Are electric kettles used in the US?

Question

This may sound like a dumb question but are electric kettles used in the US? Whenever I see an american kitchen on tv they have the standard boil on the hob type kettle. If electric kettles aren't used - why not?

Answer 1

I live in the US and I've had one for years. And it is actually a kettle and not a hotpot. I picked it up at Wal-Mart for maybe $12. People look at me funny when I say I need to plug in the kettle. I don't care, I have boiling water faster than it takes to light a burner or wait for the microwave. I have no idea why more people haven't embraced this.

Answer 2

They are not used. Why? Really can't tell you. Most people here drink coffee rather than tea so they have coffee pots, electric and use the tea kettle for tea. I use my tea kettle for coffee as I love my water boiling!
You have to understand we have enough electric kitchen gadgets taking up too much counter space already.
But I think the main reason being coffee is the preferred drink and we use the coffee pot for that.
Besides what you see on TV is probably a fictional show and the set designer throws the pot on the stove for design reasons.

Answer 3

Yes, they are used in the USA, but not so much.

Our standard drink is coffee, so most homes have drip coffee makers on the countertop.

We have a stovetop kettle for boiling water, but it gets in the way of my other pans on the stove when I cook, so we keep it in a cupboard somewhere.

My husband and I drink herbal tea every day, but we put water in cups, then put the cups in the microwave to heat the water.

I used to work for a store that sold kitchen specialty items...the electric pots back then were very expensive. They aren't so much anymore, and are a great product, just not much in demand in the states.

Answer 4

Wow that's a good one. I've just noticed the same while watching tv.

Where I live New Zealand, kettles are put on the hob, electric jugs are plugged in.

I would say that 99% of New Zealanders use the "electric jug". Wouldn't like to use a kettle all the time because your electricity bill would be enormous.

Answer 5

Hello, I would check around on the enternet to see if you could get an adaptor for your electric kettle. I think you may find one on there. Or you could check old antique stores to see if they carry those adaptor's from your country. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Answer 6

If you mean the type you fill with water and plug in, we call them "hot pots"

There is no purpose for them in a kitchen with a stove. Why bother. They are used a lot in dorm rooms and such.

If you mean one of the installed - "hot water on demand" fixtures, they are becoming more popular, but we are generally not hot tea drinkers, but coffee drinkers.

Answer 7

I have one... But honestly, I don't use it unless I go camping... They were popular back in the day, but you don't see them that often anymore.
I guess it's just one of those cultural things like how Asian women won't use dishwashers...
Americans like to use a lot of gas and electricity to heat up one tiny little pot of water...
Plus we don't drink tea as much as other countries and coffee pots heat the water for you.

Answer 8

I have one in my office, and I used to have them when I was younger and lived in a dorm. At home, I just heat water on the stove or in a microwave-it's faster.

Answer 9

They're available, but I think most people just prefer to stick the pot on the stove

Answer 10

We don't have that type of tea making technology yet.