Last Updated on November 21, 2022 by Claire
Can Electric Kettle Purify Water? Experts think 212 degrees Fahrenheit will sanitize water. But can electric kettle purify water at all? Perhaps, the chance is slim. Let us discover.
An electric kettle can boil water to kill harmful bacteria. However, it does not purify it. The water is still unclean in some sense until you filter it.
Your electric kettle, nonetheless, does its job—to boil. But you have to do more, including distillation, and perhaps, filtration or reverse osmosis to purify it.
Is it Safe to Drink Water Boiled in Electric Kettle?
Consider the water boiled with an electric kettle as ‘sterilization’. Boiling water with an electric kettle does not remove harmful pathogens. It only kills the pathogens, so you do not get sick of them. In essence, you are drinking dead organisms.
If you boil dirty water, the colour remains the same notwithstanding how long you heat it in your electric kettle. Instead of drinking living bacteria, you are drinking dead ones.
The water should be safe for drinking but does not mean that it is clean. Therefore, your electric kettle only kills some of the pathogens that can die at heated temperatures inside the water.
How to Purify Water After Boiling
You can go further to distill your water after boiling it in your electric kettle. This process can remove less volatile impurities which include most of the things that will not boil out of the water.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can add some bleach to make your boiled water safer to drink. It is advisable to add liquid bleach to a gallon or 16 cups of water. Mix it well enough and allow up to 30 minutes before you drink it.
If the water does not smell a hint of chlorine or appears cloudy after 30 minutes, it is advisable to give it another round of treatment.
You can use water filters to filter out particulates, including dead pathogens. Alternatively, you can simply allow the water to settle and then scoop it out.
Does Boiling Water in Electric Kettle Kill Bacteria?
Unfortunately, boiling in an electric kettle does not kill all the bacteria. It also does not also kill all viruses, protozoa, and fungi.
For example, we can find low concentrations of bacillus cereus in dry rice which is safe to consume. Cooking the rice does not kill them, instead, they start to multiply when the rice gets wet and warmer.
Moreover, even the bacteria killed are not cleaned from the water when you boil it in an electric kettle. The dead bacteria remain in the water until you get rid of them.
Experts claim that a huge number of bacteria can survive the heat from boiling water. Some of them will become dormant until the heat reduces so they can multiply.
Most other contaminants remain in the boiled water. Moreover, your electric kettle and the material you pour in the boiled water could still have bacteria.
Some filters out there can filter most contaminants up to the molecular scale. We also have a process known as distilling, vaporizing and condensing water back to the cleaner water. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that you will get 100 percent purified water from these processes.
How Long Does it Take Boiling Water to Purify?
Your boiling water will not purify until you filter it. However, how long it takes for water to reach boiling temperatures that kill pathogens depends on your electric kettle. A typical electric kettle boils water within 3 minutes.
When you boil water in an electric kettle, allow a few minutes before you begin the purification process.
Again, boiling your water does not purify it per se. It kills the pathogenic microbes and leaves them dead in the electric kettle.
To purify your water for drinking, you have to filter the chemical contaminants. If it is cloudy water, you will have sediment in it.
You can try to settle the water before boiling it in your electric kettle. Pour the boiled water into a clean container.
Finally, use a water filter to purify your water. You can improvise a water filter with gravel, clay, and even porous cloth, but not advisable.
Best Electric Kettles To Purify Water?
You want the healthiest electric kettle for your household to remain healthy. Unfortunately, many cheapies out there also claim to meet health standards.
Some of the affordable and yet healthiest electric kettles to buy include the following:
JIANW Electric Kettle Temperature Control Stainless Steel
The JIANW is a healthy solution for your boiled water. It is a temperature control electric kettle with up to 6 preset heat settings.
It boils water evenly from, including even your French press coffee, teas, hot cocoa, and more.
Below are additional reasons why the JIANW is your perfect choice for drinking purified water:
Safety
The JIANW uses food-grade materials built from stainless steel and BPA-free. It will boil your water until the contaminants are dead. You will need to filter the water to completely purify it for drinking.
Keep warm
JIANW uses a smart ‘keep warm’ system to make sure the water in your kettle stays warm for 30 minutes.
Handling
It is built for safe operations and uses a thermally-insulated handle to make boiling purified water a consistent experience in your household.
Boiling speed
Your JIANW will boil 1.7 litres of water below 8 minutes which saves time. Moreover, the boil-dry protection turns off your electric kettle when it senses no water inside.
Jocuu Gooseneck Electric Kettle Variable Temperature Control
The Jocuu is a food-grade 304 stainless steel that ensures you drink purified water. Its boiling power makes sure your water gets even healthier than before.
Below are additional reasons you want to invest in the Jocuu electric kettle:
Temperature control
Jocuu uses precise temperature control to brew optimally. You can select a suitable temperature for your water to ensure the perfect kitchen experience.
Boiling speed
This gooseneck electric kettle runs on 1200W capable of boiling water within 1 to 3 minutes. If you have to purify your water for drinking, the Jocuu electric kettle gets it done even faster. It will automatically turn off when it reaches the desired temperature.
Keep warm
The LED panel lets you read the real-time temperature. You can set the temperature you prefer to keep the water warm for up to 120 minutes. This kettle will remember your previous preset temperature to make sure your drinking water boils at the required temperature.
Final Thoughts on Can Electric Kettle Purify Water?
Although your electric kettle can kill most disease-causing organisms when it boils, it does not purify your water.
Always descale your electric kettle once in a while. This should also keep the metallic taste away. You can add white vinegar solution with water to your kettle and allow it to run overnight.
Rinse the kettle with fresh water to get rid of residual vinegar. Note that descaling also helps to prolong the life expectancy of an electric kettle.
Finally, do not use sharp objects to scrape the electric kettle so you do not scratch it, or perhaps, damage the heating elements.
