UK Gadgets versus USA Gadgets (another one of my surveys!!)

[2BoysMum&Dad]

I have started a couple of really successful threads in the last few weeks. One was called "US English versus English English & customs & attitudes etc etc etc" and the other was about food and eating differences between the Brits and Americans.

Here's another one.

I have noticed in the US not many of you have electric kettles or even electric toasters. What other household gadgets to you use a lot which us Brits don't and vice versa?

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[kpgclark]

I'm assuming your talking about electric gadgets. Everyone has electric toasters or a toaster oven! We use crock pots here which slow cook food like beef stew all day. I love my rice cooker. We have coffee makers, blow driers, pencil sharpeners, electric toothbrushes, microwaves, kitchen garbage disposals, I have instant hot water in my sink which is gaining in popularity in the states, automatic garage door openers, I could name tons of gadgets you find in new cars, electric can openers, coffee grinders, mixers, and on and on.

 

[Karel]

Ice Tea makers?

 

[brack]

I spent 10 weeks in London this past year and the one electric item I had there but never see here is:
an electric bath towel heater.

I loved it and have been planning on buying one since I came home.

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Heated towel rails in bathrooms are popular in this country, probably because it can get quite cold (although generally not as cold as some other European countries) so it's really nice to get out of a bath to a hot towel.

I am surprised about the hot water from sink taps. I have never come across a sink without running hot water before. I presume you mean it's hot water that's been heated from the house's hot water tank?

Kitchen sinks in the US seem odd to me. They mainly do not have an integrated draining board to the side. It's very unusual to get sinks in this country which do not have a draining board. Although a lot of people here do have a dishwasher (including me) I still find it useful to place items on a draining which I just rinse under a tap because it is a frequently used item and can't wait for it to be cleaned in the dishwasher. I also have quite a few items which are not recommended for cleaning in a dishwasher.

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[kpgclark]

The instant hot water is a tank that has water heated almost to boiling. You can make tea or pressed coffee etc. from that tap without having to wait. I love it.

We also have much bigger refrigerators here and we store many more items in them that you wouldn't probably keep cold. I lot of people have an extra fridge or freezer in their home (I have a full size freezer and a full size fridge in my basement) I'd say most Americans could live for a long time just in what food is stored in the homes.

 

[2BoysMum&Dad]

Next time I redesign my kitchen (could be several years away unfortunately) I want to buy one of those big American fridges, they are great! Love all the gadgets on them like the ice dispenser!

We have running hot water in all sinks in the house and the kitchen sink but the hot water tank is supplied with water from the cold water tank in the loft and is not considered quite good enough for drinking. For making hot drinks, it is always recommended we fill our kettle with cold water (a seperate pipe straight from the mains), and heat the water that way.

2BoysMum&Dad

 

[Dan Murphy]

I alwatys enjoy the similarities of similar cultures, but also the subtle, unexpected differences. I know I have 'gotten in trouble' a few times in international chat on Sunday afternoons (evening for you). Shirley has kept me in line though, LOL.

 

[ByTheSea]

The thing I noticed most when we were visiting is the lack of coffee pots for brewed coffee. Instant coffee just isn't the same! Every hotel had an electric tea pot with instant coffee, and the family members we visited, none had coffee pots, all offered instant coffee.

Here, I think fewer people have electric tea pots and most home have coffee makers.