Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website has confirmed the kettle is the best and most cost effective way to boil water – but with a huge caveat.
The simple concept of boiling water has become a heated topic as the nation tries to scrimp and save money in the cost of living crisis. And this is even more relevant as we head into winter. With soaring energy costs giving many a cause for concern, many are looking for shortcuts to minimise their household bills, and help them stick to a tight budget.
However, not all energy-saving advice is created equal, and some hacks you many think to incorporate in the home are little more than myths – some of which Martin Lewis ‘ Money Saving Expert website has debunked for good. The cheapest way to boil water is one of these, with some people opting to use their microwaves to do so, rather than their kettles, which are “power-hungry appliances.”
The experts ran the sums on their website, and broke down exactly how much difference the two ways of boiling water cost, with the microwave using less power than the kettle, it was “slightly cheaper” to use the microwave rather “than boiling it in a kettle, though there’s not much in it,” the experts explained.
However, the experts noted that there is one major safety reason which should mean that you do not use your microwave to boil your water, and instead opt for the kettle, even if it is ever so slightly more costly.
“Electrical Safety First warns that boiling water in a microwave can be dangerous as you could overheat the water past boiling point and cause it to explode. On the other hand, a kettle is designed to switch off once it reaches boiling point,” they explained.
Not only could boiling your water in the microwave present a potential danger to your health, but it could also cause damage to your home, which would be costly and stressful to sort out, so it is always better to use your kettle – an appliance designed for this express purpose with inbuilt safety features.
However, if you love a good cuppa, but the cost of the kettle is still presenting you with some concern, there is one hack you can use to minimise the energy it uses, and save yourself some money.
“When using a kettle, it’s also more economical if you only boil what you need. The Energy Saving Trust reckons you could save £10 a year this way compared with overfilling it each time,” the experts explain.
Whilst we are all looking for ways to cut costs, and it is “technically cheaper” to use a microwave, nothing is more important than your safety and well-being, so instead you should opt to boil only the amount of water you need each time you are making a hot drink.
Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com
