How many of you microwave water for tea?

I do, water is water.

No. I put it in the air fryer

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 used to do house calls a decade ago for IT work. Often customers offered me beverages.
Had a European who worked at the UN for decades make me tea. Blew my socks off. I've never enjoyed tea, but it seems like we just don't know how to make it!
... The next month I was offered tea by a American. I wasn't expecting it being made by a pro, but let him try.
He put "hot" tap water into a cup and tossed a teabag in.
I fake drank it.
She is a keeper
- For sure. I am punching and I know it
Sooo ... that'd be bad, then?
As a guy who recently got into tea, any recommendations? I got a box of Yorkshire gold, it's pretty good, but almost tastes a little.... chalky? Malty I suppose is the word. It's good, I'm not complaining, but would be interested to hear recs from someone who knows what's what
- I always recommend this site: https://theteahouseltd.com/
  We've visited them in person and their tea was so fantastic that even non-tea people loved it. They ship worldwide. I tend to order in bulk these years.
  Only one tea has ever come close, and it was a small Asian restaurant out of Vancouver, BC. This store has dozens of amazing varieties.
- I've been on a real chai kick and got the biggest available size of this tea a month or so ago and I'm already nearly through it. I love it with milk and sugar, it has some caffeine and a spicy complexity that gets me going in the mornings. It's amazing cold too, if I don't finish the pot before it goes lukewarm I'll put in a glass bottle in the fridge for later.
  Oh and buy loose leaf tea. Even cellulose and paper teabags are apparently riddled with micro plastics.

I live in the US and I heat my tea water in an electric kettle. It probably isn't as fast as yours, but it is still close to microwave speed. And I can heat up enough for several cups of tea and have it keep the rest hot. I usually drink more than one at a sitting.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your statement, you're saying it's faster to boil water in the microwave than the kettle? How's that possible? I would think the microwave has more wasted energy
- My microwave can boil a single cup of water faster than my kettle. My kettle can boil four cups of water a lot faster than my microwave. It all depends on the microwave and kettle (and the voltage available).
- Microwave is blasting radiation at 100% efficiency as soon as you turn it on. Kettles heating elements need to heat up before they can heat the water.

Electric kettles are a waste of space for many people. Limited use, fills up the counter. So then either you use the store or the microwave. We both know which one is faster.

I honestly don't know which is faster since I've never used a microwave to boil water. An electric kettle is essential for me. It also boils water that can then be used for cooking so for me it's versatile enough to justify the space. Toasters imo have much more limited use and those seem to be common in US households too.
Electric kettle is used more frequently than the coffee maker, and takes up less space. It's faster too. I think it's 2kw, while microwave is 800w. There are more powerful kettles too, up to 3kw i think.

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.

Why not heat it on the stove in a small pan?
- For me it's the fact that my cast iron stove takes ages to heat up
Has that happened to you? I've not managed to make super heated water in the microwave.
- Yes it already happened a couple of time. It starts boiling either when pulling-out or when putting the tea inside.
- If you're using distilled water there's not enough minerals in the water to start the boiling process before the temperature crosses 100 C because microwaves heat it up so fast.
  It also doesn't necessarily have to be distilled water, but the the closer it is to just H2O, the higher the chance this will happen.
- Apparently you can do it by turning off the microwave as soon as it starts boiling, turning it on again and repeating until everything boils at the same time and explodes.
- The water continues to heat ~1 minute after microwaving stops, so I guess it could happen if you take it out very close to the boiling point.
Yeah I grew up without a kettle and just lived with shitty badly heated water. Got myself a kettle after moving out and improved my tea experience greatly.
I got my parents a kettle though because my mom, especially, drinks about 10 cups of hot water a day, but she hates the kettle and won't use it. I do not understand.

I am an American. I got a stovetop kettle to boil water for my tea. My fiancée hates it and refuses to use it. My friends think it is weird that I don’t just use the microwave like a normal person.

You are the only normal person there

American electric kettles are also quite a bit slower to boil because our mains voltage is so low. https://youtu.be/_yMMTVVJI4c

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.

Mine makes funny noises too, but since it has a marker for one cup, the noises obviously don't matter.
Was gonna say, for one cup it seems like a better use of resources (in terms of power), the only obvious downside is temperature control
You can buy a mini kettle that has a minimum of 250-300 ml, or 1 cup.

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

Generally you need super pure water though, so if you don't have a distiller and brand new unused dishes, it's probably not an issue.
- I use distilled water for espresso and tea... Thankfully I started because of my electric kettle and espresso machine. Keeping the machines cleaner.
  Never microwaved distilled water.
I've doon thot several times now. And so I -almost always- remember to check that the left digit on the timer is one.

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.

My electric kettle does about the same. Long enough to finish a piss before doing the water things.
- Never mix up things there... 😇
- My kettle boils a mug's worth of water in less than a minute, and it takes me longer than that for even a brief toilet visit and washing of hands. I have learned not to switch the kettle on until I get back from the bathroom, otherwise I'll be boiling the water twice.
  Important factors: 1) Britain has 230V mains power so electric kettles can boil water incredibly quickly, 2) The stereotype about Brits and tea is true in my case. I get through three to six mugs of the stuff per day. 3) Hot tea must be made with boiling water. Power isn't cheap and re-boiling the water adds up over time.
Induction hobs I think are still less efficient than an electric kettle, right? Correct me if I'm wrong. (I have both but I don't have the know-how to measure the effect of either. Just what I've heard.)
- It would be interesting to test. quick, someone poke Technology Connections.
- afaik electric kettles are the most efficient machines around. something like 95% efficiency
- Right. The hob needs to heat up entire surface of your cookware, and kettle transfers heat directly from the element below to water - only then some of that heat is dissipated.
- Right. The hob need to heat up entire surface of your cookware, and kettle transfers heat directly from the element below to water - only then some of that heat is dissipated.
- If you have both, and a timer on your phone, should be easy enough to check. Put the same measured amount of water in both and see how long it takes to boil.

I use an electric kettle but remember that in the US outlets are 120V, so they take a lot longer to heat water than in countries with 240.

So the microwave isn't much less efficient than the electric kettle, mainly because some of the energy is heating the mug/container. The least efficient is a stovetop kettle on an electric stove.

But I'm curious, why are Europeans so horrified by the idea of heating water in the microwave? Is it related to power consumption, or is there some other reason?

But I'm curious, why are Europeans so horrified by the idea of heating water in the microwave?
Not op. But I'm really curious about the whole "microwave water" thing.
For me it's just a completely foreign idea. Maybe because electric kettles are so ubiquitous over here. Like everyone has one, including office kitchens and hotel rooms.
I'm also curious over the practicality. Doesn't it spill over? What kind of container do you use to hold the water? For example if you want one cup of tea, do you just put a cup of water into the microwave? Depending on the container, do you watch it the whole time?
I understand why one may use the microwave to heat water, I also understand it works, but the idea of actually doing it is... mystifying.
- Most people would just put water in the mug (ceramic/microwave-safe of course) that they're going to make the tea in and microwave it until it boils or bubbles just short of a rolling boil, which takes 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the microwave's power--you'd learn the time yours takes and set the timer for that. At that point I don't see the difference between that vs. if you poured it into the cup from the kettle. Either way you now have a cup full of boiling-hot water to steep your tea in. No, it won't spill over if you don't fill it all the way up to the brim.
Why would you? Have some class!
And if you need such a small amount of warm water to cook. Then take warm water from your tap.
For everything else? Use a kettle!
- Oh, now I see! You don't understand that a microwave can boil water, you think it can only warm it up a little. Thank you for clearing up my confusion.
  Have some class!
  Whenever I hear Europeans accuse Americans of being arrogant, I can only laugh. Feeling superior about something like how you boil water is hilarious.

Not once in my life.

Wait, you guys have microwaves?

Sincerely, Someone who does not own a microwave

So you heat a whole oven or stove every time you want some leftovers? cries in planet
- Not by choice, but unfortunately that is my only option. cries in wallet
  What is the difference on environmetal impact for running a gas burner for 5 minutes vs. running an electric microwave for 30 seconds?
- Just eat them cold.

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

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

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.

Never we have a Quooker. (Instant boiling water out of the kitchen faucet)

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.

My in-laws do that. Just today I ordered them a lighted electric kettle.

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 recently got a box of Yorkshire gold that's been pretty good to me

So, I like loose leaf when I can, but will totally use bags, I grew up with Tetley so that'll always be the tea I'll use for some basic iced tea. Yorkshire gold reminds me a lot of Red Rose, which is the other really common bag tea (and I swear is what my grandmother uses for her water intake). Recently, have some bags from Genuine Tea, it's a Canadian brand and some of their blends are pretty good, there's an elderberry hibiscus one that's great to just toss a few bags in a pitcher and cold steep.
Going to mention more types of teas rather than brands that I've liked in the past, there's a lot of variety and tea (like quality coffee) can totally have a wide range of flavours depending on region, age, processing etc. By no means an expert, I just like trying things.
I like Lapsang Souchong sometimes, can have a strong smoky flavour, don't have any more but we had some first flush Darjeeling tea that was fantastic. I had some nice white tea as well, but you need to be careful, turns super unpleasant if you over steep it or have the water too hot, should be floral and lightly fruity, not pine needles.
Otherwise, I personally like oolong and pu'erh tea the best. I tend to brew tea quick with an excess of leaves, but you'll use the same tea leaves multiple times. Pu'erh can have some earthy subtle flavours, and apparently totally changes as it ages (it's fermented if I recall).
- Definitely going to give the lapsing a try. Ty for the rec!
What kind of tea experience are you looking for? A sweet and fruity herbal good hot or cold? Something refreshing and subtle to enjoy with a touch of lemon? Something dark and complicated? Smokey and earthy? There are so many options you should probably think about what you want from your cuppa.
- Definitely darker. I've been digging the straight black teas. I don't hate green tea, but I've been gravitating towards the breakfast blends.

My boomer mom will put a tea bag in a mug of water then nuke that until it bubbles to make tea. (Yes, even when the tea bag has a staple).

But, if she is heating up a can of soup, she will dump that into a sauce pan and heat that up on the gas range, on the burner right next to the nice kettle I got her years ago.

Does the staple cause any issues?
- Technically, any metal is a no no, but her microwave has never exploded.

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

Lemon juice, honey, and also gin?!? Genius! Any water, or just that?
We ran out of JD Honey - trump tax and Canadian embargo - and I was gonna add a local bourbonesque booze ... but I never even thought of a gin base.
- Gin is just what I had available. It's a hot toddy, normally made with whiskey but I'm not a big fan of wood cask spirits. I put it in a thermos to take to a funeral. It was about a 3:2:1 gin:lemon:honey mix. It was sippable but sweet like cordial from the honey. I was putting it in hot 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.

That's the trouble with electrics ... once you buy one, you feel compelled to use it to get your money's worth, ammiright?
Anyway, a true purist wud NEVER use an electric, wud tha? It'd been over a nice smoky hearth to give it that tang, like figgy puddin'.

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

I microwave water for almost everything that requires boiling water except cooking pasta.

I recommend getting an electric kettle and leaving it on the counter. It's extremely fast. You can fill a measuring cup, dump it in, and 2 minutes later it's boiled hotter than the microwave. And if you drink coffee, a French Press is 100% better than drip.
- It's slower then the microwave. Welcome to 120v land.

Jesus invented kettles for a reason, only commies and the god forsaken use the stove or microwave :)

Ironically, commies use a kettle
- Pot calling the kettle red
In the US, if you go to the store and ask where are the tea towels are, they'll look at you funny, then suggest you look in the T-shirt department.
I'm not a commie, and if god forsook me, how would I know?
OTOH, I still mostly only drink Red Rose and Tetley, and given enough steep time ... say 10 or 15 minutes ... they're not so nasty. And I was born -next- to Canada, so I can't be -too- disabled.
- What is a tea towel?

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 ;)

In America this is the default method for small amounts of hot water.

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

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.

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 a thing in Brazil

Tangential, but I just learned of a Quooker yesterday. Guy ran boiling water straight from the tap instantly at a house I was viewing. Blew my mind.

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.

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.

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.

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

Are you say its only the water temperature that matters, then? Is yer last name 'Kelvin' by any chance?
- I honestly have no idea what your point is

Always for coffee only sometimes for tea.

I don't, my water dispenser has a tap for hot water. If I'm out of water in the dispenser I usually boil it in a pan. That being said heating water in the microwave is not an issue for me, as long as it's just the water before adding the tea.

I always heard that drinking hot water from the tap was unsafe (at least where I'm from) due to the risk of lead being picked up from old pipes. Also sediment from the water heater.
- If you live in a place where there are still old lead pipes in the system, which almost everyone in the US does, you should start pushing your city representatives to get it fixed. It's a major hazard in all sorts of ways.
  I live in one of the very few cities in the US that replaced all of its lead pipes a couple of decades ago.
- Yes, you shouldn't drink hot water from the tap. I have a water dispenser, as in an equipment where you put a 20L mineral water bottle and you can pour either cold or hot water.

I walked out of a hookup when she offered tea and put the mug in the microwave

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

In the US a microwave is faster. Your 220v heats things up faster than our 110v.
- japanese have 100v and don't have this problem
- V is irrelevant. A determines how much actual power something gets.
Microwave can take 2-3 minutes depending on how hot you like it and how shitty your microwave is. They also tend to not heat evenly.
A good kettle might also take about 3 mins, though some can take up to 5 or 6, but you're guaranteed properly heated water.

Just stick the mug on top of the stove on medium heat n it boils in like two minutes... Less than that is you use a saucepan...

just stick WHAT on top of the stove
My number 1 part of kitchen education was "do not EVER put ceramics on a stove"

In the US I bought an electric kettle because I got tired of using the stove. I don’t understand people who use the microwave it just feels wrong.

Dafuq is tea? - Murican