvictor🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Americans largely don't use electric kettles because Americans largely don't drink tea at home and thus don't use kettles as often as the rest of the world.

Most households I know don't even own a kettle. Not a stovetop one, not an electric one.

If you were to ask most Americans why they don't have an electric kettle at home they won't say "because I only have 120V outlets in the kitchen." They'll say it is because they don't need a kettle.

👤vel0city🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Japan is on 100V mains, and electric kettles are everywhere.
👤glandium🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

I'd be very surprised to see a standard US gas range capable of boiling water faster than an electric kettle.
👤AaronFriel🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

I'm a European who finds kettles stupid. I own one because someone didn't appreciate my house's lack of kettle and got one despite my protestations. I own (1) a induction stovetop, (2) a microwave… both will perfectly boil water just as fast. Why do I want to waste counter space on a kettle. My kitchen is tiny.

I have the same complaint about a ricecooker. It's perfectly easy to cook rice in a pot. Sure it's convenient to use the automated device, but it's wasteful.

👤kenneth🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

which limits power to around 1100W

All those 1800+ watt hair dryers that are used very commonly in the U.S. are wondering where you got your wattage limit from.

https://news.energysage.com/how-many-watts-does-a-hair-dryer...

👤300bps🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

> Americans don't really do electric kettles, largely on account of using 110V mains, which limits power to around 1100W

Most sources I can find indicate the usual (but not maximum) draw of US electric kettles 1500W, and checking a few popular models confirms that 1500W is common.

👤dragonwriter🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

I don't have a kettle because I have a hot water tap that gives me water at more than 200F. If I need it boiling, it takes a very short period of time on the range to get it there. Those are relatively common, almost every one of my friends and family have one too.
👤rootusrootus🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Technology Experiments tried it.

https://youtu.be/_yMMTVVJI4c?t=232

👤soegaard🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

Most kettles I've had in the US are 1500W, similar to a space heater.

It does take longer to boil, but it's like 2 min compared to 1 min.

I survive.

👤refurb🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

FWIW in my American experience most everyone I know has one and uses it, so your mileage may vary.
👤sailfast🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

In my experience, electric kettles are reasonably common in America.
👤dragonwriter🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

I wonder how I’m making my Chemex every morning…
👤ar_lan🕑3y🔼0🗨️0

(Replying to PARENT post)

It’s not that slow. 1. They sell plenty of kettles in the US (touch grass and go to Target sometime or something) - a large portion of those sales are probably to Asian households. It is simply that if you have a drip coffee maker and don’t drink much tea why do you need a kettle.

No idea where this dumb myth comes from - kettles are not hard to find in the US, they work fine - there is a ton of demand it is just relatively miniscule.

👤fuckstick🕑3y🔼0🗨️0