If you want to make yourself a cup of tea or a quick soup in between meals, the kettle is the first choice. However, you often don’t use up all the water you’ve just boiled and some is left over. Can you leave the water in the kettle and boil it again the next day, or should you throw it away? According to a survey by the SGS Institut Fresenius, 53% of respondents throw away the water from the previous day, while 47% continue to use it. But is that a good idea?
Why do we throw away water?
Limescale deposits quickly build up in the kettle, making the water less appetizing. In addition, many people are concerned that bacteria will spread if the water is left in the kettle for a long time.
Many also fear that harmful substances could be released into the water from the appliance itself. Microplastics or nickel cause many people great concern when using the kettle. But is this concern justified or is tipping it away simply a waste of water?
Boil water again? What the experts say
The Fresenius Institute sees no problem in boiling water again. Concerns about nickel and bisphenol A being released from the appliance are unfounded. However, it is important that the appliances bear the GS seal. Household appliances that are tested for this seal only rarely show any questionable levels of contamination. In addition to the electronics, many kitchen appliances are also tested to ensure that the materials used are safe. You are always on the safe side with a glass stove.
The institute is also reassuring when it comes to the fear of bacteria: Although there are germs from the environment that could multiply in kettles over long periods of time, these are usually killed by boiling the water again. So for your normal use, you can leave the water in the kettle and boil it twice: That’s no problem!
A question of taste
What may worry you is the chalky taste. This is because the limescale only dissolves when the water is heated and then settles in the appliance. When the water is boiled a second time, the taste may therefore be different – but this is not harmful. If you don’t like your tea like this, you can of course simply use new water.
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These people should not leave the water in the kettle
The Bavarian Consumer Center also shares the view that reboiling stale water is generally harmless. Nevertheless, some people are advised to use fresh water instead. This could be people with a very weak immune system, pregnant women and babies.
So for most people, the water from the previous day is perfectly adequate and does not pose a health risk. And if you prefer to use fresh water: You should never just tip the leftover water away. It’s great for pouring or ideal for ironing, because: Boiling the water beforehand makes it a little softer. Are you more of a dumping or reusing team?
Source: t-online, sueddeutsche
