The History of Kitchen Appliances: From Iceboxes to Smart Fridges

The kitchen is the focal point of any residential space. But its engineering has evolved over the last hundred years. From hobbled washbasins to perfectly-styled hardware, the design and appliances of the kitchen have changed drastically.

Arguably though, a kitchen can’t be a kitchen if it doesn’t have the right appliances like the three-burner gas. Modern kitchens boast high-end and sleek appliances that can make food preparation easy.

It seems like now we have an appliance for everything- from mincing onion to deshelling boiled eggs. Cooking at home wouldn’t be tedious and time-consuming if you have the best appliances. The feature-rich kitchen appliances available nowadays can expedite the cooking process and make it more enjoyable.

But have you ever wondered about the evolution of kitchen appliances? since the mid-1800s, people have been thinking of new and innovative ways to store and cook food. Here are some essential aspects to know about the evolution of kitchen appliances.

Iceboxes

An icebox, also known as a cold closet, is a compact and non-mechanical refrigerator. Before the development of refrigerators, people used to preserve food in ice boxes. Iceboxes were not powered by external electricity. They were widely used in restaurants in cafes in the late 1800s. During the 1840s, several companies started manufacturing iceboxes for domestic use.

The Kitchen Stove

The stove is something the people couldn’t do without. The first gas stoves were manufactured in the early 1850s. And compared to the three-burner gas that we’ve today, these stoves were pretty inefficient. In the mid-1900s, the emergence of electric stoves somehow declined the popularity of gas stoves.

And with the steady evolution of technology, homeowners now have access to 4 burner gas stoves. Addressing the pain point of users, the glass cooktops available with multiple burners, make the cleaning process more manageable.

Glass cooktops have been an integral part of kitchens since the early 2000s. The glass cooktops are sleek and aesthetically pleasing. If your kitchen has been designed contemporarily, investing in these cooktops is a must. And with multiple burners, the glass cooktops make the food preparation process faster.  

Coffee Maker

The origins of coffee as a beverage date back to the 15th century. In the earlier days, people used to crush coffee beans manually and mix them with water. However, after the industrial revolution, things changed rapidly. In the late 1800s, coffee-making evolved rapidly.

Moreover, vacuum system machines were introduced. The coffee maker appliance started integrating pumps and filtering systems. Coffee makers made it possible to drip brew coffee at home.

Blender

Before the invention of the blender in the early 1900s, people used to mix things mechanically. In most cases, they used spoons to blend things. It was utterly inconvenient to mix things by hand. Moreover, making smoothies wasn’t really usual in those days.

The early blenders comprised just cups with spinning blades located at the bottom. However, modern-day blenders have come a long way. Nowadays, blenders for the kitchen are available with versatile features.  

Dishwashers

Dishwashers have become an integral part of any contemporary kitchen. But still, some people consider this appliance as a luxury rather than a necessity. Nowadays, a majority of households have dishwashers.

In the earlier days, dishwashers were not much compact and user-friendly. But with the passage of time, various models of dishwashers originated. If you want to make your kitchen a functional place, investing in dishwashers is a necessity.  

The Microwave Oven

The microwave oven is the most innovative and widely used kitchen appliance. one of the key highlights of this kitchen appliance is its ability to prep food faster. But the primary purpose of investing in a microwave oven is to heat food consistently.

It is a top appliance if you want to reheat your leftover food items quickly. During their early days, microwave ovens used to be bulky. However, manufacturers promptly came up with innovative ideas to make the design user-friendly and compact. In today’s time, it is tough to imagine cooking without a microwave oven.  

Pressure Cookers

Do you know that pressure cooking was first experimented with in the early 1600s? But until the Second World War, pressure cooking wasn’t a favourable option. After the Second World War, the concept of cooking in pressure cookers gained impetus.

The main reason behind the success of pressure cookers is their ability to use low fuel. Nowadays, we have appliances like Instant Pots that can prepare meals faster. Pressure cookers still have managed to retain their place in most contemporary kitchens.

Kettles

Early kettles were simple metal pots that could be placed over stoves. During the 1900s, the world had an electric kettle that could heat water properly. The electric kettles we have in our kitchen nowadays boast improved design and function. For instance, they come with an auto shut down feature for added safety of the users.

Toasters

In the early 1900s, the first toaster was sold. As time progressed with increased toaster-related accidents, the design of the appliance underwent an overhaul. Nowadays, most toasters come equipped with smart functionalities that augment the safety of users.

Being breakfast-making equipment, you cannot undermine the significance of toasters. Most contemporary kitchens have multifunctional toasters that can grill pieces of bread too.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are finely engineered pieces that are integral to the smooth functioning of modern kitchens. The design of iceboxes inspired the development of refrigerators. By 1915, refrigerators powered by electricity became popular.

Refrigerators leverage the power of refrigerants to preserve food items, vegetables, fruits, etc. Nowadays, most refrigerators use eco-friendly and ozone-safe refrigerant gases. The most marked evolution of these freezing devices came with the development of smart refrigerators.

Customary to their smart refrigerators come equipped with high-end functionalities. They can be controlled through mobile apps remotely. Furthermore, you can check the inventory levels of these refrigerators straight from the app.    

It is evident that technological developments have influenced the design of appliances greatly. Appliances are an integral part of any type of contemporary kitchen. You can make the focal point of your home genuinely worthwhile by investing in top glass top gas stoves. These gas stoves can make cooking much easier and more enjoyable.

 

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