5 ways to use a boiling hot water tap (for more than a cuppa)

Posted on 19th August 2021

If there’s one piece of kitchen kit that’s made HUGE waves in the last few years, it’s the boiling hot water tap. It’s, I think fair to say, a game changer. And I now hear of so many homeowners working on a kitchen renovation that put a boiling water tap right up there on their wishlist. Why? Well, they’re convenient, pretty nifty, easy to use and are great for clearing the worktop of the kettle. Admittedly, they also do negate that headspace time waiting for the kettle to boil and the oh-so-British phrase ‘shall I put the kettle on?’ doesn’t quite have the same impact…but I reckon I can live with that for the sheer ease of a quick cuppa.

But what else can a hot water tap do to make kitchen life that bit easier? Because let’s face it, these taps are an investment and cost significantly more than your standard hot and cold designs – often starting from around £500 and going up from there depending on the features on offer.

With the latest taps providing boiling, filtered and even sparkling water, there are plenty of other uses. Let’s have a look…

A cuppa, of course
Firstly (and arguably most importantly) with a hot water tap delivering steaming hot water at up to 98°C (like the Pronteau by Abode) or 100°C with some taps (like Quooker‘s designs), there’s no more waiting for the kettle to boil before you can enjoy a brew. Whether you’re just back from the school run, catching up over a cuppa with friends or winding down with a hot drink before bed, there will always be enough hot water in the tank and, if you’re a bit of a tea pot and like multiple cups a day, it’s usually more energy efficient than boiling the kettle each time too.

The Abode Pronteau Province 4-in-1 brushed tap has a classic style, but the extensive Pronteau range comes in a range of contemporary designs too to suit many kitchen styles.

Blanching veg and cleaning fresh produce
Cleaning fruit and vegetables – this is one chore that takes no time with a hot water tap and there’s no need to stop at the fresh food either. If you’re one of the many people who like to give you whole grocery delivery a wipe down before placing in your cupboards, then having near to boiling water at the ready provides that extra peace of mind.
Plus, if you grow your own, picking and washing your crop just got a whole lot easier.

Brass taps — If you love darker interiors, the Fusion round tap in Patinated Brass, £1590, form Quooker is a great choice. Its unique brass finish works well with shades of terracotta, burnt yellow and sage green. Want a brass tap? Walk this way…

Quick and easy cooking
Whipping up a pasta dish for dinner is a doddle – dried or fresh, the pasta can be placed in a pan of boiling water straight from the tap for super-fast cooking. The same goes for lots of ingredients including noodles, rice, eggs and couscous. Great if you’re preparing dinner-time on the run for a hungry but busy family.

Tidying your worktops
Streamlining your worktops – with the kettle redundant and a boiling water tap dispensing cold, hot and near to boiling hot water on demand, only the one tap is needed. This is ideal for creating a streamlined and minimal finish and for keeping your kitchen looking neat and tidy.

The Hotspot Titanium Adrianna 3-in-1 boiling-water tap in matt black guarantees a smooth 100°C flow at the push of a button, plus filtered hot and cold water. It has a corrosion-proof titanium water tank and compact heater measuring W21cmwide x 28.5cm-deep x 32.5cm-high. £1199 for a four-litre model.

Perrin & Rowe U spout in Pewter — Shown here in Pewter, Perrin & Rowe‘s 1937 Polaris 3-in-1 instant hot mixer tap combines state-of-the-art filtration technology with convenience. Dispensing filtered water at almost-boiling 98ºC, its buttons are ergonomically placed to reduce the risk of accidental scalding. It is priced £1199.76.

Easier washing up
Urgh, who likes washing up? I certainly do not. Give me a dishwasher any day. But, there are certain things that do need to be washed by hand, or pre-rinsed. The job of rinsing off pans, plates and cutlery ahead of placing them in the dishwasher is far more effective with really hot water making this yet another time-saving benefit of the boiling water tap. And for any large, dirty trays, casserole dishes or grills, soak in boiling water and avoid the endless scrubbing.