Michael Carpenter operates The Mechanical Kitchen - selling useful machines for every kitchen.
Salesman: "This machine will cut your workload at home in half!"
Housewife: "In that case, I'll take two!"
An old joke, but as the 21st century unfolds, it becomes truer than ever. Compared to previous generations, people today can find working in the kitchen easier and even fun. The gadgets that compete for precious counter space in kitchens across the country are ready to slice, dice, peel, blend, bake and grill in ways that would have amazed the great-grandparents of their owners.
A century ago, the idea of kitchen appliances simply didn't exist. There were hand-operated vacuums, and many homes had only an icebox, a washtub, and a sink with cold water, usually operated by a pump. Often the pump was outside the back of the house, or in the street for communal usage. With the advent of electricity, the idea of labor-saving devices slowly took hold. Fifty years later, iceboxes were replaced by refrigerators, which did away with having ice delivered. Toasters became one of the first devices anywhere in the home to use power. One early counter top machine seen in many homes was the electric can opener. Seen at the time as a frivolous novelty, nowadays it's hard to imagine opening cans without them (especially since nobody can remember where the old-fashioned hand crank opener is). Following close behind it was the coffeemaker, taking over from the percolator that used to sit on a burner of the stove. And its close cousin, the teakettle. Machines like the blender were first developed for commercial use, and quickly found their way into domestic service.
The next big advance in kitchen technology was the microwave oven in the 1970's. It was to kitchens what the VCR was to the living room - revolutionary in itself, it can now be seen as the beginning of a whole wave of gizmos to be lined up beside the sink. Soon afterwards, the market exploded with toaster ovens, sandwich grills, pasta makers, ice cream makers, yogurt makers and the like. This reached a zenith with the advent of the food processor. Seen as a sort of companion to the home computer (a.k.a. the "word processor", since nobody could think of any other use for a computer in the days before the web), these kings of the counter top combined blender, grater, masher, slicer, dicer and a few more things all in one package.
Right on the heels of the food processor was the bread machine. As the nation longed for a healthier, more natural diet, something that could mix, knead and bake a staple foodstuff such as bread was seen as ushering in a new way of thinking about what we eat. Unfortunately, while many homes have bread machines today, few actually get any use. The loaf pans are smaller than commercially sold loaves, the mix makes the bread much more expensive, the machine needs cleaning after each loaf, and nobody wants to actually have to slice bread anymore. So not every step forward has been fully embraced by the masses.
The future for kitchen appliances however, looks brighter than ever. In a world where the can opener looks quaint alongside the modern no-stick grill, the next big revolution will be the interconnecting of all these devices to a home intranet. By the end of this century, most western kitchens may be a network hive of activity, as devices share information between themselves, larger equipment such as the oven and fridge, and even across the Internet. No doubt new machines will be introduced, some bizarre hybrids of what we already have, some as unknown to us as a microwave would have been in 1907. Our great-grandchildren will chuckle to themselves as they ponder all the effort we put into buttering our toast or stirring our coffee each morning. Are you ready for the kitchen of the future?
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Kitchens Cook Up Value
- Cooking in an Outdoor Kitchen - Cook While Enjoying Nature
- Hone Your Culinary Cooking Skills and Talent at a Culinary Arts College or University
- Accessorizing Your Kitchen With Decorative Cookware
- Without Six Tools Kitchen is Uncompleted
- Toy Kitchens - The Creativity Of Your Child
- Kitchen Appliances
- Cooking Games Online - How To Enjoy Cooking Outside Your Kitchen




Insect Killer
By: Vinnit | 09/07/2009As the monsoons set in, the weather changes for the better and provides some respite from the summer heat. However, though we enjoy this good weather, there is one thing that it brings with it that causes a nuisance in most households – insects.
General Tips For Buying A Two Person Hammock
By: Andre Morrow | 07/07/2009It's summer, and that means it's time for cookout's, and hammocks. Hammocks are the nice way to relax during the boring summer days and a two person hammock is perfect for relaxing with a friend. Tips for buying a hammock are varied, and often silly depending on whom you get them from. But generally you'll want to make an informed decision based on your own research.Hammocks are giant pieces of cloth usually held together by thick ropes running across and through ...
Selecting a Cedar Chest
By: Ernest Horton | 07/07/2009Hope chests were once a traditional gift on a special occasion to give one to a buddy. A Hope chest is helpful, you may also be in a position to give them a gift that is historically related to considerations of friendship and hope.If you're considering a marriage or maybe a special Xmas, you will discover that a cedar chest is a lovely gift. seeing it for the very first time.If you're on the lookout for the perfect Hope chest, the largest thing to kee...
TV wall brackets can secure your position
By: Phil Battison | 07/07/2009People are usually quick to disparage reality TV shows, but given the viewing figures and the amount of people who regularly talk about them, it is clear there are a lot of people watching. It is also clear through sales figure that many people are viewing these shows on modern televisions with aspects like high definition, surround sound or LCD plasma screens.
Relieve Stress with TV
By: Phil Battison | 07/07/2009Getting the position of your TV right in your room is incredibly important. When its wrong the stress levels for all in the house can increase dramatically and its pretty easy to correct.
Make your hot tub resistant to any water hazards
By: Tod Martin | 07/07/2009Hot tub covers also help to keep rodents as well as other creatures from inflowing in water and surprising you when you go to make use of it after a long tiring day of work. When you are very tired and just want to relax in your hot tub.
Enhance your leisure time
By: Tod Martin | 07/07/2009There are varieties of hot tub supplies of the greatest quality in the souk which can easily be brought at competitive charges.
Rethink, Restyle, Revamp!!!
By: Azam Mansha | 07/07/2009The forever changing fashion trends are a constant source of anxiety for fashionettes as everyone has a desire to be up to fate in terms of style. The trends and style always remain in regular rotation and one never knows what may totally vanish and what may reappear the next season or a couple of seasons later. It’s safe to invest in items that one can assume will last for a long time, but when it comes to trends one cannot always play safe as playing safe is usually not a lot of fun and doesn’
Children's Dvds and Toys - an Online Shopping Guide
By: Michael S. Carpenter | 23/04/2007 | Home & FamilyAs the world moves increasingly towards shopping on the Internet, the multitude of choices available can quickly overcome even the most experienced shopper. Whereas in the past, your selection was limited to a few stores in a local geographical area, today hundreds of e-shops compete for your money. How can you choose intelligently? Let's examine a few strategies.
My Top Five Baby Tips
By: Michael S. Carpenter | 23/04/2007 | ParentingHaving a baby is a momentous, life-changing experience. And like all such defining points in a life, one that you're never quite prepared for. No matter how many books you read, or opinions you seek out, when the time actually arrives, you find yourself blinded by the enormity of the task.
A Short History of the Swiss Army Knife
By: Michael S. Carpenter | 23/04/2007 | CampingWhile the term "Swiss Army Knife" has become almost synonymous with any red multi-bladed pocketknife, in actual fact, only two companies, both Swiss, have the right to truly call themselves Swiss army knives.