One push of a button and there is your tea, ideal! But what do we actually do with the leftover water in the kettle? Can we reuse this or should we throw it away? We have sorted this out for you. Read on!
Water
In general, the water we drink from our taps is of good quality. It is so clean that anyone can just drink it without any worries. Water can be stored unrefrigerated for a few days and chilled water will remain good for up to a week. You can taste, smell and see spoiled water. Did you know that our drinking water contains low doses of hazardous substances such as arsenic, nitrates and fluoride? These substances are not good for our health. As soon as you boil water, evaporation causes the amount of hazardous substances to increase.
Kettle manual
But what exactly about boiling the water? It is important to always read the manual of the kettle carefully. This way you know how to use it safely. It is up to manufacturers to produce an electric kettle that is not harmful to the health of users. For example, a manual states that you must throw away the boiled water when using it for the first time. It also sometimes states that you should use fresh water every time you cook. So read the manual carefully!
Chalk
The chance of limescale is a lot greater if you store water in the boiler. Calcium and magnesium are deposited. You could taste this, but it is otherwise not harmful. White deposits particularly affect the lifespan of the device. So be sensible and do not leave water in the kettle for weeks. Descale it every now and then.
Taste
In principle, you could reuse water a few times. In general, there is no risk from harmful bacteria, because they are always killed during cooking. Unless your manual states that it is not recommended, then you should change the water briefly. Reheating water may affect the taste and quality of the water, but that differs per situation. Pay particular attention to how long the water has been in the boiler, the ambient temperature and the person’s preference. Real tea enthusiasts claim that fresh water improves the taste of tea. So are you going for fresh water or are you going to reuse it?
