Boiling water for cooking - pan/kettle

dikip

I'm a first time poster, so I hope I'm doing everything to protocol.

I'm hoping someone will know the answer to my question, which is:

If you want to boil a pan of water for cooking, is it cheaper/more
efficient to boil up the water from cold on a gas hob, or boil water
in an electric kettle and then transfer to the pan ?

I suspect the latter, since more of the energy is being used to directly
heat the water with little loss to the external environment. But I also
believe there is a differential between the cost of Gas and Electricity
which would affect the answer.

mummyof3_2

I always boil water in the kettle as its quicker. It always takes an age boiling it in the pan plus as you point out it uses alot of gas/electric:D

dannahaz

I boil it in the kettle, and it is cheaper that way.

BUT I also put a little bit of water (enough to cover the bottom) in the saucepan and put that on at the same time as I put the kettle on. This is so that the saucepan is nice and warm by the time I pour the boiling water in, otherwise all the heat in the kettle-boiled water is sucked out into heating up the cold pan.

liz.._4

Hi dikip, welcome to the forums!

You could always keep all your dregs out of the kettle during the day in a flask and then use that to cook with

jobbingmusician

What an excellent first time post!

I suspect that the answer is 'it varies'. Personally I've got an induction hob which heats up water incredibly fast, but my gut feeling is still that a kettle is cheaper. I'll be watching this thread with interest!

choccyface2006

I always use the kettle too, I'm sure Delia Smith recommended it in one of her "How to cook" books because its quicker & cheaper.

Sarah

kittykat100

Im a kettle boiler too!!

Kittyx

Elliesmum

Me too - I'm a kettle boiler. My MIL insists on using "freshly drawn cold water from the tap" for her veg and it takes an age. Love the tip from dannahaz about warming the pan.

EM xx

hardpressed

Is it more cost effective to cook vegies in the microwave?

Elliesmum

Most likely but I don't like them from the m/w. I nearly always steam my veg but the MIL likes to boil hers!

toria27

I was wondering this the other day as I cooked a big roast dinner for freinds and had a huge pan of water on the hob to cook all the potatoes (OH loves mash & roast) and we heated it on the hob it too ages!!!
I am worrying about our gas bill as it has been increased to £75 a month havn't even had heating on yet! Will be boiling kettle from now on.