Dangerous Mistakes When Using Electric Kettles That You Should Eliminate Immediately
Constantly Boiling Water
Many people make the mistake of thinking that boiling water constantly will save energy when the kettle is already hot. Continuously boiling water makes the heating element of the electric kettle too hot, leading to rapid combustion. It is best to let the kettle rest between boiling sessions to cool the heating element.
In many cases, if you boil water for an extended period of time, the thermal relay will automatically cut off the power to the kettle, even if it is plugged in and the indicator light is not on. You will have to wait a while for the kettle to cool down before you can use it again.
Boiling water beyond the manufacturer’s specified level
If you boil too much water, it can cause the boiling water to overflow from the kettle, dripping onto the heating element and causing an electrical short. On the other hand, if you boil too little water, the boiling water is more likely to evaporate quickly, leading to the risk of the kettle drying out and potentially causing overheating, electrical shorts, which can be very dangerous.
Every electric kettle will have markings for the maximum and minimum water level required to boil. The markings are usually indicated by horizontal lines and are measured in milliliters.
In addition to the numerical markings, there are also “Max” and “Min” labels (representing the maximum and minimum levels). You can easily observe these markings on the body of the kettle to adjust the water level accordingly.
Not covering or closing the lid when boiling water
This mistake not only wastes electricity but also takes longer to boil the water. Electric kettles are designed with an automatic shut-off feature that only activates when the kettle lid is securely closed. Therefore, if the boiling of water is not stopped, it poses a high risk of explosion, damaging the kettle.
Using the electric kettle to cook food
Electric kettles are designed to boil water and are not suitable for cooking tasks such as boiling eggs, making soup or heating milk. Using the kettle for other purposes can lead to the accumulation of residue and impurities inside the kettle, reducing the product’s lifespan, and the prepared food may not be fully cooked.
Using a kettle with obstructions
When the kettle has obstructions, it reduces the ability to absorb heat from the heating element, resulting in a longer boiling time. In addition, excessive obstruction can damage the thermal sensor, causing the kettle to stop even before the water reaches the boiling point.
Therefore, after a certain period of use, it is important to clean the inside of the kettle, removing any build-up, to ensure safe use and improve the durability of the kettle.
Pour the water immediately after boiling
After the water has boiled, it is common for people to pour all the water out of the kettle. This should be avoided because, even after turning off the electrical switch, the heating element continues to radiate heat.
If all the water is poured out immediately, the heating element can quickly deteriorate. It is recommended to leave about 20 ml of water in the kettle, wait for it to cool completely, and then pour out the remaining water.
Pour all the water into the cup immediately after boiling
Pouring all the water from the kettle into the cup immediately after boiling is a common mistake. When the water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, the electric kettle will automatically turn off, but the heating element inside is still radiating heat.
Pouring all the water at once may cause a sudden temperature change in the heating element, leading to a reduction in its service life.