Kettle or hob?

[daginge]

Hi ABers
I read somewhere that tea is best made with water boiled over direct heat in a tea kettle i.e. on the hob, as is often done in USA as they don't drink as much Tea as us Brits and all have Cwoffee machines! Does anyone know how the 2 usual methods compare energy and cost wise i.e. a standard electric kettle and a "Tea kettle"?
TIA

[Canary42]

Mug in microwave

[looobylooo]

we just fill the electric kettle with just enough water for the amount of cups of tea/coffee required.
more economical than fully filling the kettle each time.

[hc4361]

Using the hob method you have to heat the kettle as well as the water.
If you have an old fashioned electric hob, you have to heat that before it heats the kettle that heats the water.
By far the cheapest and most energy efficient way to boil water for drinking is to use an electric kettle.
Unless you have an Aga that is constantly on, and then you are not in a position to worry about any costs any way.

[ladybirder]

I boil a kettle on the hob and it does take longer than an electric kettle even though I only put enough water in for my needs.

[hc4361]

It is also much more energy efficient to boil your water for cooking in the kettle before putting it in the saucepan.

[nextqueen]

if you boil a teabag at the same time as the water be it on the hob or in a microwave, you are in effect boiling the paper of the teabag and can then taste it imho.

[heathfield]

With an electric kettle, the heat is passing directly into the water. With a hob, some heat is lost to the air round the kettle, especially with a gas hob. So the electric kettle is the most efficient.

[daginge]

Thanks All! Kettle it remains then, until Mrs DaGinge let's me have an Aga!