Is it cheaper to boil water in a kettle or microwave?
Boiling water is a simple act you probably do every day – and the kettle is normally the go-to appliance to do so.
However, other kitchen staples such as the microwave or even the hob can do the job.
One thing that may factor into your decision of which method to use is the cost.
With the current cost of living crisis seeing some people’s energy bills go up by hundreds of pounds, many households across the UK are looking to cut costs where they can.
Making your home run more efficiently is one of the best ways to do so, and finding the cheapest way to do simple tasks can save you money you didn’t realise you were spending.
So is it cheaper to boil water in a kettle or the microwave? We take a look.
Is it cheaper to boil water in a kettle or microwave?
While the kettle may be the go-to appliance in the kitchen to boil water, it isn’t the most cost-effective.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch, said: ‘There isn’t much difference between the cost of boiling water in a kettle or a microwave.
‘However, a microwave could work out 11p cheaper over the course of making 100 cups of tea.
‘Assuming it takes 52 seconds to boil enough water for a cup of tea in a 3kW kettle, it would cost around £1.47 to make 100 cups of tea or coffee.
‘An 800W microwave uses less power, which means it would take longer to heat the water up. Assuming it takes 180 seconds to get the water to the right temperature, it would cost around £1.36 to fill 100 cups.
‘If you’re making hot drinks using a kettle, make sure you only fill it with as much water as you need. That means it isn’t wasting power on heating water you will not use, and will take less time to run, saving you money.’
However, there are other factors to consider.
Speaking to The Mirror, Tom Williams, researcher at the National Renewable Energy Lab, said kettles are 80% more efficient than microwaves.
This is down to a few factors, including the fact that using a microwave can also mean you lose some water due to spillages or it heating and turning into water vapour.
Also, microwaves can make it challenging to boil larger quantities of water in comparison to kettles depending on the types of containers you own to boil the water.
Additionally, the insulation in kettles compared to microwaves means that less heat is lost when boiling.
Microwave timings are left to your own estimations, which means you could end up with under-boiled or scorching water.
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