No matter where you live, how many people are in your family, or the type of dwelling you live in, all homes have a kitchen. This essential space of every home is where we create our meals, nourish ourselves, and come together in a shared place to enjoy good food and laughter.
The kitchen has always been an important part of every home and these days, it’s better than ever. With the rise of smart devices and the standard kitchen appliances that we’ve known and loved for years, we now have the ability to cook or create just about anything we set our minds too.
Where once the kitchen used to be about just sustenance, now it’s somewhere people can be creative, feed their loved ones, and experiment with all different types of cuisine from around the world. The key to a good kitchen like this is knowing which appliances every home should have and exactly how they can make a difference.
We’re going to look back at the history of kitchens and where they’re headed to in the future. With a greater understanding of the most popular room in any home, you’ll be able to turn your kitchen into something phenomenal rather than just another space in your house where you spend your time each day.
In This Article You Will Learn...
A Brief History Of The Kitchen And Home Appliances
To truly appreciate how far the modern kitchen has come, we can look back over the history of this room and see what changes it’s experienced. The earliest antiquity kitchens which existed in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire were always a central space.
Quite often, they where were women gathered around a central courtyard where the cooking also took place, and it was rare for homes to have their own kitchen.
During the middle ages, it became more common for houses to have a kitchen area and for wealthier folk, up to three of them. This era saw the first use of stoves and so the kitchens would need a chimney to remove the smoke, and their design remained unchanged for some time.
In colonial times, it was recorded that homes began to have utensils and cutlery that we know today like spoons. During the Industrialization era, new iron stoves were unveiled that no longer required the fire to be exposed and they could be used to heat the food and not just cook it.
During the second half of the 19th century, water and gas pipes began to be installed which again changed how we cooked in the kitchen and prepared food.
After World War II, fitted kitchens began to take the shape of the ones we know today, and became the central focus of the home. Pantries and storage space were added, electric stoves were common, and there was running gas and water, however, the kitchen was still a small space in the home.
Finally, during the 1980s, open kitchens became the norm which meant range hoods were being used and ventilation was improved. Gas and water were readily available, and there were adequate bench space and storage.
Electric appliances were being released including mixers, blenders, and toasters, with most kitchens having a wide range of things that helped them to cook more efficiently.
Kitchen Designs All Over The World
Not only has the kitchen undergone a number of changes throughout the years, but in every country and culture, the picture of the standard kitchen is also unique. We’re so used to the types of kitchens we have here at home, but there are some differences around the world that are interesting to note.
China
There are many things we consider standard in the US that aren’t found in many Chinese kitchens, including a fridge and oven. Usually, fresh food is purchased daily and a ring stove is used for cooking.
Netherlands
One key difference in a Dutch kitchen is the lack of storage, with most things being kept out of eyesight and usually stored in just one or two cupboards underneath the bench.
Sweden
The Swedish kitchen is all about saving space and so you’ll find a very simple but efficient approach to setting up their kitchens.
Scotland
Due to the cold weather in this country, it’s common that the kitchen is quite small and also provide a lot of heat to the rest of the home through the stove.
Japan
In most standard dwellings, the cooking is done through a convection microwave and not an oven. Dishwashers are also usually only found in larger households and never in smaller apartments.
How Appliances Revolutionized The Kitchen And Food
For those of us living in modern times, it can be hard to think of a time when kitchen appliances weren’t the norm. we’re so used to having a fridge to keep ingredients cold in or an oven to cook our food to perfection without a hassle that it can be difficult to imagine what life was like before them.
Although people lived quite happily without these modern conveniences that we know today, there’s no denying that it was harder to cook. People had to do many jobs manually which meant that they took longer, and without things like ventilation or refrigeration the safety and hygiene conditions weren’t always the best.
These days, there’s a kitchen appliance out there for virtually any type of food that you want to make. You can deep fry foods, make your own ice cream, and even create barista style espressos right on your kitchen bench. Like never before, we’re now able to create delicious cuisine that just wasn’t possible before for the average homeowner.
Another major way that kitchen appliances have changed our lives is by giving us more time. There are plenty of easy ways you can create a healthy meal for your family and have enough time to spend with them as well, so cooking in the kitchen is no longer the labor-intensive chore that we used to think it would be.
We are only really seeing the beginning of how kitchen appliances have changed our lives. With the recent introduction of smart devices, we can expect to spend less time cooking and more time eating what we’ve created thanks to these gadgets and state of the art appliances that let us create feasts worthy of a five-star restaurant.
The Importance Of Kitchen Ventilation
One area of our kitchens that we often take for granted is the ventilation system. Commonly referred to as the range hood, exhaust hood, or kitchen hood, this device works are removing all of the nasty byproducts of cooking from the area and making it a clean and safe space to work in.
A quality range hood is capable of removing fumes, smoke, heat, airborne grease, and steam from the air, filtering it out and evacuating it. The result is a cleaner kitchen that’s easier to work in and safer for the people present, and when the concept of kitchen ventilation was first introduced it was a major revolution.
A good ventilation system will depend on the type of kitchen you have and the workload it’s used to. Commercial kitchens will rely on a much more efficient type of ventilation system than a standard unit or house kitchen, so you need to ensure you’ve got the right fit for people’s safety and efficiency.
Regardless of the type of home you live in or the size of your kitchen, ventilation is a must have. Without a ventilation system like a range hood you will be susceptible to poisoning from fumes, decreased visibility while cooking, prevent mold growth, stop grease infiltrating your other appliances, and preventing the buildup of carbon monoxide.
As far as kitchen appliances go, they are one of the most important to have but the one that gets the least fanfare.
The Most Common Kitchen Appliances
In the US and other western parts of the world, most kitchens use a lot of the same appliances. If you’re looking to start a kitchen from scratch or give your appliances a major overhaul, these are some of the most common kitchen appliances that most homes have.
Major Appliances
These are the big ticket items in your fridge that cost a lot more, but will generally last a lot longer, and in some cases be in your kitchen for around 15 years. These major appliances we usually take for granted as we use them so often, and without them, it would be quite hard to get any cooking done.
Minor Appliances
The Lifespan Of Kitchen Appliances
Investing in kitchen appliances is usually a big cost and something that people put a lot of consideration into. So, when you go to buy a new appliance, whether it’s a major or minor one, you want some sort of guarantee that it’s going to last.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell exactly when an appliance will stop working but that’s why manufacturers offer a warranty period on their products. Appliances are especially susceptible to breakages and faults, so when you’re purchasing something new you need to fully understand what you’re covered for.
A standard warranty for a kitchen appliance is one to two years, but this can vary dramatically depending on the product, price, and manufacturer. These days, appliances are cheaper than ever as the manufacturers are figuring out ways to be more cost effective in their construction.
However, this leads some people to question whether the appliances are as well made as they used to be. Provided you are shopping for reputable brands and choosing products that have good customer reviews, you can usually trust that the ones you’re buying are going to stand the test of time.
Statistics have shown that larger appliances like refrigerators and range hoods usually have a life span of around 13 years. Smaller appliances like microwaves and compactors don’t last a long but are usually working well after their warranty period has ended, up to around six years.
While the initial investment of these gadgets may seem like a lot when you think about how much use they get the cost is certainly worth it.
Of course, taking care of your kitchen appliances is one way to guarantee they last longer. Things, like reading care instructions, cleaning them as required, and performing regular maintenance, can all have a significant impact on how long your appliances last, so we really need to take care with them.
The Rise Of The Smart Kitchen
Kitchen appliances have pretty much stayed the same in the last 20 years, with some minor exceptions. However, the rise of the smart home and with it, the smart kitchen, is set to yet again revolutionize how we cook and prepare food in the house.
In the coming years, we can expect a lot of changes in the kitchen and the average household, so it’s something to look out for.
Smart homes work on something called the Internet of Things, which is another name for a network. This network is where all of your smart devices link together and communicate with each other, and it allows for certain products and appliances to be compatible with each other.
When we look at the kitchen specifically, there have been some major advancements thanks to these new technologies. Their aim is to make life easier for us and they do this by automating many functions that we used to do manually, as well as giving us a central command hub where we can control them or ask them to work together.
With a fully functioning smart kitchen, you will be able to do things like enjoy a cup of coffee that’s been made for you while you’re in bed, preheat and watch your oven from a remote location, get automatic conversions on ingredients, and automatically order food that’s running low in your fridge.
The technology is still new, but as it evolves we can expect even more automation from our favorite room in the house.
At this stage, the most popular smart appliances in the kitchen are still quite expensive. However, as the technology becomes more common and people begin integrating the rest of their homes with a smart setup, it will likely become the norm.
For now, though, there are some issues with using smart appliances like glitches, high costs, and relatively new technology that makes it hard to determine whether they’re worth the price.
Old Vs New: Which Is Better In The Kitchen?
With the arrival of these smart appliances comes the debate about which is better. Some argue that the older appliances were better and made to last longer, while others think that the range of new smart devices is far more efficient than any older appliances could ever be.
For those who argue that old appliances are better, their points are certainly valid. The craftsmanship appears to be better in older products, and although they might not be as efficient, they will usually last your kitchen a lot longer.
Having everything done for you automatically also takes out the thrill and reward of cooking, as you’re no longer doing the work yourself.
Those who prefer the new way of life and want a completely smart kitchen, efficiency is the major drawcard. These devices make things a lot easier and free up your time to be doing other things, like relaxing, so we’re able to get more downtime at home.
They argue that keeping old appliances around is holding on to the past, and with the modern technology and functions we now have access to, there’s no reason to use these dated machines.
Obviously, it will be a matter of personal preference as to what your choice is. There may be some things you’re happy to hand over to a machine, like making your morning coffee, and others you’ll want to do for yourself, like patiently stirring and tending to a pot of risotto.
Whatever works for your kitchen is the best approach, as we are all extremely different in how much effort and time we want to put into cooking and food preparation.
The future points to fully automated kitchens but this type of setup is still a very long time away. The notions of the futuristic kitchen that we once thought we’d be enjoying by now and still out of reach, but for now there are some great appliances that make it easier to create a bigger range of foods and do so more efficiently.
Kitchen Appliance Maintenance And Repair
A kitchen appliance is an investment, and like any other investment, you want to make sure it’s going to be working for you as long as possible. Home appliances do tend to break from time to time, and regardless of the reason, it’s usually cheaper to have them repaired than trying to replace them altogether.
There are some things you can do to maintain your average kitchen appliances that will help them work better for longer. Included with regular cleaning, here are some tips you can follow to keep your appliances working:
Clean Your Refrigerator Coils
Fridges have the potential to last a seriously long time when cared for correctly. One of the best things you can do for your fridge is clean its coils, which are found under the front grille.
Don’t Overload Things
It can be tempting to get as much use out of an appliance as possible but it’s actually doing them damage. Try not to overload the washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher so that it keeps running efficiently.
Clean The Dishwasher
The dishwasher cleans our dishes, but what do we do to clean it? Along with running an empty load with vinegar instead of detergent, you can also take some of the parts off to give a deeper clean. The filter and screen are two areas that can be easily cleaned for longer life.
Be Gentle
You might think things like dryers and washing machines are made tough, but whenever you slam their doors, you’re doing a lot of damage. To replace a door that’s been damaged can cost around $100 so be gentle with your appliances.
Clean Filters
Any appliance that you have with a filter has one for a reason. Things like your air conditioner, dryer, washing machine, fridge, and dishwasher all come with a filter that needs to be cleaned regularly. They could contain things like mold and animal droppings that pose serious health threats to you, but will also impact the efficiency of the appliance.
Follow Instructions
When you get a brand new appliance, take the time to read through its instruction manual. There may be things you would otherwise miss about how to take care of it or things that will void the warranty, so you need to know if you want them to have a long life.
Kitchen Appliance Disposal And Recycling
At some point or another, you’ll have to say goodbye to your favorite kitchen appliance. Although they might have been made tough, it’s rare to find a kitchen appliance that will outlive you and your kitchen, so when the time comes, what do you do with them?
When we dispose of appliances or white goods, they are commonly referred to as e-waste, and according to the UN, there is around 50 million metric tons of this being disposed of each year. These numbers are at a record high and it is doing a lot of damage to the planet, so as a home that uses kitchen appliances you need to know what to do.
If you’ve exhausted all other options including repairs, you’ll need to dispose of them the right way. Sometimes, you may find that local charities take appliances that no longer work as they are able to fix and then sell them, so try this method first.
For those appliances that can’t be fixed, you’ll need to recycle them. Do not throw them in the garbage with your other trash as they will only end up as landfill.
Find a dedicated service in your area that takes this type of e-waste and they will gladly recycle it and dispose of it correctly for you. This is one thing we can do to ensure the appliances we find so efficient don’t end up doing harm to the environment.
Making Your Kitchen Work For You
The kitchen is one of the most commonly used spaces in our homes, whether you live in an apartment or a house. The needs that each household has for their kitchen are completely unique though, as there are different sizes of families, tastes, and nutritional needs, so no two kitchens will ever be alike.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, kitchen appliances can be hugely helpful in our everyday lives. They can help us prepare delicious and nutritious meals for our loved ones or decadent treats, depending on what our moods are, and they allow us to do it all with ease.
There are so many great appliances out there today that will enhance your kitchen and open up a world of culinary delights you never thought possible at home. Ice cream makers and deep fryers are just two of them, so if you’re looking to add some more variety and taste to the foods you make at home, they’re well worth your consideration.
