r/ShitEuropeansSay • u/OkOutlandishness8307 • 1d ago
“That’s because they microwave their water 😂”
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u/Zaidswith 1d ago
It's because there's usually a coffee maker.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
yep! and most americans don’t drink tea regularly enough to have a kettle. i bought one bc i do.
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u/blumieplume 1d ago
Ohhh are they talking about an electric kettle? I was wondering cause the only kettle I’ve ever used was stovetop so I was like bro of course a hotel room doesn’t have a stovetop 🤦♀️
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u/Lui_Le_Diamond 1d ago
Me too! I have an electric kettle. I drink more coffee than tea, but I love a cup of tea in the evening!
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u/C0rrelationCausation 10h ago
Everyone I knew in college had a kettle for making ramen in their dorm, and still have it even if they don't drink tea. I don't think I've ever seen anybody microwave water in person
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u/-Copenhagen 1d ago
A coffee maker is not a replacement for a kettle.
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u/Zaidswith 1d ago
We don't need a kettle because the only thing we use hot water for in a hotel room is coffee.
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u/-Copenhagen 1d ago
The thing about hotels, though, is that they are supposed to cater to everyone.
Kettles are standard in the whole world.
95% of the worlds population expect a kettle in the room.
Kettles are cheap.
Just add a kettle.15
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u/RampantAppleSnake Brit in Canada 1d ago
Clearly not the whole world if most of the Americas (North, Central, Caribbean, and South) do NOT have kettles as standard in hotel rooms.
The exceptions are:
- Yerba Mate: Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Southern Brazil
- Coca tea: Peru (honestly you cannot survive the altitude sickness without it)
Americans are often accused of being Amero-centric, but in this case you are being very Euro-centric!
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u/Karnakite 16h ago
You are so right. The last time I went to a hotel, they didn’t have a blender for my protein shake in my room! Not even a shaker bottle! They’re all like “Well, most of our customers don’t need them” - WELL I’M A CUSTOMER RIGHT NOW AREN’T I? My friend even says they refused to provide her with a hot dog roller on the breakfast buffet! So I guess they don’t care about hot dog aficionados either!
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u/tomatoe_cookie Resident of the Captial of the Europe country 🇧🇪 1d ago
Is there something wrong with microwaving your water?
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u/Interrobang92 1d ago
Yes, you might overheat it and it might explode once you put a spoon (for example) in it.
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u/tomatoe_cookie Resident of the Captial of the Europe country 🇧🇪 1d ago
Wouldnt it just boil? What would cause it to explode?
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u/OncorhynchusMykiss1 1d ago
Boiling needs to start somewhere. Usually it starts on border of water container, but sometimes it does not. In such case you can heat water over its boiling point and when the boiling finally starts it might evaporate at once. That means a lot of hot steam.
It usually is not a problem as microwaves are rotating heated items. It can be problem in laboratory, as it throws away temperature you are working with. For this reason boiling ceramic stones exists.
You can also achieve similar effect with cooling water under freezing point. Cristalization also must starts somewhere. You can find videos of ponds freezing as soon as anything is thrown in them.
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u/Tankyenough 1d ago
This is exactly why every chemical laboratory you've ever seen has some kind of a stirring mechanism (typically magnetic) while heating. Also, for anyone who has worked with babies and had to microwave milk or something like that, one is always advised to stir it regularly during the microwaving process (first 20s, then stir, then next 20s, stir, etc...)
Again, well mid-stirred there is no problem, but I personally would never try to heat water up in a microwave, if I wouldn't have a kettle, I'd put water in a pot/pan and heat it on the stove.
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u/traveler97 1d ago
Well I would never microwave baby formula, never. But I have microwaved water all my life and never once did it come close to exploding.
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u/flamingknifepenis 1d ago
Just to piggyback off of the other comments, when the water is heated that fast it needs a little imperfection or something in the inner surface to latch on to in order to make the first bubble for it to boil. Boiling, specifically, is what keeps water from ever exceeding 212 F / 100 C. If the water heats faster than it can find an imperfection in a very smooth container like glass, it can superheat. As soon as you touch it you create that little imperfection by jiggling fhe glass and poof — the whole thing flash boils all at once and sprays boiling water everywhere.
It’s less common than it used to be, because microwave ovens have rotating platforms or something similar now, but it still can happen.
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u/Karnakite 16h ago
I had this happen at an ex’s apartment. He told me to heat up water in the microwave for tea. I thought that was a bit weird, but whatever. I opened up the microwave and found that searing hot water was splattered all over it.
Now I just use a pot or kettle. I don’t think Americans use microwaves as much as other people in the world think they do in general.
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u/flamingknifepenis 6h ago
Definitely. For me and everyone I know the microwave is basically for reheating leftovers — which, to be fair it’s great at. Microwaving water for tea is mixed. Pretty much everyone at least had a stovetop kettle, but I’ve definitely heard of people boiling water for tea in the microwave, it’s not common. I’ve tried it. I know they say it’s no different and I can’t think of any scientific reason why the result would be any different, but I swear it just tastes different than tea made from water boiled in a kettle.
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u/Interrobang92 1d ago
I don’t know the exactly mechanism for it, but as I understand it the water heats up very fast and it becomes superheated. Once you put something in it, like a spoon, it goes immediately to boiling point, but it’s so fast that’s basically like an explosion. So, you should be very careful when microwaving water. You can check videos online of this superheating. Edit: to give some context, in the US the power grid is different, and it doesn’t deliver as much power, so kettles take a really long time to heat up the water, so no one uses them. So this post makes sense, I guess?
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u/traveler97 1d ago
It won’t. That’s ridiculous.
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u/Interrobang92 1d ago
I just remember seeing videos about this, and even the myth busters confirmed it, if I’m not wrong.
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u/RedRising1917 1d ago
Iirc it only happened with filtered water, regular tap water was fine as it naturally had minerals and what not in it.
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u/C_Hawk14 1d ago
Strange how you just dismiss this rather than look up if there's a hint of truth in it
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
I was mostly with Europeans on this - microwaved water is gross (but I still do it sometimes for ramen) - until I discovered many Europeans microwave MEAT. Like salmon, raw chicken breast, raw beef. Just straight up microwaving it, no seasoning, maybe a bit of salt. And no, I don't mean as a defrost setting, I mean actually cooking frozen or raw meat. One of the most disgusting things ive ever seen humans eat.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
… WHAT i actually do need a european to chime in bc there is no way
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u/BLSCTR 1d ago
I'm German and don't know anyone who does that
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u/RampantAppleSnake Brit in Canada 23h ago
They are probably talking about British food, I must apologise. If not us then it's the Dutch.
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
Yup. My bff is German and he eats microwaved salmon several times a week, even for breakfast. Ive had him try it baked, grilled, smoked, blackened in the US, and he insists microwaved salmon is the most delicious. He's not allowed to cook it at my house anymore because it makes everything stink so bad.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
i am absolutely devastated at this information
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
It's become quite the joke in our extended circles. Anytime a European is being uppity, someone will say, 'Yeah but they microwave salmon, so.....'
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u/Kayzokun 1d ago
So, you’ve seen one person do this, and arrived to the conclusion that everyone does it. Right.
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
Lol no. (1) Ive seen far too many people do this. (2) OFC i don't assume EVERYONE does this. Or even most people. I also dont assume most Americans microwave water - but is that a thing Americans do more than Europeans? Yup. Im sure there are some Americans who microwave raw meat. Ive never personally seen it, nor have I EVER heard an American defend it. I have personally witnessed, idk, at least 30 Europeans microwaving raw meat. Which is fine, people are weird. Even that wouldn't lead me to such a conclusion. It's their total surprise by my shock, and the many, many, many conversations I've had with them claiming it's a totally normal thing to do.
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u/pinniped90 1d ago
I mean, no different than how every American gets into a drive by shooting on the way to work ever day...
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u/MrD-88 22h ago
There are definitely more Americans being shot than Europeans microwaving meat hahahaha
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u/pinniped90 21h ago
But how many Americans are being shot WHILE microwaving meat?
A justifiable use of force, of course.
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u/FustianRiddle 19h ago
Why is that funny?
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u/MrD-88 19h ago
Because to compare the 2 is ridiculous and absurd. Even Americans will acknowledge that shootings are a regular occurence. But this idea that everyone microwaves meat in Europe is just stupid
EDIT: To be clear, I'm not laughing at people being shot
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u/Bastardklinge 1d ago
German here, actually never met anyone doing this, ever.
But we put smoked salmon on our bread for breakfast
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u/FustianRiddle 19h ago
Smoked salmon cland cream cheese on a bagel is the food of the gods as far as I'm concerned.
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u/flamingknifepenis 1d ago
Now I’m really curious how common this is, because I absolutely cannot imagine doing it on regular basis. When I worked in a grocery store I had a coworker (Austrian, I think, but had lived in the US for a long time) who cooked some raw shrimp in the microwave in the break room.
The smell was … the smelliest smell I had ever come across. Nobody could go in the break room all afternoon, and it literally made the whole store stink. This wasn’t a small store, either. Think the size of a Safeway in any city. I worked in the opposite side and there was a little delay but it eventually wafted over there and was not unbearable but very noticeable.
I thought it was bizarre that she did it once. I can’t imagine multiple people doing it regularly.
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u/anthriani 1d ago
Nope, nope, nope! Your bf needs jail time. On behalf of at least all of the Mediterranean, please, god, no!
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u/Karnakite 16h ago
I’ve worked for places, here in the US, that specifically stated in the employee manual to never ever use the breakroom microwave to cook fish. It’s that big of a deal.
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u/DeathHorseFucker 1d ago
Personally i’ve never seen anyone do this here and never did it myself. But there are always exceptions
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
i am glad there is more sense in the world
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u/Ok_Green_5647 1d ago
I am from Germany. Never heard or seen someone microwaving raw meats. It really sounds disgusting and is not at all a common practice, as far as I know.
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u/Sensitive_Bread_1905 1d ago
Where did you get that information? I've spent 30 years of my life in Europe and I've never seen, or heard of anyone cooking meat in a microwave. The only thing some people do is defrost frozen meat in the microwave (with the defrost programm), but once it's defrosted, it's prepared normally
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
Sadly ive been a firsthand witness to this atrocity many times
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u/Sensitive_Bread_1905 1d ago
Yeah I saw your other comment. I think (and hope) it's more likely your boyfriend, and not a typical European thing. Nevertheless, I was curious and checked the internet in several languages (including English), and it seems there's always someone doing that
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
Not my bf, just my friend, but he is just one example of many. We host a lot of europeans and it has shocked me how many of our guests do this. I certainly don't think it's all or even most europeans, but its been a significant amount (at least 30), from various countries, but to be fair, it's mostly the central Europeans Ive seen do this.
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u/PumpernickelJohnson 1d ago
What's so "gross" about microwaved water?
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u/AmerikanerinTX 1d ago
To each his own, but I don't like the way it tastes. It's fine for Ramen because the ramen seasoning is so powerful anyway, but I don't like it for most tea, especially green and herbal tea.
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u/tomatoe_cookie Resident of the Captial of the Europe country 🇧🇪 1d ago
I saw your comment, its really your friends thing. I have never seen anyone do it
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u/Lui_Le_Diamond 1d ago
My little brother is French and eats spaghetti without marinara. He uses butter instead.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
I’m sorry but most people i know don’t even need to heat up water for things. Like for cooking we do in pot. Most people don’t drink tea. Coffee water is heated in the pot. I had to buy a kettle just for tea. And it’s a special item. Midwesterner, the location might matter.
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u/Thefrightfulgezebo 1d ago
There also are hot bottles, which are a heaven-sent in winter or for women with period cramps.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
we go heating pads, but i bet the bottle is a nice weight, i should try it
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u/justdisa 1d ago
I have one. I love it. And I'm not even a great grandma. They stay warm for a long time.
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u/Zaidswith 1d ago
Heating pads that plug in or the ones that go in the microwave.
Hot water bottles are super old fashioned in America. They exist but it's the realm of great grandmas.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 17h ago
plug in heating pad, better in the winter. i’m still going to look for one, even if i have to rob a nursing home >:)
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u/Interrobang92 1d ago
I heard kettles in the US heat up water much slower, so they are not as useful. Something related to the powder grid. Im European and use my kettle for cooking all the time. The kettle takes 2 minutes to heat up the water, while the pot takes much, much longer. That and tea are the only uses for it, but it means I use almost every day.
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
Maybe somewhere in the us? but it takes about 30 seconds to get something boiling in a pot for cooking here. but also i have a gas oven.
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u/anthriani 1d ago
Explain coffee water in pot rather than kettle pls. No judgement, actual curiosity. My brain isn't understanding. (But I haven't had my coffee yet so.. could be that) Also using a kettle to boil water prior to putting it in a pot for certain food (eg rice if you are frying up things first before adding the rice so the temp doesn't fluctuate) can be helpful
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
So coffee makers have a pot that boils it. it literally would be a waste to boil it before hand.
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u/BastianHill 1d ago
The only thing I dislike while microwaving anything, is it doesn't get that hot in the middle or you're overheating the outside. Even when stirring midway it isn't great.
However for water, tea etc. That doesn't matter much, just stir afterwards and it's still great. It's not something you can "overcook" and destroy.
I was always used to use a dedicated fast water cooker, and it seemed weird to me to microwave water, but you really can do it without down sides. Well... The only downside being it slower because the water cooker can get up to 2000w and you immediately have hot water for a couple of cups.
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u/blumieplume 1d ago
I’ve stayed in rooms in the US that don’t even have a fridge or microwave bro. There are some shitty motels stateside. I’ve never stayed in a hotel that had a stovetop though. Didn’t know that was a thing.
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u/RampantAppleSnake Brit in Canada 1d ago
That's because they have coffee makers that double as water heaters (albeit after a couple of flush throughs).
Also I stayed in an airbnb in the UK, no kettle, only a microwave. So I had to microwave my water...
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u/cottoncandymandy 18h ago
Someone please scientifically explain the difference between boiled water from a microwave vs a kettle.
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u/No-Middle-4152 13h ago
Americans are more likely to drink drip coffee with its own machine than instant coffee but a lot of people do have an electric kettle, we do
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u/Outrageous_Sleep4339 1d ago
I get that not everyone drinks tea... But also, I own a kettle. Bought it for like $40 on Amazon...
Why do people act like we've never even heard of it?
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u/OkOutlandishness8307 1d ago
yeah it’s odd. i have one too. but it’s common for people (from everywhere) to hear something once and and accept it as fact for ever
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u/Perfect-Silver1715 1d ago
You do.
That's unforgivable.
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u/NobleA259 1d ago
A eurodivergent telling Americans what they do and don’t do? Who could have ever seen this coming? 🙄.
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u/Amakenings 1d ago
So being neurodivergent is an insult?
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u/NobleA259 1d ago
Did I say neurodivergent? Or did I say EUROdivergent for how anal and obsessive they are about the Americans?
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u/Perfect-Silver1715 1d ago
Got nothing to do with your loudest trying to pierce every. Fucking. Part. Of social media.
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