| The kitchen is one of the most important rooms | | | | propeller that turned by itself. This invention is one |
| of the home. Since its establishment I has been a | | | | of the earliest innovations in cooking and one that |
| place to relax, cook and enjoy family occasions. | | | | we still use today. |
| Have you ever wondered about the history of | | | | In the late Middle Ages kitchens in Europe began |
| how the kitchen came about? Well this is a brief | | | | to lose their home heating function as they began |
| history… | | | | to move kitchens to separate rooms. The living |
| The birth of the kitchen as we know it today has | | | | room was now heated by tiled stoves which |
| been traced back to the 18th century when the | | | | were operated from the kitchen and offered the |
| invention of cooking equipment such as the stove | | | | advantage of not filling the room with smoke. |
| as well as the development of water | | | | Freed from smoke and dirt, the living room began |
| infrastructure meant that there was a supply of | | | | to serve as an area for social functions and |
| water into people homes. Before this water was | | | | becoming a showcase for the owner's wealth. |
| brought in from outdoor sources such as wells | | | | Probably the biggest movement in the history |
| and pumps. It as these innovations that began to | | | | of the kitchen and one which really begins to |
| shape the kitchen as we know it today. | | | | shape the kitchen to how we know it today is |
| However we can go as far back as Ancient | | | | the period of industrialisation. Technological |
| Greece where the wealthy used to have kitchens | | | | advances such as iron stoves which completely |
| within the home in a separate room next door to | | | | enclosed the fire allowed for much better control |
| the bathroom. In the Roman Empire however | | | | and efficient cooking as they allowed the heating |
| people had to cook in large public kitchens as they | | | | of multiple pots. |
| did not have the privilege of owning their own. | | | | Then in 1825 the first patent for the Gas stove |
| Within these public kitchens were small stoves | | | | was granted meaning that gas can be used for |
| which allow fires to be lit for cooking food. Like | | | | cooking. In early 19th century these began to be |
| with that of Ancient Greece only the wealthy had | | | | used in the majority of western homes. |
| their own separate kitchens within their homes | | | | In the second half of the 19th century more |
| which were operated by slaves. | | | | changes occurred which further shaped the |
| Fast forward to the middle ages in Europe and | | | | modern kitchen as we know it. Water distribution |
| the kitchen really began to take shape. Typically | | | | and sewers for wasted water were created. As |
| the kitchen area were between the entrance and | | | | the 20th century dawned electricity began to |
| the fireplace and it was not uncommon for | | | | establish itself as a good alternative to gas and in |
| wealthy people to have more than one kitchen | | | | the 1930s the electric stove was released. |
| and these kitchens were divided by the types of | | | | In 1892 German kitchen brand Poggenpohl |
| food that is prepared in them. In some larger | | | | introduced ergonomic worktops and storage. Then |
| homes in Europe the kitchen was sometimes | | | | further developments –initially still for higher |
| situated in a sunken floor to prevent the rest of | | | | classes – such as cooking machines with flue |
| the house from smoke plumes. | | | | pipes connected to chimneys, storage cupboards |
| Throughout the middle ages the kitchen layout did | | | | and tiles really revolutionized the modern kitchen |
| not change much. Open fires still remained the | | | | even further |
| sole method of heating food and due to this | | | | Then Poppenpohl began to innovate further |
| kitchens appeared dark due to the amount of | | | | kitchen equipment such as hot and cold water |
| smoke and soot. However with the invention of | | | | taps, kitchens sinks and the oven. Later on the |
| the chimney all was about to change as open | | | | refrigerator became a common kitchen item. The |
| fires were now able to be placed near the wall | | | | Swedish kitchen design then took grasp and it |
| instead of the middle of the room. Due to this the | | | | was from here that the use of drawers became |
| first brick hearths were developed which allowed | | | | popular. |
| the storage of wood and a more control over the | | | | Modern kitchen design then began to experiment |
| fire. This changed that face of the kitchen and | | | | with different materials such as stainless steel |
| the ay we cook as pots –which used to be | | | | which is still widely used today and more open |
| made from pottery- started to be made from | | | | plan kitchen designs were implemented. |
| highly conductive copper, iron and bronze. The | | | | Today there is such as huge array of design out |
| temperature of the fire was able to be controlled | | | | there and you can really appreciate how far we |
| by hanging the pots a desired height away from | | | | have come and the little innovations that |
| the fire. | | | | complete the kitchen as it is today. There is a lot |
| Any history lesson would not be complete without | | | | more history to it than has been written about in |
| Leonardo da Vinci getting a mention and it was his | | | | this article however this is only a brief history. |
| invention of a rotating spit for spit-roasting that | | | | |