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Electric kettles are widely favored by many households for their convenience. However, several common mistakes can quickly damage them and compromise safety.
1. Common and Deadly Mistakes When Using Electric Kettles
Electric kettles are widely favored by many households for their convenience. However, several common mistakes can quickly damage them and compromise safety.
It's crucial to avoid these mistakes when using electric kettles as they can pose health hazards.
Continuous Boiling of Water
Many people mistakenly believe that continuously boiling water saves energy since the kettle is already hot. However, continuous boiling causes the heating element of the kettle to become too hot, leading to rapid burning.
It's best to allow the kettle some resting time between boils to let the heating element cool down. In many cases, prolonged boiling will automatically trip the thermal relay, cutting off power to the kettle. Even though the plug is still connected to the power source, the indicator light may not come on. You need to wait for the kettle to cool down before it can be used again.
Incorrect Water Level
Each kettle has minimum (min) and maximum (max) water level markings. However, sometimes people pour too little water when only a small amount is needed, or they exceed the maximum mark when more water is required. This can easily cause electrical shorts and explosions.
Not Covering or Poorly Covering the Lid When Boiling Water
This mistake not only wastes electricity but also takes longer to boil the water. Super-fast electric kettles are designed to automatically cut off power only when the kettle lid is securely closed.
Therefore, if the water boils without cutting off the power, the risk of explosion and kettle damage is very high.
Plugging in with Wet Hands
Before plugging in the kettle, ensure that your hands are completely dry, and both the power cord and plug are absolutely dry and not wet. When plugging and unplugging, hold onto the plug and never the power cord as it can easily cause electric shocks if the cord is exposed.
Using Electric Kettles to Cook Food
Electric kettles are designed for boiling water, not for cooking food such as boiling eggs, making soup, or heating milk... Using the kettle for other purposes leads to residue buildup inside the kettle, reducing its lifespan, and the food cooked may not be fully cooked.
Avoid Using Electric Kettles for Cooking Food
Emptying the Kettle After Boiling
After boiling water, we often have the habit of pouring all the water out of the kettle. This practice needs to be stopped immediately because even after the water has boiled, the heating element continues to generate heat even though the power switch is off.
If the kettle is not left with some water inside, the heating element will quickly deteriorate. Therefore, it's advisable to leave about 20 ml of water in the kettle, wait for it to cool completely, and then pour it out.
Failure to Clean and Allow Limescale Buildup
Many people often neglect cleaning the kettle, thinking that since it's only used to boil clean water, it doesn't require cleaning. This bad habit will cause limescale buildup and the proliferation of harmful bacteria. To ensure both health safety and the longevity of the kettle, regular cleaning is necessary.
Simply use vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio, pour about half into the kettle, shake gently. Then, bring it to a boil and let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes before pouring it out, rinse again with clean water.
