Boiling water

[ban-all-sheds]

If you put things in near-boiling water to boil them, they'll take less time than than if you put them in cold water and bring it to a boil.

Indeed.

I find a kettle works well for filling a pan with near-boiling water.

 

[ericmark]

Been there done that experiment. At my daughter house I noted she boiled a kettle and then poured the boiling water into a pan so I asked why. She got the kettle and emptied it, then filled with cold water to the full mark, she then poured the cold water into a pan, she then refilled the kettle again spot on the full mark. Lit the gas with it full on and switched on the kettle.

In spite of kettle being 2.8 kW and gas ring rated at 5 kW the electric kettle won, and likely could have boiled a second time before the water on the gas ring boiled. I was I admit surprised at the result.

So on returning home I repeated the same experiment with my induction hob, the kettle and hob are the same rating both 3 kW the kettle did win, however by the count of about 2 so in real terms took about the same time so no real gain with an induction hob at 3 kW and since one of the heat areas is 3.7 kW on boost that area would be quicker than the kettle.

However I was using boost, as standard the induction hob ring is just 1.5 kW and the induction hob I use at my mothers house does not have a boost option and is 2 kW so the 2.8 kW kettle would be faster it is after all 800 watt bigger.

However other than boiling water the boost option is useless, at that heat anything will burn onto the pan, I rarely use over the default 1000 watt at my mothers house, at home the auto boil then simmer means yes I do use the 1.5 kW or 1.85 kW to boil then auto simmer, at mothers house the induction hob does not have that option.

The induction hob has two bad things, one is any wok with a steel base to work on induction is too heavy, the second is it can interfere with old pace makers although by now unlikely any of the non compliant pace makers are still around. Plus some have stupid touch controls although that is really nothing to do with being induction. But on the plus side it does not heat the kitchen as much as far more efficient, and has a whole load of safety features including auto switch off when the pan is removed and if the time is exceeded then it will stay off, although enough time to remove pan move to sink fill with extra water and replace.

However once you leave the induction hob out, then even the halogen hob is slow, the kettle would win every time with anything other than induction.

I also use a stand alone pressure cooker, this has disadvantage you can't put it in a bowl of cold water to open quickly, however it is thermostat controlled so always reaches temperature fast and stays at temperature without loads of steam in the kitchen. I use a cup boiler rather than standard kettle keeps the kitchen cooler in summer, also use plastic microwave pressure cooker, and soup maker, so having just one ring I can normally manage. The kitchen has a domino twin ring hob, but it is halogen and so slow, so single heat area induction hob sits on top of it and really speeds up cooking. The micro wave really works hard, so little is cooked in a pan today. But some things need the pan, I love a fry up just need a bigger frying pan.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

 

[winston1]

Been there done that experiment. At my daughter house I noted she boiled a kettle and then poured the boiling water into a pan so I asked why. She got the kettle and emptied it, then filled with cold water to the full mark, she then poured the cold water into a pan, she then refilled the kettle again spot on the full mark. Lit the gas with it full on and switched on the kettle.

In spite of kettle being 2.8 kW and gas ring rated at 5 kW the electric kettle won, and likely could have boiled a second time before the water on the gas ring boiled. I was I admit surprised at the result.

Interesting. Obviously an open pan is a lossy device. Putting a lid on the pan would speed up things as you then recover the latent heat of evaporation.

But anyway, bearing in mind gas costs one third of the price of electricity it is still cheaper to use the gas and pan if speed is not of the essence. Plus the fact that the lost heat from the gas situation is helping to heat the house in winter.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Plus the fact that the lost heat from the gas situation is helping to heat the house in winter.

And put lots of water vapour into the air.

 

[John D v2.0]

And put lots of water vapour into the air.

Get a dehumidifier, then you get back the heat from evaporation (plus a little electric heat.)
I'm sure there's a story about swallowing a spider to catch a fly

 

[ericmark]

This is the problem with ecology and energy saving, you have to look at whole not just one device, and in the UK at some times of the year house is too hot and other times too cold without some device to correct it. In the main when too hot I just grin and bare it, however I am sure I slow down and be it loss of production or the cost of air conditioning you don't want the extra heat or moisture associated with burning gas in the summer, so cost of extractor fan has also to be taken into account and the list goes on. I am sure if some one tried to invent the gas cooker today it would be banned, however gas central heating is very different.

PS love the frying pan.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

In the main when too hot I just grin and bare it

(sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[ban-all-sheds]

PS love the frying pan.

The problem is that even a normal-sensible-domestic large pan, say 30-33cm diameter, overhangs the controls of the hob, assuming it isn't the only one in the world not designed by an idiot.

(I'm sure there must be at least one with properly positioned controls, right.... ?)

 

[john4703]

I have often wondered why electric kettles are not well insulated to prevent heat loss. The saving when boiling water from cold would be negligible but in our house my wife often boils a kettle of water, makes two mugs of tea then half an hour later boils the water gain for more tea. If the kettle was well insulated the water would keep hot and not need so much energy (cash) to boil it again. I know she should only boil enough each time but I can't get her to understand that

 

[stillp]

Indeed.

I find a kettle works well for filling a pan with near-boiling water.

Yes, me too, but the time taken to boil the kettle, although less than the time taken to boil cold water in the pan, is still longer than using an 'instantaneous' water heater.

 

[JohnW2]

... the time taken to boil the kettle, although less than the time taken to boil cold water in the pan, is still longer than using an 'instantaneous' water heater.

I presume that we're not trying to re-write the Laws of physics, so I wonder what power these 'instantaneous' heaters are?

Kind Regards, John

 

[rsgaz]

so I wonder what power these 'instantaneous' heaters are?

Franke 4-in-1 Omni....

 

[securespark]

Kettle may boil quicker but how much would it cost?
Gas is cheaper.

 

[stillp]

I wonder what power these 'instantaneous' heaters are?

The suppliers seem rather shy to state the power, just that they cost less than 3p per day, and run from a 13A plug!