# Electric kettle/hot pot that warms, but doesn't boil **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086 "2019-01-20T01:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/21 "2019-01-27T17:02:22Z")
I could do that in theory but I don’t want to spend money on heating a tire tank of water to a higher temperature when all I want is less than a gallon a day. And my water heater is on it’s last legs and I don’t want to fiddle with it. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/22 "2019-01-27T20:07:17Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > How long do you need to hold the water at temp for? You haven’t answered this vital question. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/23 "2019-01-27T20:28:56Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > You haven’t answered this vital question. Anywhere from five minutes to forever. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/24 "2019-01-27T22:42:12Z")
If you just ladle the correct amounts of boiling water and cool water into a second receptacle you can get whatever temperature you want, consistently, as long as your cool water doesn’t change too much in temperature and you use the same proportions. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/25 "2019-01-28T15:28:51Z")
Some heating devices have a “Shabbos mode” keeping liquids warm but hot hot, because Orthodox Jewis people cannot light a flame on the Sabbath. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/26 "2019-01-28T15:33:57Z")
> [@naita](#): > > If you just ladle the correct amounts of boiling water and cool water into a second receptacle you can get whatever temperature you want, consistently, as long as your cool water doesn’t change too much in temperature and you use the same proportions. Yeah, I’m not going to go to a system that requires even more steps than the one I’m using now. Just to be clear, I’m looking for a _single_ appliance that will bring water to a pre-designated temperature and hold it there. The baby food warmer looks promising. Also the Shabbos thing, although I’m not quite sure how to search for that feature. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/27 "2019-01-28T16:43:33Z")
If you prefer to purchase in person, I was at Bed Bath & Beyond yesterday and saw three of the 32oz adjustable kettles already mentioned in the clearance aisle. They were originally $15 but knocked down to $10. I can’t tell whether these heat & shut off or if they maintain the desired temperature, though. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/28 "2019-01-28T16:56:47Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > If you prefer to purchase in person, I was at Bed Bath & Beyond yesterday and saw three of the 32oz adjustable kettles already mentioned in the clearance aisle. They were originally $15 but knocked down to $10. > > I can’t tell whether these heat & shut off or if they maintain the desired temperature, though. Thanks! I’ll try to check out my local Bed Bath ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/29 "2019-01-28T18:58:40Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > Zojirushi, of course, makes one of the best: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0166OD5M8/ref=dp\_cerb\_2](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0166OD5M8/ref=dp_cerb_2) Cannot recommend Zojirushi high enough. Truly life changing. We got one at work 5 years ago and well over 50% of employees now have one at home. No more kettles or hot pots. And although the set points are well over your target range, but they are perfect for a cup of tea after the water heats the cup. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/30 "2019-01-28T21:07:25Z")
I second the sous vide, mentioned once up above and then apparently overlooked. The very purpose of a sous vide is to stick it into a vessel of water, which it will then heat and hold at a specific temperature indefinitely. It also circulates the water for even warming. [Amazon has a bunch to choose from.](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A1055398%2Cn%3A10962055011%2Ck%3Asous+vide&ie=UTF8&qid=1548709320&rnid=1063498) ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/31 "2019-01-28T21:15:48Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > okay, if you have time, I would love to know what your shaving routine is/will be that would require this appliance! Seriously curious (and not going to give you the “just use a rusty steak knife and a bar of soap like I do” treatment, I promise). > [@Max\_Torque](#): > > I second the sous vide, mentioned once up above and then apparently overlooked. The very purpose of a sous vide is to stick it into a vessel of water, which it will then heat and hold at a specific temperature indefinitely. It also circulates the water for even warming. > > [Amazon has a bunch to choose from.](https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A1055398%2Cn%3A10962055011%2Ck%3Asous+vide&ie=UTF8&qid=1548709320&rnid=1063498) It’s for shaving, though I still don’t know how that works? So a sous vide on the bathroom counter\* probably wouldn’t work. - although someone who needs precision in their shaving water temperature is a next-level shaver whose needs I don’t understand. But want to!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/32 "2019-01-28T21:21:12Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > It’s for shaving, though I still don’t know how that works? So a sous vide on the bathroom counter\* probably wouldn’t work. > > - although someone who needs precision in their shaving water temperature is a next-level shaver whose needs I don’t understand. But want to!!! 🙂 I’m a “wet” shaver. I think this has been discussed in the forums before. I shave after showering, and make my own lather in a shaving scuttle with a shaving brush and some kind of shaving soap or shaving cream. The reason for the heated water is that it’s just more pleasant to shave with warm water and warm lather than with cold. The specific temperature range is hot enough to be soothing, but not so hot as to scald. I want to heat a particular amount of water for my shaving because I don’t want to use my water heater to maintain shaving-level temperature, and I don’t like to just let the tap run for my shaving water. This way I warm and use a particular amount of water. I also do my shaving in a bowl and throw out the used water in the toilet. I try not to let hair go down the sink drain. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/33 "2019-01-29T15:32:58Z")
Have you considered adding a point of use electric water heater? If this is something you do every day, it may be worth putting a small investment into having one installed under your bathroom cabinet. It would mean instant water at your preferred temp regardless of what you need it for. Hand washing, shaving, wetting a washcloth, etc. And with nothing taking up counter space and needing to be cleaned as the water grew stagnant or if anything fell into it. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086/34 "2019-01-29T22:04:55Z")
You could use an Ember self-heating mug. The battery can keep the temperature stable for about an hour, I’d say. It can’t heat the water by itself, though: you’d have to pour hotter-than-desired water into it (heated _in a different mug_ or a Pyrex cup, in the microwave?) and wait for it to settle down to the desired temperature. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-kettle-hot-pot-that-warms-but-doesnt-boil/828086.md?page=1)