Ask Lemmy

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

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.

No. I put it in the air fryer

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.

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.

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

We use a kettle or boil it in a pot. I would not even entertain the idea of microwaving the water.

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.

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'd love to hear them. I recently got a box of Yorkshire gold that's been pretty good to me

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.

We just have an instant hot water tap. Can't live without it, haha.

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 ;)

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

I was fighting a cold recently so used the microwave to heat the lemon juice / honey / gin mixture I was self medicating with.

Takes longer and usually don't get it hot enough.

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.

Not once in my life.

Never as I don't drink tea nor own a microwave.

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.

Always for coffee only sometimes for tea.

I don’t drink tea or coffee, but my mom microwaves her water for tea.

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.

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.

Never tried it. Is it faster than an electric kettle?

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.

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.