Image: Shutterstock
About This Quiz
Can you tell a humidifier from a sump pump or a waffle iron from an electric grill? Do you know the difference between a boiler and a furnace? Any idea what all those unitasker appliances stuffed into your kitchen cabinets do? If you consider yourself a home appliance whiz, take our quiz to prove it!
The average woman in the 21st century spends 2 hours and 15 minutes a day on household chores, while a typical man spends around 90 minutes. Sounds like a big chunk of time, right? Well, consider that people spent about twice that long on housework each day just half a century ago.
So what's cut the time spent on chores in half in just 50 years? Namely, household appliances. Instead of washing laundry by hand and hanging it out to dry, we just toss it in the washer and dryer. Rather than slaving over the stove, we rely on microwaves, slow cookers, and Instapots to cook dinner with little effort. No need to wash dishes by hand when you can place them in the dishwasher and be done with them. Our ancestors could only dream of sucking up dirt with a vacuum, much less having a Roomba to do the job when no one is even home!
While there's no question that all these appliances have made life easier, there are so many different options to choose from that it can be tough to tell one timesaving device from another! Think you've got what it takes? Take our quiz to find out!
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Coffee maker
Coffee grinder
Stand mixer
The stand mixer is a great kitchen appliance for all of your baking needs. From making light and fluffy dough for cookies to homemade whipped cream, a good old stand mixer can do it all.
Juicer
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Hand blender
A simple yet multifunctional hand blender can handle a variety of basic food prep tasks. A stick blender is not as bulky as a stand mixer or a food processor, but is equally effective. Moreover, its handy “stick” design lets you blend anywhere, be it in a pot, bowl or pitcher.
Boiler
Food processor
Rice cooker
Advertisement
Shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Toaster oven
Even if the space in your kitchen is limited, your cooking options shouldn't be. You can squeeze a compact toaster oven into almost any limited layout and still enjoy all of your regular meals, from favorite breakfast and lunch options to Moroccan pork kebabs and complicated desserts.
Bread maker
Waffle iron
Slow cooker
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Space heater
A space heater with a fan that helps to distribute heat more quickly is an irreplaceable appliance during the winter! At the same time, it's one of the most dangerous appliances in your apartment! Each year, about 25,000 house fires and 300 deaths are attributed to space heaters, not to mention 6,000 people who end up in emergency rooms.
Oven
Kettle
Toaster
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Blender
Mixer
Sandwich maker
Steam mop
If you are tired of old string or squeeze mops and messy buckets full of dirty water, it's time to try something new. Convenient design of modern steam mops means less dripping and sloshing while cleaning; moreover, the steam helps clean and sanitize floors in one easy step!
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Hair iron
There are curling irons, hair straighteners, and finally, hair irons - convenient multitaskers suitable for all types of hair. Most of them can do it all - one simple device can be used to curl, wave, straighten, add body, twist and more!
Bread maker
Juicer
Wet grinder
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Microwave oven
Clothes iron
Anyone who needed to tackle the occasional wrinkled outfit or linen around the house used to buy a good old clothes iron. However, a lot of people today prefer not to buy this essential home appliance and instead use the popular hacks and tricks to get wrinkles out of their clothes. The most popular methods include steaming clothes in the shower or using a hair straightener.
Induction cooktop
Indoor grill
Advertisement
Shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Food processor
Toaster
Blender
A lot of blender owners use this multifunctional machine just to to whip up the occasional milkshake or morning smoothie, but there is so much more, including the whole-fruit juicing or an exciting process of making homemade almond butter, salsa or jam.
Gas stove
Advertisement
Shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Coffee maker
Single-serve coffeemakers, Keurig cups, Nespresso machines, drip coffeemakers and percolators, French press machines, and thermoses that keep coffee hot ... everyone has their favorite way to brew a steaming hot cup of coffee in the morning!
Mixer grinder
Pressure cooker
Rice cooker
Advertisement
Youtube
What home appliance is it?
Coffee maker
Hair dryer
Waffle iron
Rice cooker
The rice cooker is capable of more than its name suggests. Sure, it offers the easiest way to make perfect rice, but it’s also a convenient way to cook a wide variety of foods, such as boiled eggs, frittatas, pancakes, pork roast, as well as delicious desserts!
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaners are one of those home appliances everyone needs, but no one wants to think about. Vacuum cleaners were invented in 1901 and quickly evolved from bulky, petrol-powered machines to the convenient technology we use today.
Dishwasher
Freezer
Mixer
Advertisement
Youtube
What home appliance is it?
Microwave oven
Dishwasher
The first dishwasher was invented in 19th century thanks to Cochrane - a wealthy woman who always had a lot of guests and thus wanted a machine that could wash dishes faster than servants, and without breaking them.
Ice cream maker
Juicer
Advertisement
Youtube
What home appliance is it?
Popcorn maker
Food dehydrator
Food drying is a method of food preservation widely used since ancient times. While there are a lot of ways to dry food, the easiest one is to use a good old food dehydrator that has been around since 1985.
French press
Kettle
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Food dehydrator
Egg slicer
Toaster oven
Ice cream maker
It's hard to beat the super-creamy texture and unique flavor of the anything-but-boring homemade ice cream made in the old-fashioned ice cream machine.
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Waffle iron
Those who love perfectly looking, crispy-on-the-outside and tender-on-the-inside waffles, always prefer to do them at home. Moreover, there are so many recipes and variations that you'll want to try them all!
Crock pot
Space heater
Vacuum cleaner
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Dishwasher
Freezer
It's interesting that the first artificial refrigeration system was invented as early as in 1748, but was never used for practical purposes. Only almost 50 years later, it was again demonstrated by an inventor Oliver Evans and became a prototype of freezers we use today.
Steam cleaner
Iron
Advertisement
Wiki Commons By Apoltix
What home appliance is it?
Food dehydrator
Toaster oven
Mixer
Microwave oven
It's fair to say that a multifunctional microwave oven is a time-saving addition to any kitchen. But this unique appliance is good not only for reheating leftovers and steaming broccoli. Did you know that you can also make mug cakes, poached eggs or potato chips in your microwave oven as well?
Advertisement
WikiCommons
What home appliance is it?
Slow-cooker
Affordable slow cookers are great for making the most of budget ingredients. The best part? Cooking with a slow cooker requires the minimum amount of effort!
Crock pot
Hair dryer
Blow dryer
Advertisement
Shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Coffee machine
Hair dryer
Did you know that at first the hair dryer wasn't a home appliance at all? In 1888, the first “hair dressing device” was introduced in a French salon, but it didn't look like a modern hair dryer. The first device wasn't fancy either: In a nutshell, it was a bulky, clumsy, seated machine that resembled a vacuum cleaner.
Vegetable peeler
Washing machine
Advertisement
Shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Coffee maker
Coffee grinder
Rice cooker
Air conditioner
If summertime temperatures are not for you, you are just like the majority of Americans who can't imagine their lives without a life-saving air conditioner. Today, more than 75 percent of U.S. homes use air conditioning, while 90 percent of recently built homes are equipped with central air already.
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Toaster
Radiator
Good old radiators are heat exchangers capable of transferring thermal energy from one medium to another, meaning that they can be used for either cooling or heating. They are mostly used in automobiles, buildings and various electronics.
Mini donut factory
Milk frother
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Food dehydrator
The Oven Central
Toaster
Many of us think that toasters are a kitchen staple that can't do much more than, well, a regular toast. Not true! There are so many recipes that involve boring toaster-safe items such as bread, bagels, English muffins and frozen waffles. For example, you can start your toasting revolution with an avocado toast, crostini and even a pizza bagel!
Refrigerator
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Keg fridge
Herb keeper
Paper shredder
In a modern world, one of the most important pieces of equipment for any house to own is, ironically, the one that destroys all of the important documents. Yes, we are talking about bills and all documents with sensitive information that can be potentially stolen.
Fridge
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Mixer grinder
Window fan
The first window fan wasn't fancy or too complicated - basically, its inventor Philip H. Diehl took a sewing-machine motor, mounted a fan blade and attached his bulky invention to the ceiling.
Food dehydrator
Toaster
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Washing machine
The first washing machine was, of course, the scrub board, but things got a lot more complicated after that. A wash board, invented in 1797, was replaced by the first washing machine that used a drum in 1851, while in 1858, the rotary washing machine was patented. However, this machine wasn't convenient or too efficient. The real prototype of the modern washing machine appeared only in 1874 - it was William Blackstone's birthday present for his wife.
Milk frother
Coffee grinder
Pie maker
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Herb keeper
TV
You’d think shopping for a TV would be simple since most of them offer almost the same features, but it's not always the case. Buying a TV today involves too many choices like smart TVs or Ultra HD TVs ... oh, and there’s also a newer TV technology called OLED TV! Marketers predict that Virtual Reality TVs will appear in the nearest future as well.
Somabar
Dryer
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Thermostat
Smoke detector
Humidifier
Did you know that you can also use houseplants as natural humidifiers? Just like popular home appliances, plants increase humidity in a room by evaporating water into the air through transpiration.
Top brewer
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Smart food scale
Robotic vacuum
Toaster
Food steamer
The majority of chefs agree that steaming fresh vegetables instead of frying or baking them produces a tastier, higher-quality and healthier vegetable dish. Moreover, a food steamer can be used for various foods, not only vegetables!
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Food steamer
Oil heater
Coffee grinder
Nicholas Book invented the coffee grinder in 1806, but it took almost 100 years for this invention to appear on the market! Only in 1898, the manufacturing company from Ohio released the first electrical coffee grinder for home use.
Ceiling fan
Advertisement
youtube
What home appliance is it?
Wifi-enabled kettle
Crock pot
Originally, the slow cooker was invented only for cooking cholent - a traditional Jewish stew eaten in eastern Europe on the Sabbath. The first slow cooker was made in 1940, but since then people invented hundreds of healthy recipes that involve this must-have kitchen appliance.
Brewing machine
Coffee grinder
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Curling iron
Curl and wave makers first appeared in the 19th century, but their inventor remains unknown. However, while the curling iron was first patented in 1866, this practice of hairstyling has been dated back to 2000 BC!
Air purifier
Space heater
Egg Master Vertical Grill
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Food processor
A food processor became a must-have kitchen appliance used to simplify the preparation of food, but it can be easily replaced. While most of the recipe calls for a food processor to mince or chop, a mixer or blender can be also used.
Toaster oven
Blender
Air conditioner
Advertisement
WikiCommons
What home appliance is it?
Electric fireplace
Thermostat
Smart lock
Mixer
Surprisingly, mixers were invented not long ago, only in 1908. Its inventor Herbert Johnson got inspired by watching a baker mixing bread dough with a metal spoon. In a few years, huge stand mixers could be found in any bakery; in 1919, they became smaller, more convenient and overall perfect for home use.
Advertisement
Shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Kitchen scale
Pressure cooker
The pressure cooker's first name was Papin's Digester, after its inventor who built a first machine in 1679. Thanks to higher temperatures than any pot can achieve, a pressure cooker reduces cooking time without diminishing vitamin and mineral content of food.
Smart Body Analyzer
Coffee maker
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Sanitizing wand
Sous vide machine
Indoor grill
Fan
In 2018, the electric fan is celebrating its 136th birthday. The home appliance we can't live without nowadays (especially if you are a Florida or Arizona resident) was invented back in 1882.
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Home monitoring system
Stereo system
Home audio systems have undergone numerous technological improvements over the past centuries. From the invention of the phonograph to hi-resolution sound, Spotify, and wireless streaming, home audio systems are changing every few years.
Smart frying pan
Smart light switch
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Bread maker
Speaker
Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, from small ones that enable you to listen to music on your iPhone to those that allow you to enjoy a film at the cinema or sing along in the car.
Gas stove
Stand mixer
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Toaster
Wet grinder
Game console
Many of us remember game consoles fondly; even more people enjoy them today. Whether you are an Xbox or Play Station gamer (or still a huge fan of your old Game Boy), you've probably recognized this irreplaceable gadget.
Microwave oven
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Sandwich maker
Induction cooktop
Mixer grinder
Lawn mower
The first lawn mower was invented in 1830 in England; believe us, it didn't look too fancy. Basically, it was a bulky, heavy machine made of cast iron with a large rear roller and a cutting cylinder in the front.
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Kettle
Mini donut factory
Automatic milk frother
Leaf blower
There is no proof available for finding the real inventor of a leaf blower, but it appeared on the U.S. market in the late '60s. It was invented and first used in the United States. Originally, a leaf blower was an important part of an agricultural chemical sprayer.
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Juicer
Norman Walker, the man who invented the first modern juicer in the 1930s, died when he was 99 years old. No wonder that this huge health trend is still alive - advocates of juicing claim that a cup of fresh juice can cure anything. There is also juice cleansing - a popular “detox” diet that can last from a few days to several weeks.
Mini oven
Coffee grinder
Keg fridge
Advertisement
n/a
What home appliance is it?
Oven
Grill
Water heater
Before its invention, people used to heat water in a pot on the stove or above an open fire. Water heaters significantly simplified our lives and have been around since 1889.
Fridge
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Sewing machine
The first sewing machine was invented in England in the 18th century. It looked a lot like a modern sewing machine; overall, this inention was a huge step for a mankind. Before, people used only sewing needles - the first were made of bone and date back 25,000-30,000 years ago.
Food steamer
Ceiling fan
Air multiplier fan
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Thermostat
Rice cooker
Stove
Kettle
Not surprisingly, the first electric kettle was invented in Britain to quench the thirst of British tea drinkers. Before it appeared in the late 19th century, people were using simple metal kettles for centuries (mostly in Great Britain, of course).
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Sandwich maker
The Tostwich is possibly the first toasted sandwich maker used in the US, invented in 1920 and patented about 5 years later. It was invented by Charles Champion, the same guy who earlier invented a popcorn machine.
Electric fireplace
Personal pie maker
Dishwasher
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Space heater
Portable electronic nose
Electric kettle
Bread maker
The bread makers of the past could only produce strangely shaped loaves after a bit of kneading and heating, but modern bread machines have come a long way since then.
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Thermostat
Air purifier
An air purifier is a big part of an allergy control program, but there are many myths that make them look more useful than they actually are. For example, a lot of people believe that with an air purifier, you'll never have to dust or clean your house again.
Smoke detector
Vacuum cleaner
Advertisement
shutterstock
What home appliance is it?
Food processor
Food steamer
Smart food scale
Air cooler
It all began with the 2nd-century Chinese engineer and inventor Ding Huan, who made a first rotary fan for air conditioning. Fast forward to today, and we have air coolers that come in all shapes in sizes. Not long ago, an inventor from Bangladesh even created a DIY air cooler from discarded plastic bottles!
Advertisement
WikiCommons
What home appliance is it?
Food dehydrator
Indoor grill
While you won't get the same authentic flavor, indoor grills are great for a bad weather. When you just can't get outside to make your favorite food, indoor grills can save the day.
Bread maker
Coffee maker
Advertisement
You Got:
/49
Shutterstock