Classic Kitchen Appliances
Instructions: From avocado green to harvest gold, remember the appliances that were the heart of the mid-century kitchen!
- 1.
What two colors were the most popular for kitchen appliances in the 1970s?
AAvocado green and harvest goldBWhite and chromeCRed and blueDCopper and brown - 2.
What stand mixer brand, first introduced for home use in 1919, became the gold standard for home bakers?
AHamilton BeachBSunbeam MixmasterCKitchenAidDOster - 3.
What kitchen appliance became a sensation in the 1970s for making waffles at home?
AThe toaster ovenBThe sandwich pressCThe waffle ironDThe griddle - 4.
What revolutionary kitchen appliance did Amana introduce for home use in 1967, changing cooking forever?
AThe convection ovenBThe countertop microwave ovenCThe food processorDThe induction cooktop - 5.
What Sunbeam appliance with two mixing beaters was the most popular electric mixer in American kitchens from the 1940s through the 1960s?
ASunbeam MixmasterBSunbeam BlendmasterCSunbeam Stand MixerDSunbeam Hand Whip - 6.
What countertop appliance, featuring a glass carafe on a heated plate, replaced the percolator for making coffee in the 1970s?
AFrench pressBVacuum coffee makerCEspresso machineDDrip coffee maker - 7.
What kitchen appliance, first sold by Cuisinart in 1973, was inspired by a French commercial food processor?
AThe juicerBThe mandolineCThe food processorDThe blender - 8.
What slow-cooking appliance, introduced by Rival in 1971, became famous for making stew while you were away?
AThe casserole dishBThe Dutch ovenCThe pressure cookerDThe Crock-Pot - 9.
What was the popular brand of electric knife that made carving the Thanksgiving turkey easier?
AGeneral ElectricBHamilton BeachCRivalDBlack & Decker - 10.
What kitchen gadget, invented by Ron Popeil and sold on TV, promised to 'set it and forget it'?
AShowtime RotisserieBRonco Food DehydratorCPocket FishermanDVeg-O-Matic - 11.
What was the popular Oster appliance that could blend, chop, and liquefy foods, becoming a fixture in 1960s kitchens?
AOster Mix-O-MaticBOster Pulse BlenderCOster Food CenterDOsterizer Blender - 12.
What in-sink kitchen appliance became common in new homes starting in the 1960s?
AGarbage disposalBSoap dispenserCWater filterDHot water dispenser - 13.
What compact appliance could toast bread on one side and warm or bake small items on the other, becoming popular in the 1970s?
AWarming drawerBHot plateCSandwich makerDToaster oven - 14.
What tabletop appliance from George Foreman became one of the best-selling kitchen products of all time in the 1990s?
APanini pressBGeorge Foreman GrillCCountertop smokerDElectric grill - 15.
What Popeil kitchen gadget from the 1960s famously promised to slice and dice vegetables with the phrase 'It slices! It dices!'?
ASlice-O-MaticBDice-O-MaticCChop-O-MaticDVeg-O-Matic
Answer Key
Avocado green and harvest gold were the signature kitchen appliance colors of the 1970s. Nearly every refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher came in these iconic shades.
KitchenAid introduced its stand mixer for home use in 1919. The heavy-duty mixer became a wedding registry staple and a treasured kitchen appliance passed down through generations.
Electric waffle irons became extremely popular home appliances. Many families had a cherished waffle iron that made Sunday morning waffles a beloved tradition.
Amana introduced the first countertop microwave oven, the Radarange, for home use in 1967. It initially cost $495 (about $4,000 today) but revolutionized how Americans heated and cooked food.
The Sunbeam Mixmaster was the most popular electric mixer in America for decades, outselling all competitors. It became synonymous with home baking in the mid-20th century.
The automatic drip coffee maker, led by Mr. Coffee in 1972, replaced the percolator as the standard home coffee brewing method. It was simpler and made more consistent coffee.
The Cuisinart food processor, introduced in 1973, was inspired by the French Robot-Coupe. It revolutionized home cooking by making chopping, slicing, and pureeing effortless.
The Crock-Pot slow cooker was introduced by Rival in 1971 and became incredibly popular with working families who could start dinner in the morning and come home to a cooked meal.
Electric carving knives, particularly by Black & Decker and Hamilton Beach, were popular wedding gifts and made their annual appearance at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
Ron Popeil's Showtime Rotisserie, with the famous catchphrase 'Set it and forget it!' became one of the most successful kitchen products sold on television.
The Osterizer Blender, with its distinctive chrome base and glass jar, was a mid-century kitchen essential. It was used for everything from milkshakes to baby food.
The garbage disposal (or 'InSinkErator,' the leading brand) became a standard feature in American kitchens starting in the 1960s, grinding food waste for easy disposal.
The toaster oven became a popular countertop appliance in the 1970s, offering a convenient alternative to heating up the full oven for small cooking tasks.
The George Foreman Grill, launched in 1994, became a kitchen phenomenon selling over 100 million units. Its tilted surface drained fat away from food.
The Veg-O-Matic, invented by Samuel Popeil and sold on TV by his son Ron, became an icon of as-seen-on-TV kitchen gadgets. 'It slices! It dices!' became a pop culture catchphrase.