The past 100 years have borne witness to a revolution in the kitchen, a place generally reserved for heavy, hard work - alongside the industrial revolution and a boom in consumerism, all manner of gadgets and innovations have been invented to free up both time and energy for the average home owner. Here is our guide to the key kitchen innovations.

Washing Machine

Man powered machines were invented as early as the end of the 17th Century; however it wasn't until the beginning of the 20th that electricity entered the washing equation. Revolutionised in the 50's by mass production and an increase in personal wealth, the single and twin tubs became a popular feature in many homes, but the introduction of the automatic tub in the 70's really did change the nature of wash day for good.

Oven

It's amazing to think that in the old days our civilised ancestors used to cook over coal - I can't even begin to imagine the tasty tinge that used to lace the food... The first gas stoves were introduced towards the end of the 19th Century but as with all technological developments, it wasn't until production costs reduced that the mass market were able to buy into the trend. These days we're lucky enough to have the choice of electric, gas or solid fuel stoves - advances in electric ovens and hobs have increased both their performance and efficiency, with induction cooking and halogen hobs.

Fridge

Being able to store foods has had a massive impact on our modern lives; whilst curing and preserving used to help our predecessors store all manner of produce for the winter months, the patent of the electric fridge in the early 20th Century changed our approach to food completely. Pantries had previously offered some form of chilling, but the modern development of convection technology meant that there was greater control over temperature and the freezer shortly followed, allowing storage and convenience to reach another level altogether.

Dishwasher

A magic cleaning cupboard - what could be better? A rather recent addition to the flock of household aids, but a definite essential for any busy modern family. Whilst there have been grumbles in the past few years about the environmental ethics of a dishwasher, the recent improvement in energy efficiency has resulted in some rather pleasant facts; a report has confirmed that the carbon footprint of a well maintained dishwasher is much smaller than that of the average hand washed dishes.

Microwave

Another modern addition to the kitchen agenda, microwave technology for culinary purposes was discovered during work building magnetrons for radar sets. The design was patented in 1946 - with the first design released onto the market measuring in at six feet tall and weighing 750 pounds. The design has gone on to be refined and today the microwave is one of the most widely used appliances.

Stanley Wong is a fitted kitchens designer who also writes about trending industry topics and kitchens for sale.

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