I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself.
Brand recommendations?

Tracy
(who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
hands....)

Tracy wrote:
> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
> prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
> recommendations?
>
> Tracy
> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
> hands....)


I have a GE electric kettle and I really like it. I'm not sure what
size; I think it's about 1.5 quarts. It is much faster than a stove top
kettle. I wish I could find a 3000+ watt kettle, but those only seem to
be available in UK. I know I'd have to change the plug, and it wouldn't
be UL listed (might be Canadian listed though), those are not problems

Bob

zxcvbob > wrote:

> I wish I could find a 3000+ watt kettle, but those only seem to
> be available in UK. I know I'd have to change the plug, and it wouldn't
> be UL listed (might be Canadian listed though), those are not problems

They are available throughout Europe. Why not order one from there?
Postage differs but could be bearable, depending on the country and
supplier.

Victor

"Victor Sack" > wrote in message
.. .
> zxcvbob > wrote:
>
>> I wish I could find a 3000+ watt kettle, but those only seem to
>> be available in UK. I know I'd have to change the plug, and it wouldn't
>> be UL listed (might be Canadian listed though), those are not problems
>
> They are available throughout Europe. Why not order one from there?
> Postage differs but could be bearable, depending on the country and
> supplier.
>
> Victor

It would entail at least minor, possibly major, rewiring in the kitchen to
use it. You need a 240V line on the counter for it .

Edwin Pawlowski > wrote:

> It would entail at least minor, possibly major, rewiring in the kitchen to
> use it. You need a 240V line on the counter for it .

The 240V line is there quasi by default in most every American house.
What is needed is just an outlet with both 120V wires active - and at
least one such outlet is already available in many kitchens.

Victor

"Victor Sack" > wrote in message
...
> Edwin Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>> It would entail at least minor, possibly major, rewiring in the kitchen
>> to
>> use it. You need a 240V line on the counter for it .
>
> The 240V line is there quasi by default in most every American house.
> What is needed is just an outlet with both 120V wires active - and at
> least one such outlet is already available in many kitchens.
>
> Victor

The one in the kitchen is used for the range and it is a one unit circuit.
Adding a 3800 watt load on the existing circuit is not allowed. Anything
can be done with enough time and money, but it can add from $50 to $500 to
the cost of getting started.

Tracy wrote:
> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
> prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
> recommendations?

I have a Philips. Been going fine for more than 6 years...
>
> Tracy
> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
> hands....)

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Garlic: the element without which life as we know it would be impossible

"Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you prefer
>the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
>recommendations?
>
> Tracy
> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
> hands....)


I was tired of going thru tea kettles myself. Tired of the wait-time, too.

I love this tea kettle. I've had it long enough to really appreciate it.
Pick it up and there's no cord to hang you up. The bottom where it sits on
weighs next to nothing so you can scoot it to where you want it, then put
the kettle on top. Very handy.

And it's FAST!
Dee Dee

"Dee.Dee" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>>I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>>instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you prefer
>>the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
>>recommendations?
>>
>> Tracy
>> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
>> hands....)
>
>
> I was tired of going thru tea kettles myself. Tired of the wait-time,
> too.
>
> I love this tea kettle. I've had it long enough to really appreciate it.
> Pick it up and there's no cord to hang you up. The bottom where it sits
> on weighs next to nothing so you can scoot it to where you want it, then
> put the kettle on top. Very handy.
>
> And it's FAST!
> Dee Dee
Sorry, here's the url.
http://tinyurl.com/2hscyp

Dee Dee

>>
>> I was tired of going thru tea kettles myself. Tired of the wait-time,
>> too.
>>
>> I love this tea kettle. I've had it long enough to really appreciate it.
>> Pick it up and there's no cord to hang you up. The bottom where it sits
>> on weighs next to nothing so you can scoot it to where you want it, then
>> put the kettle on top. Very handy.
>>
>> And it's FAST!
>> Dee Dee
> Sorry, here's the url.
> http://tinyurl.com/2hscyp
>

I was thinking of getting one as an xmas gift for my husband - he being
the tea drinker in the house, but me being the tea maker in the house. ;-)

Thanks for the link.

Tracy

"Tracy" wrote

>I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you prefer
>the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
>recommendations?

As a non-user of such, I cant recommend a brand but they can be useful to
have hot water always ready for making tea, powdered coffee, noodle packs
(ramen bowls). They are not all that energy efficient in themselves but if
you find you need hot (almost boiling) water always ready due to use
patterns, it would be cheaper than heating it over and over on the stove or
in the microwave.

Cshenk wrote:
> "Tracy" wrote
>
>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you prefer
>> the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
>> recommendations?
>
> As a non-user of such, I cant recommend a brand but they can be useful to
> have hot water always ready for making tea, powdered coffee, noodle packs
> (ramen bowls). They are not all that energy efficient in themselves but if
> you find you need hot (almost boiling) water always ready due to use
> patterns, it would be cheaper than heating it over and over on the stove or
> in the microwave.
>
>
Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model
on my stove top.

Curious how much is costs to boil water on the gas stove versus boiling
in an electric kettle?


-Tracy

On Dec 6, 3:16�pm, Tracy > wrote:
> Cshenk wrote:
> > "Tracy" wrote
>
> >> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> >> instead of the traditional stove top type. �Just wondering why you prefer
> >> the electric version. �I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
> >> recommendations?
>
> > As a non-user of such, I cant recommend a brand but they can be useful to
> > have hot water always ready for making tea, powdered coffee, noodle packs
> > (ramen bowls). �They are not all that energy efficient in themselves but if
> > you find you need hot (almost boiling) water always ready due to use
> > patterns, it would be cheaper than heating it over and over on the stove or
> > in the microwave.
>
> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model
> on my stove top.
>
> Curious how much is costs to boil water on the gas stove versus boiling
> in an electric kettle?

The electric kettle shuts off when the water boils so uses minimal
electric. The one I have has a water level view tube maked in cups,
so no need to boil more than needed, another energy saver. I have
this one, in every respect it's perfect, even very easy to clean the
interior.

http://www.amazon.com/Braun-WK200W-E.../dp/B00004S9H7

Once you use this you'll never go back.

Sheldon

>
> The electric kettle shuts off when the water boils so uses minimal
> electric. The one I have has a water level view tube maked in cups,
> so no need to boil more than needed, another energy saver. I have
> this one, in every respect it's perfect, even very easy to clean the
> interior.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Braun-WK200W-E.../dp/B00004S9H7
>
> Once you use this you'll never go back.
>
> Sheldon

I was just looking at that one (or one very similar) today - except in
black.

-Tracy
(putting in on my Xmas list)

Tracy wrote:
Sheldon writes:
> > The electric kettle shuts off when the water boils so uses minimal
> > electric. �The one I have has a water level view tube maked in cups,
> > so no need to boil more than needed, another energy saver. �I have
> > this one, in every respect it's perfect, even very easy to clean the
> > interior.
>
> >http://www.amazon.com/Braun-WK200W-E.../dp/B00004S9H7
>
> > Once you use this you'll never go back.
>
> I was just looking at that one (or one very similar) today - except in
> black.

If you scroll down that Amazon page I posted you will see it in black
and in stainless steel too.

Sheldon

"Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>
>
>
>
>>
>> The electric kettle shuts off when the water boils so uses minimal
>> electric. The one I have has a water level view tube maked in cups,
>> so no need to boil more than needed, another energy saver. I have
>> this one, in every respect it's perfect, even very easy to clean the
>> interior.
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Braun-WK200W-E.../dp/B00004S9H7
>>
>> Once you use this you'll never go back.
>>
>> Sheldon
>
> I was just looking at that one (or one very similar) today - except in
> black.
>
> -Tracy
> (putting in on my Xmas list)


200Watt?
Dee Dee

"Tracy" wrote
> Cshenk wrote:

>>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle

>> As a non-user of such, I cant recommend a brand but they can be useful to
>> have hot water always ready for making tea, powdered coffee, noodle packs
>> (ramen bowls). They are not all that energy efficient in themselves but
>> if you find you need hot (almost boiling) water always ready due to use
>> patterns, it would be cheaper than heating it over and over on the stove
>> or in the microwave.

> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.

I try to be energy efficient, but can easily afford the cost of running
electrical toys ;-)

> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model on
> my stove top.

Oh? I like mine! Very retro 50's and highly functional.

> Curious how much is costs to boil water on the gas stove versus boiling in
> an electric kettle?

About the same I think just to get it hot? It's the keeping it hot that
costs a bit of energy so if you don't need it hot for hours on end, it isn't
an item I would use. We fire up the gas stove for the teapot about 2 times
a day. Our usage is too low to make keeping a hot water pot around all the
time, a sensible thing. If however you use the hot water every hour for the
first 4 hours of the morning and perhaps again at lunch, its more energy
efficient to just keep it warm with the electric types then turn it off when
your main use time is done.

I think of it much like a rice cooker. Useless waste of space to a person
who eats rice at best once a week. An energry saving essential for folks
like me who have it 2-3 times a day and need to keep a batch warm from
breakfast to dinner time. Useless to me are rice units that just cook then
turn off.

Grin, I see on the appliance thread I am abnormal. I can easily afford 300$
a month electric bills but my habits run me far less stateside. My only
electric bill so far came in and was 87$ (5OCT-15NOV). I'm augmenting the
gas heat and electric blower with the fireplace (have a real one, functional
and 2 cords of wood). The stove and water heater are also gas. Havent got
a gas bill yet but I think it will be pretty low comparitive to my area.

I'm not ragging on anyone who uses more power (electric or gas etc), just
mentioning that we took a change there after living in Japan. We lived in a
place where people actually think about such and ethics have them self
regulate so there is enough for all. They do not have brown-outs like I
heard started in the states while I was away. They would just tell everyone
to shift the AC to 85F (actuslly they use metrics) and turn on a fan and
everyone did so. If you used kerosine heat, you could be as warm as you
wanted but in winter, you were warned if electric to set to no higher than
70F. We used radient electric heaters and electric as Don is sensitive to
kerosine fumes.

> "Tracy" wrote
>> Cshenk wrote:
>
>>>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>
>>> As a non-user of such, I cant recommend a brand but they can be useful to
>>> have hot water always ready for making tea, powdered coffee, noodle packs
>>> (ramen bowls). They are not all that energy efficient in themselves but
>>> if you find you need hot (almost boiling) water always ready due to use
>>> patterns, it would be cheaper than heating it over and over on the stove
>>> or in the microwave.
>
>> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
>
> I try to be energy efficient, but can easily afford the cost of running
> electrical toys ;-)
>
>> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model on
>> my stove top.
>
> Oh? I like mine! Very retro 50's and highly functional.
>

I do like the look of a retro kettle. I just hate trying to keep the
thing clean.

>
> I think of it much like a rice cooker. Useless waste of space to a person
> who eats rice at best once a week. An energry saving essential for folks
> like me who have it 2-3 times a day and need to keep a batch warm from
> breakfast to dinner time. Useless to me are rice units that just cook then
> turn off.

I agree. My husband has been bugging for a rice cooker, but we eat rice
about once a month. I don't see the need.
>
> Grin, I see on the appliance thread I am abnormal. I can easily afford 300$
> a month electric bills but my habits run me far less stateside. My only
> electric bill so far came in and was 87$ (5OCT-15NOV). I'm augmenting the
> gas heat and electric blower with the fireplace (have a real one, functional
> and 2 cords of wood). The stove and water heater are also gas. Havent got
> a gas bill yet but I think it will be pretty low comparitive to my area.

We put our son to the task of helping lower our electric bills. He is
constantly turning out lights on us...saying things like "do you really
need this 3rd light on?" We created a monster.

We also recently moved. Our new apartment has a timer on the thermostat.
I love this! I can set it so the heat goes off during the day when we
aren't home and at night for sleeping (I set it to 58-60F) It comes on
in the am for a bit and when we come home from work. 68F in the winter
- on really cold days like today - 27F right now. I can deal with 64 or
65 if it is not below freezing outside.

Tracy

"Tracy" > wrote in message ...

> I do like the look of a retro kettle. I just hate trying to keep the thing
> clean.


The easiest way to keep a stainless steel cooking thing clean is to be able
to use lots of water. Check with owners of electric kettles to find out if
the things are submersible, or can be freely exposed to as much of a slosh
as your typical frying pan.

"Tracy" wrote
>>> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model
>>> on my stove top.
>>
>> Oh? I like mine! Very retro 50's and highly functional.

> I do like the look of a retro kettle. I just hate trying to keep the thing
> clean.

Aw, well, I throw mine in the dishwasher now and again. Needs nothing more.

>> I think of it much like a rice cooker. Useless waste of space to a
>> person who eats rice at best once a week. An energry saving essential for
>> folks like me who have it 2-3 times a day and need to keep a batch warm
>> from breakfast to dinner time. Useless to me are rice units that just
>> cook then turn off.
>
> I agree. My husband has been bugging for a rice cooker, but we eat rice
> about once a month. I don't see the need.

It is possible, if you had one, you would make rice more often but it does
not sound like an essential item to your cookery. Mine, just finished most
of the rice so added 3 cups dashi and some bits of things like freeze dried
mussels, dried shrimp, dried shiitake and some nori etc. I turned it off
and in the morning I'll turn it on for fresh congee. Once it's eaten for
breakfast, I'll make more rice around lunchtime and have enough for dinner
and post-school munchies. As you can see from that, it's a bit more
versatile than you may have thought but it still probably doesnt fit your
lifestyle.

>> Grin, I see on the appliance thread I am abnormal. I can easily afford
>> 300$ a month electric bills but my habits run me far less stateside. My
>> only electric bill so far came in and was 87$ (5OCT-15NOV). I'm
>> augmenting the gas heat and electric blower with the fireplace (have a
>> real one, functional and 2 cords of wood). The stove and water heater
>> are also gas. Havent got a gas bill yet but I think it will be pretty
>> low comparitive to my area.
>
> We put our son to the task of helping lower our electric bills. He is
> constantly turning out lights on us...saying things like "do you really
> need this 3rd light on?" We created a monster.

LOL.

> We also recently moved. Our new apartment has a timer on the thermostat. I
> love this! I can set it so the heat goes off during the day when we aren't
> home and at night for sleeping (I set it to 58-60F) It comes on in the am
> for a bit and when we come home from work. 68F in the winter - on really
> cold days like today - 27F right now. I can deal with 64 or 65 if it is
> not below freezing outside.

Well, we stay at 70-72F here unless the fireplace makes it warmer. I
wouldnt mind dropping it lower at night but Don doesnt like that.

Cshenk > wrote:

> "Tracy" wrote

> > Curious how much is costs to boil water on the gas stove versus boiling in
> > an electric kettle?

> About the same I think just to get it hot? It's the keeping it hot that

With the kettle the heating element is usually immersed in the water
so there isn't any, or very little, heat lost outside the kettle.
Can't say the same for a gas stove. A lot of heat goes around the
outside and off into the air. Then the price of gas vs. electric
comes into play. It's probably pennies either way.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.

wrote:
>
> Cshenk > wrote:
>
> > "Tracy" wrote
>
> > > Curious how much is costs to boil water on the gas stove versus boiling in
> > > an electric kettle?
>
> > About the same I think just to get it hot? It's the keeping it hot that
>
> With the kettle the heating element is usually immersed in the water
> so there isn't any, or very little, heat lost outside the kettle.
> Can't say the same for a gas stove. A lot of heat goes around the
> outside and off into the air. Then the price of gas vs. electric
> comes into play. It's probably pennies either way.
>
> Bill Ranck
> Blacksburg, Va.

It's pennies for sure. I once considered being "green" and line drying
my laundry (TX so warm enough a good portion of the year). I calculated
the cost to run a typical cycle in my electric dryer (runs a lot longer
and higher power than an electric kettle) and determined that a cycle
cost about $0.30 which killed that idea real quick. My time to hang and
retrieve laundry and shake bugs off is worth a lot more than $0.30.

In article >,
Janet Baraclough > wrote:


> In the UK, electric kettles are more or less universal in domestic
> kitchens (even among gas stove users) because they are so much faster
> and turn themselves off as soon as they boil; a more efficient use of
> energy.

Not to mention safer (they don't boil dry, either).

> If however you use the hot water every hour for the
> > first 4 hours of the morning and perhaps again at lunch, its more energy
> > efficient to just keep it warm with the electric types then turn it
> > off when
> > your main use time is done.
>
> But we aren't aiming to keep water warm in a kettle!.I just turn it on
> whenever I want boiling water to make tea and hot drinks, or a pan of
> boiling water to cook veg or pasta etc. Mine boils a litre of water in
> less than one minute then turns itself off.

Exactly.

Miche

--
Electricians do it in three phases

"Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>
>
> Cshenk wrote:
>> "Tracy" wrote
>>
>>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>>> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
>>> prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself. Brand
>>> recommendations?
>>
>> As a non-user of such, I cant recommend a brand but they can be useful to
>> have hot water always ready for making tea, powdered coffee, noodle packs
>> (ramen bowls). They are not all that energy efficient in themselves but
>> if you find you need hot (almost boiling) water always ready due to use
>> patterns, it would be cheaper than heating it over and over on the stove
>> or in the microwave.
>>
>>
> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model on
> my stove top.
> -Tracy


What will happen when the electric kettle gets yucky looking?

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> "Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>>

>>>
>> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
>> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model on
>> my stove top.
>> -Tracy
>
>
> What will happen when the electric kettle gets yucky looking?
>
>
It won't get yucky because it won't be sitting on my stove getting hit
by all the cooking splatter.
At least that is my hope...
I will set it next to the coffee maker where it will be out of splatters
way.

-Tracy

"Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>
>
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> "Tracy" > wrote in message ...
>>>
>
>>>>
>>> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
>>> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model
>>> on my stove top.
>>> -Tracy
>>
>>
>> What will happen when the electric kettle gets yucky looking?
> It won't get yucky because it won't be sitting on my stove getting hit by
> all the cooking splatter.
> At least that is my hope...
> I will set it next to the coffee maker where it will be out of splatters
> way.
>
> -Tracy


I'm just being a pain in the neck by asking, but what if you bought a nice
thick ceramic trivet, and when you're done using the existing kettle, put it
on the trivet next to the coffee pot? Cheap, simple solution.

On Dec 6, 4:23�pm, Tracy > wrote:
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> > "Tracy" > wrote in ...
>
> >> Cost isn't an issue - though I am not a energy hog.
> >> I am looking for a replacement for the yucky looking "stainless" model on
> >> my stove top.
> >> -Tracy
>
> > What will happen when the electric kettle gets yucky looking?
>
> It won't get yucky because it won't be sitting on my stove getting hit
> by all the cooking splatter.
> At least that is my hope...
> I will set it next to the coffee maker where it will be out of splatters
> way.

Exactly. That's just one of the reasons I got rid of ye olde stove
top tea kettle, the exterior chrome needed constant scrubbing... my
Braun has been sitting on the counter top far away from the stove near
the sink, near the water where it belongs, the exterior gets an
occasional wipe with a damp towel, the interior is still as spotless
as new. And it's faster than the stove top by at least double, beats
the microwave by a mile... boils water at the rate of a minute a cup.
And the Braun requires no hot pad, the entire exterior remains cool to
the touch. I used to have a counter top electric kettle made in the
UK (Russell Hobbs) but it had to remain plugged in, was expensive,
like $100 some 20 years ago, and even though it was 3,000w it was very
slow, and had no water level indictor plus the fill lid was difficult
to remove, and it didn't always shut off when the water reach boil...
I was so glad the day that UK POS died. Russel Hobbs doesn't make
that style anymo http://www.russell-hobbs.com/tea.shtml

I like my Braun, I even like how it's relatively narrow, has a small
footprint. But it's not very exciting, no bells and whistles... all
it does is boil water... right!

Sheldon

I bought this Capresso cause it's so pretty and it works very well. Not
too big to sit out on the counter in my small kitchen.

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-259-0...p/B000BYCGTS/r
ef=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1197053807&sr=1-40

Tracy wrote:
>
> Curious how much is costs to boil water on the gas stove versus boiling
> in an electric kettle?

The cost depends on your gas and electric rates. The efficiency however
(considering local efficiency only) is much higher for the electric
since all the electricity consumed is converted to heat and nearly all
of that goes directly into the contents of the kettle, vs. the gas stove
where a good deal of the heat generated by the gas flame flows past the
kettle and into the room.

Tracy wrote:
>
> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
> prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself.
> Brand recommendations?


Maybe it is a cultural thing. Everyone I know uses en electric kettle,
except my brother's neighbour, whose wife is American. The neighbour's
daughter ruined my brother's kettle when she was asked to heat up some
water, filled the electric kettle, put it on the stove and turned on the
burner :-)

I have tried stove top kettles and find the electric models much faster to
heat up. They are pretty well contained and the heating element is
immersed in the water so there is less heat wasted into the air. Most of
them have automatic switches to shut them off after the water has boiled
for a few seconds.

HI good topic!!! I was impressed by my friend's $90 electric kettle but
after a few days I got smart and returned oit to BB and Beyond and got a
smaller, lighter RIVAL electric kettle for $12 including tax and I am so
happy about the switch: there is no heating element running down the side
like the expensive ones have, prventing a decent clean-up, it is less
obnoxious because of it's size, it has a sort of heat controll but I judge
the temperature by observation alone. It doesn't have an on-off switch but I
have a small on/off switch between the cord and the outlet so I am just one
happy (and richer) fella. It does not have a billion watts/amps so it is a
few seconds slower than the big expensive ones : SO keep your money in your
pocket, get the RIVAL and enjoy ( unless you do have a hole in your pocket).
oel
"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
...
> Tracy wrote:
>>
>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
>> prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself.
>> Brand recommendations?
>
>
> Maybe it is a cultural thing. Everyone I know uses en electric kettle,
> except my brother's neighbour, whose wife is American. The neighbour's
> daughter ruined my brother's kettle when she was asked to heat up some
> water, filled the electric kettle, put it on the stove and turned on the
> burner :-)
>
> I have tried stove top kettles and find the electric models much faster to
> heat up. They are pretty well contained and the heating element is
> immersed in the water so there is less heat wasted into the air. Most of
> them have automatic switches to shut them off after the water has boiled
> for a few seconds.

On Dec 6, 3:50 pm, "J F Smith" > wrote:
> HI good topic!!! I was impressed by my friend's $90 electric kettle but
> after a few days I got smart and returned oit to BB and Beyond and got a
> smaller, lighter RIVAL electric kettle for $12 including tax and I am so
> happy about the switch: there is no heating element running down the side
> like the expensive ones have, prventing a decent clean-up, it is less
> obnoxious because of it's size, it has a sort of heat controll but I judge
> the temperature by observation alone. It doesn't have an on-off switch but I
> have a small on/off switch between the cord and the outlet so I am just one
> happy (and richer) fella. It does not have a billion watts/amps so it is a
> few seconds slower than the big expensive ones : SO keep your money in your
> pocket, get the RIVAL and enjoy ( unless you do have a hole in your pocket).
> oel"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>
Well, maybe, if cost is the most important consideration. If
convenience and safety are important, the automatic shutoff is a very
good thing to have. Mine is an Oster and it may have cost a few bucks
less than the Braun, I don't remember. I like the window that shows
me the water level, I like the speed, and as I said, I really like the
automatic shutoff.

Somebody suggested electric kettle usage was "a cultural thing." I
think it's more a matter of learning that they exist. We didn't know
about them until we went to Australia, where we saw them in every
motel/hotel room wherever we went. They were so convenient we went
and got one as soon as we came home. For months after that, many
people who saw them in our house got them, too. -aem

On Dec 6, 7:12�pm, aem > wrote:
> On Dec 6, 3:50 pm, "J F Smith" > wrote:> HI good topic!!! �I was impressed by my friend's $90 electric kettle but
> > after a few days I got smart and returned oit to BB and Beyond and got a
> > smaller, lighter RIVAL electric kettle for $12 including tax and I am so
> > happy about the switch: there is no heating element running down the side
> > like the expensive ones have, prventing a decent clean-up, it is less
> > obnoxious because of it's size, it has a sort of heat controll but I judge
> > the temperature by observation alone. It doesn't have an on-off switch but I
> > have a small on/off switch between the cord and the outlet so I am just one
> > happy (and richer) fella. It does not have a billion watts/amps so it is a
> > few seconds slower than the big expensive ones : SO keep your money in your
> > pocket, get the RIVAL and enjoy ( unless you do have a hole in your pocket).
> > oel"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>
> Well, maybe, if cost is the most important consideration. �If
> convenience and safety are important, the automatic shutoff is a very
> good thing to have. �Mine is an Oster and it may have cost a few bucks
> less than the Braun, I don't remember. �I like the window that shows
> me the water level, I like the speed, and as I said, I really like the
> automatic shutoff.
>
> Somebody suggested electric kettle usage was "a cultural thing." �I
> think it's more a matter of learning that they exist. �We didn't know
> about them until we went to Australia, where we saw them in every
> motel/hotel room wherever we went. �They were so convenient we went
> and got one as soon as we came home. �For months after that, many
> people who saw them in our house got them, too. � �-aem

It took a while fro folks to accept electric perculators too... and
even longer to accept ADCs... now everyone who drinks coffee has an
ADC on their counter top even if they have nothing else. The only
electric appliances I have on my counter top is my ADC, my burr coffee
grinder, my Braun kettle, my microwave, and bread toaster... all
others are put away in cabinets.

Sheldon

Dave Smith wrote:
>
> Tracy wrote:
> >
> > I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> > instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
> > prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself.
> > Brand recommendations?
>
> Maybe it is a cultural thing. Everyone I know uses en electric kettle,
> except my brother's neighbour, whose wife is American. The neighbour's
> daughter ruined my brother's kettle when she was asked to heat up some
> water, filled the electric kettle, put it on the stove and turned on the
> burner :-)
>
> I have tried stove top kettles and find the electric models much faster to
> heat up. They are pretty well contained and the heating element is
> immersed in the water so there is less heat wasted into the air. Most of
> them have automatic switches to shut them off after the water has boiled
> for a few seconds.

It's not cultural, it's practical. Your UK electric kettles are about
twice the wattage of the US due to your 240V power, so the US version is
slower than dirt and therefore not popular.

The US alternative is the built in instant hot water dispenser, usually
mounted at the sink, which is hardwired to a 240V circuit as well as the
water supply, and provides as much near boiling water as you want,
whenever you want, without having to fill a kettle.

"Pete C." wrote:
>
>
> It's not cultural, it's practical. Your UK electric kettles are about
> twice the wattage of the US due to your 240V power, so the US version is
> slower than dirt and therefore not popular.

No. We use 110v here too. I find it much faster to heat water in an
electric kettle than on top of my (electric) stove.

On Dec 6, 8:09�pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
>
> It's not cultural, it's practical. Your UK electric kettles are about
> twice the wattage of the US due to your 240V power, so the US version is
> slower than dirt and therefore not popular.

You're obviously not an electrician. The fact that Europens use
higher voltages for small appliasnces has nothing to do with consuming
watts, it has *only* to do with that the European electrical grid is
antiquated... with 240V appliances they obviously have far more in
home electricutions is all.

> The US alternative is the built in instant hot water dispenser, usually
> mounted at the sink, which is hardwired to a 240V circuit as well as the
> water supply, and provides as much near boiling water as you want,
> whenever you want, without having to fill a kettle.

The instant water supply units at the sink in the US are first of all
120V, not 240V, and you're talking apples and oranges... one is
maintaining a volume of water at a constant temperature, the kettle is
far more efficient for heating small quantities of water because they
don't waste watts maintaining. Only folks with more dollars than
brain cells have those instant hot water units at their sink.

Sheldon

Tracy wrote:
>
> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> instead of the traditional stove top type. Just wondering why you
> prefer the electric version. I am thinking of getting one myself.
> Brand recommendations?
>
> Tracy
> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
> hands....)

In the UK where they can get 3,800 Watts + from their 240V outlets, the
countertop electric kettles are popular. The US versions which can only
get 1,800 Watts from the 120V outlets aren't nearly as useful.

The US alternative is the instant hot water taps that install at the
sink. Since these are typically hardwired, they can get a 240V feed with
enough capacity. These are more expensive than the countertop kettles,
but you don't have to fill them, wash them, etc. Just put the cup, pan,
or whatever under the tap and push the handle and get as much near
boiling water as you want.

"Pete C." wrote:
> Tracy wrote:
>
> > I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> > instead of the traditional stove top type. �Just wondering why you
> > prefer the electric version. �I am thinking of getting one myself.
> > Brand recommendations?
>
> > Tracy
> > (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
> > hands....)
>
> In the UK where they can get 3,800 Watts + from their 240V outlets, the
> countertop electric kettles are popular. The US versions which can only
> get 1,800 Watts from the 120V outlets aren't nearly as useful.

That just means that the US kettles are far more efficient. You don't
"get" watts... watts is energy *consumed*, not energy produced.

The old UK klunker kettles were made of metal, a fairly large mass of
thick metal... most of those 3,800 watts were consumed to heat the
kettle, not the water contained therein... why would any normal
brained person want to also heat three pounds of steel when all they
want to heat is one cup water. The new modern plastic kettles consume
half as many watts to heat twice as much water in half the time. I
don't know about yoose but I don't want to spend my money to heat
pots. When I buy small electrical appliances I look for those that
can do the job with the lowest wattage rating. The UK doesn't make
those old high wattage consuming klunker kettles anymore... those
things consumed all those watts because they were poorly designed,
they couldn't heat small quantites of water like one or two cups
efficiently, you had to fill the entire pot to fully submerge the
heater element, so naturally they consumed 3,800 watts because they
had to heat like 2 quarts of water in order to fully submerge the
heating element to function at their best efficiency. Those old
klunkers were not fast all, they needed like 3-4 minutes to boil one
cup of water. The new modern plastic units boil one cup of water in
one minute and very efficiently... the 1,500 watt rating is only for
boiling a full pot, one cup probabvly consumes less than 200 watts.

Sheldon

Sheldon wrote:
> "Pete C." wrote:
>> Tracy wrote:
>>
>>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
>>> instead of the traditional stove top type. �Just wondering why you
>>> prefer the electric version. �I am thinking of getting one myself.
>>> Brand recommendations?
>>> Tracy
>>> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
>>> hands....)
>> In the UK where they can get 3,800 Watts + from their 240V outlets, the
>> countertop electric kettles are popular. The US versions which can only
>> get 1,800 Watts from the 120V outlets aren't nearly as useful.
>
> That just means that the US kettles are far more efficient. You don't
> "get" watts... watts is energy *consumed*, not energy produced.
>
> The old UK klunker kettles were made of metal, a fairly large mass of
> thick metal... most of those 3,800 watts were consumed to heat the
> kettle, not the water contained therein... why would any normal
> brained person want to also heat three pounds of steel when all they
> want to heat is one cup water. The new modern plastic kettles consume
> half as many watts to heat twice as much water in half the time. I
> don't know about yoose but I don't want to spend my money to heat
> pots. When I buy small electrical appliances I look for those that
> can do the job with the lowest wattage rating. The UK doesn't make
> those old high wattage consuming klunker kettles anymore... those
> things consumed all those watts because they were poorly designed,
> they couldn't heat small quantites of water like one or two cups
> efficiently, you had to fill the entire pot to fully submerge the
> heater element, so naturally they consumed 3,800 watts because they
> had to heat like 2 quarts of water in order to fully submerge the
> heating element to function at their best efficiency. Those old
> klunkers were not fast all, they needed like 3-4 minutes to boil one
> cup of water. The new modern plastic units boil one cup of water in
> one minute and very efficiently... the 1,500 watt rating is only for
> boiling a full pot, one cup probabvly consumes less than 200 watts.
>
> Sheldon


You do realize that almost everything you just said is wrong, don't you?

Bob

On Dec 6, 9:54Â*pm, zxcvbob > wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> > "Pete C." wrote:
> >> Tracy wrote:
>
> >>> I saw in the small appliances thread that some use an electric kettle
> >>> instead of the traditional stove top type. �Just wondering why you
> >>> prefer the electric version. �I am thinking of getting one myself.
> >>> Brand recommendations?
> >>> Tracy
> >>> (who has gone through more stove top kettles than she can count on both
> >>> hands....)
> >> In the UK where they can get 3,800 Watts + from their 240V outlets, the
> >> countertop electric kettles are popular. The US versions which can only
> >> get 1,800 Watts from the 120V outlets aren't nearly as useful.
>
> > That just means that the US kettles are far more efficient. Â*You don't
> > "get" watts... watts is energy *consumed*, not energy produced.
>
> > The old UK klunker kettles were made of metal, a fairly large mass of
> > thick metal... most of those 3,800 watts were consumed to heat the
> > kettle, not the water contained therein... why would any normal
> > brained person want to also heat three pounds of steel when all they
> > want to heat is one cup water. Â*The new modern plastic kettles consume
> > half as many watts to heat twice as much water in half the time. Â*I
> > don't know about yoose but I don't want to spend my money to heat
> > pots. Â*When I buy small electrical appliances I look for those that
> > can do the job with the lowest wattage rating. Â*The UK doesn't make
> > those old high wattage consuming klunker kettles anymore... those
> > things consumed all those watts because they were poorly designed,
> > they couldn't heat small quantites of water like one or two cups
> > efficiently, you had to fill the entire pot to fully submerge the
> > heater element, so naturally they consumed 3,800 watts because they
> > had to heat like 2 quarts of water in order to fully submerge the
> > heating element to function at their best efficiency. Â*Those old
> > klunkers were not fast all, they needed like 3-4 minutes to boil one
> > cup of water. Â*The new modern plastic units boil one cup of water in
> > one minute and very efficiently... the 1,500 watt rating is only for
> > boiling a full pot, one cup probabvly consumes less than 200 watts.
>
> > Sheldon
>
> You do realize that almost everything you just said is wrong, don't you?
>
> Bob

Naturally how you know this is why you explained it all... shit for
brains... I'm positive, absolutely 100pct positive that you never went
to school past 7th grade, you are dumber than a small cow flop.

Sheldon