Recently, the New York Times published an article titled “The Best Electric Kettle” that introduced readers to a new household appliance: electric kettles. “New”? You might be wondering what is “new” about these kettles. It turns out that this essential kitchen tool in every household in Vietnam (and many places around the world) is not widely recognized in the United States.
In the U.S., some people would rather spend money on a home coffee maker than buy an electric kettle.
According to Business Insider, some Americans prefer to use microwaves to heat water, or boil water the traditional way with a regular kettle or teapot. Others would rather invest in a coffee maker for their home instead of purchasing an electric kettle! However, there is a valid reason explaining why this appliance is not popular in the U.S., and the root of the issue traces back to Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla.
In the 1880s, two famous inventors, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, were in fierce competition to determine whether direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC) would become the standard across America. Edison invented the direct current system, which only flows in one direction and is not suited for long-distance transmission. In contrast, Tesla believed that alternating current was the better solution because it is more efficient for long-distance transmission. Ultimately, Tesla prevailed, and Westinghouse Electric (one of the largest electric companies in the U.S. at the time) adopted AC as its electrical standard.
So, what does this have to do with electric kettles? It turns out it is quite relevant. Most households across the U.S. use a voltage of 100 – 127V, which corresponds to the voltage level in Edison’s DC system. However, the UK and other countries use higher voltages, ranging from 220 – 240V. This means that electric kettles in the U.S. will not boil water as quickly as in other parts of the world.
The primary reason you would want to use an electric kettle is that it saves energy. According to Insider Energy, electric kettles consume up to 80% less electricity than other appliances used to boil water.
Another reason is that they boil water extremely quickly (obviously!), specifically, twice as fast as a microwave or stove. Additionally, if you only want to boil water for a cup of tea or coffee, using an electric kettle is safer and more efficient. Why? This device features an automatic shut-off when the water reaches a boil, so you don’t have to waste time waiting to turn off the stove!
