Women's Day: Thank These 5 Pioneering Inventors For Your Favourite Gadgets
If you thought kitchen expertise was about whipping up a storm with pots and pans, think again. It's also about the gadgets and gizmos that have made cooking and entertaining not just easier but a whole lot more enjoyable. So, let's toast to these unsung heroines and their contributions that have spiced up our kitchen lives.
The Electric Refrigerator
First up, let’s talk chill—the electric refrigerator, a cool invention that changed the kitchen scene forever. It was Florence Parpart who patented the modern electric refrigerator in 1914 and gave the world a way to keep its ingredients fresh and our drinks colder than a snowman’s abode. Imagine sipping on a chilled Johnnie Walker Black Label on the rocks, the whisky perfectly preserved at its prime, ready to release its smokiness into your glass. Or a mocktail with crushed ice on a humid evening. Florence, we owe you one for keeping our spirits spirited.
The Emotional Support Ice-Cream Maker
Continuing the chill talk, who could forget the ice cream maker? We owe it all to Nancy Johnson, who patented the hand-cranked model in 1843. And since its commercial use, we’ve been able to drown our sorrows in homemade scoops of creamy delight.
The Everyday Toaster
Then there's the toaster, a beacon of hope for those of us who crave that perfect golden-brown slice to kickstart the morning. Hazel Berger made this revolutionary contribution to our breakfast tables in 1921. This invention not only browned our bread but paved the way for countless breakfasts in bed, complete with the crispness of the toast. A breakfast for champions, indeed.
Coffee Filter for a Mean Brew
Did someone say breakfast? Let’s raise our coffee mugs to Melitta Bentz, who forever changed the way people have their morning brew with the invention of the paper coffee filter. Bentz's creation offers a smoother start to the day, ensuring that the coffee served alongside your breakfast tray is ground-free and full of flavour. It's the kind of innovation that improves the lives and moods of caffeine lovers, first thing in the morning, every day!
Kevlar in the Kitchen
A lot of eating and drinking often involves a lot of cleaning. So let's also talk about something that's not directly in the kitchen but impacts it significantly—Kevlar. Invented by Stephanie Kwolek, this high-strength material has shed its bulletproof shell and found its way into cut-resistant gloves for chefs and home cooks. Handling a sharp knife to slice fresh limes for that afternoon gin and tonic becomes less of an exercise in caution and more about the art of precise preparation, thanks to this handy invention. It's the kind of safety net accidental cooks and bartenders need for their culinary bravery and experimentation.
In these inventions, you can see the ease and versatility of a modern kitchen, capable of creating efficient, sustainable, and endlessly creative moments. They're not just about making life easier; they're about enriching our culinary experiences, allowing us more time to savour the flavours and the things that matter, even if that's staring into the toaster crack to see the shade of brown on the bread.
