Often you don’t need all the water in the kettle. The next day the rest is simply used again. But can you boil the water twice or can that even be dangerous for your health? Here is the answer.
You boil the water for tea with the kettle, but there is still some liquid left. Would you safely boil the water again the next day or would you rather put fresh water in the boiler?
According to a survey by the SGS Institute Fresenius, 53 percent of those surveyed dumped the water from the previous day and 47 percent continued to use it. But is that a good idea or should you just throw the water away?
Why do we throw away the water?
Limescale deposits quickly form in the kettle, making the water no longer appear as appetizing. There is also a concern among those tipping away that bacteria could have spread in the standing water.
Many also fear that pollutants could be released from the device itself into the water. Microplastics or nickel are a big concern for many people when using the stove. But is this concern justified or is dumping simply a waste of water?
Boil water again? That’s what the experts say
The Fresenius Institute sees no problem in boiling water again. The concerns that nickel and bisphenol A will come off the device are unfounded. However, it is important that the devices bear the GS seal. Household appliances that are tested for this seal rarely show questionable levels of contamination. In addition to the electronics, many kitchen appliances are also checked to see whether the materials used are safe. You are always on the safe side with a glass stove.
The institute also reassures 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 again. So for your normal use you can boil the water twice: that’s no problem!
A question of taste
What may concern you is the chalky taste. The limescale only dissolves when the water is heated and then settles in the device. If the water is boiled a second time, its taste may be different – but this is not harmful. If you don’t like your tea that way, you can of course just use new water.
These people should not use the water in the kettle twice
The Bavarian Consumer Center also shares the view that re-boiling stale water is generally harmless. However, some people are advised to drink fresh water instead. These can be people with a very weak immune system, pregnant women and infants.
For most people, the water from the lecture is still completely sufficient and does not pose a health risk. And if you prefer to use fresh water: You should never just throw away the leftover water. It’s great for watering or ideal for ironing, because boiling the water beforehand makes it a little softer. Are you more of a team dumpster or reuser?
