Wondering if you should heat your tea using a microwave or a kettle? Read our making tea in a microwave vs. kettle guide to find out.
Making tea with a microwave vs. a kettle is a never-ending debate.
If you’ve already purchased a tea kettle at home, that’s the best way. It helps you avoid guesswork regarding when the water is boiled and save you so much time.
But, people have been arguing that heating tea inside a microwave develops more antioxidants. Not everyone has an electric tea kettle at home either.
It’s time to understand better the difference between a microwave and a kettle when it comes to making tea.
- How Do You Make Tea with A Microwave Vs. An Electric Tea Kettle?
- What Does Making Tea With A Microwave Vs. An Electric Tea Kettle Have In Common?
- Making Tea In A Microwave Vs A Kettle: The Differences
- What’s Better About Brewing Tea In A Microwave?
- What’s Better About Brewing Tea In An Electric Kettle?
- Who Should Make Tea With A Microwave (And Why)?
- Who Should Make Tea with An Electric Tea Kettle (And Why)?
How Do You Make Tea with A Microwave Vs. An Electric Tea Kettle?
Making tea in a microwave is straightforward, but you shouldn’t overlook the instructions. You need to add water into a mug with a teabag placed, place it into the microwave, heat for 30 seconds on 50 percent power, and let it rest for a minute before removing the teabag to consume. Do not put a cup with any metallic coating into the microwave.
An electric tea kettle is the easiest way to make tea; it heats the water using electricity rather than a stove. Some of them are cordless while others need to go with an outlet. When it’s on, the electricity goes through the cord and brings it to a full boil, or you can choose the desired temperature for each type of tea.
You might also be interested in our guides on the quietest electric kettle and why you should use an electric kettle.
What Does Making Tea With A Microwave Vs. An Electric Tea Kettle Have In Common?
Both devices can heat your tea for infusion in no time, especially if you don’t have a decent teapot at home or are busy. They both heat the water for tea, and you should have your cup ready within less than five minutes.
Making Tea In A Microwave Vs A Kettle: The Differences
| Microwave | Tea Kettle |
| Microwaves heat water unevenly, resulting in a hotter top and a colder bottom | Tea kettles heat up the water evenly with the desired temperature button for different types of tea |
| You can’t keep track of the boiling process | A seen-through kettle lets you see the bubbles |
| More dangerous if you don’t know how to use it the right way, resulting in splashing water all over the place | Safer and reduces guesswork, which means you only need to press the button |
| You don’t really have that many choices as the microwave needs to agree with your cooking habit and not only be used for tea making | Tea kettles are made of heat-resistant materials dedicated for tea only, which means you have more choices at different price ranges |
| A microwave usually flash-heats the water, resulting in fewer bubbles and higher chances of exploding water | Oxygen turns into a gas before the water reaches the full-boiling stage, releasing bubbles on the wall of the kettle which lets you keep track of the boiling process |
| More expensive | More affordable |
What’s Better About Brewing Tea In A Microwave?
Making tea with an electric kettle helps heat up the water more evenly and is safer. However, according to research carried out by Quan Vuong from the University of Newcastle in Australia, the microwave releases 80 percent of the caffeine, amino acids, and antioxidants found in tea, making it a healthier method.
Check out our explainer on can you microwave cold brew.
What’s Better About Brewing Tea In An Electric Kettle?
An electric kettle eliminates guesswork as it heats water evenly. The kettle is also easier to deal with and safer to use. It lets you keep track of the boiling process by looking at the seen-through glass.
Some of them also allow you to set the right temperature you want, depending on which type of tea you’re brewing. For example, some tea kettles at the higher end of the price spectrum are installed with different “tea buttons.” You can press the “oolong tea” button or the “delicate” button, and the cord will automatically receive the correct temperature.
Electric Kettle Temperature Control Glass Hot Water Boiler with 4 Colors LED Indicator Tea Heater Fast Heating with Keep Warm Function Auto Shut Off and Boil Dry Protection (1.7L)
Who Should Make Tea With A Microwave (And Why)?
If you don’t have an electric kettle at home, go for the microwave. Make sure to read the instructions carefully.
I also recommend a microwave if you are not sensitive about the taste and aroma of the tea because the tea mug ends up with hotter water on top and a cooler bottom, preventing the aroma and flavor from developing fully.
Who Should Make Tea with An Electric Tea Kettle (And Why)?
An electric tea kettle is best for those new to the tea-drinking scene. If you’re unsure which temperature is optimal for the type of tea you’re drinking, go for it. Alternatively, a tea kettle is also handy for those who don’t have a microwave at home or are unsure about how to use the microwave properly when making tea.
Last but not least, tea kettles are a time saver if you look for a perfectly-brewed tea while in a rush.
