Put the kettle on? We’d rather use the microwave instead
IN TIMES of crisis or joy, Britons instinctively put the kettle on.
But it appears our national pastime might be running out of steam, with declining numbers of people using the once-essential item.
The surge in demand for instant boiling water taps and even – brace yourself – people heating water in a microwave are behind this kitchen revolution.
The kettle’s demise has been noted in the latest Lakeland report, from the high street kitchenware retailer, which provides an annual snapshot of consumer trends.
It shows that 83 per cent of British households still use a kettle – meaning that 17 per cent, or 4.5million people, do not.
Lakeland ambassador and consumer expert Wendy Miranda said: ‘Interestingly, our survey revealed that 30 per cent of under-35s don’t currently own a kettle. While sales of kettles remain stable, it could be that the rising cost of energy is contributing to consumers looking for alternative ways to heat water.’
It costs 2.5p every time a kettle is used to boil 1.5 litres of water, compared with 3p a day from a hot tap.
One in five new kitchens is currently being fitted with a boiling tap, with industry estimates suggesting that 24 per cent of Britons already have the gadget.
Ms Miranda added: ‘The microwave runs at a fairly low wattage and the rising popularity of coffee machines could also play a part.
‘Some 45 per cent of those surveyed said they owned a coffee machine, and we know lockdown led to the popularity of these soaring as customers looked to create coffee shop favourites at home.’
The report found 68 per cent of 25-to-34-year-olds have ditched the kettle – slightly lower than the 70 per cent of those aged 18 to 24, which will include students given one by their parents before they head off to university. Kettle
ownership then shoots to 80 per cent among 35-to-45-year-olds, 89 per cent for 45-to-54-year-olds, 91 per cent for 55-to-64-year-olds, and 94 per cent for the over-65s.
According to Lakeland, younger people are also abandoning another favourite household accessory – the corkscrew. Only 27 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds own one compared with 81 per cent of those of retirement age.
Experts say the decline could be down to the popularity of screw-top wines and the fact that more than one in four youngsters are teetotal.
The Lakeland findings were from an online survey of 3,000 people by pollsters Dynata over ten days in July.