Four domestic appliances that disappeared and came back

The latest fashion for healthy eating is leading many people to bring domestic appliances back their kitchens that disappeared from our homes years ago. We are talking about classic yoghurt makers, electric coffee grinders, blenders and kettles.

We will explain what you need to know about these appliances that were so common in the kitchens of our grandparents: Their origin, functions and their consumption.

Yoghurt maker

Yoghurt is a healthy food par excellence. However, in recent years, there have been doubts about this because of the amount of added sugars that some products contain. That is why there are those who prefer to make their own yoghurt at home. And then there are dietary restrictions with regard to certain types of milk that make yoghurt makers useful because the correct ingredients can be used that do not cause allergies or intolerance.

This is why the classic yoghurt makers of the 70s and 80s have returned to the market. Even large supermarkets occasionally put their own low-cost model on sale, and it is usually sold out within a few hours of going on sale.

A yoghurt maker is simply a platform that which enables you to place glass jars inside, which you then fill with at least milk and ferment (according to the recipe). The yogurt maker is closed and applies a certain amount of heat constantly for the time necessary for the bacteria to ferment the milk.

The temperature varies between 20ºC and 55ºC, depending on the fermentation process that is selected to make yoghurt. Some models have a temperature selector.

Each device has a different capacity: There are yoghurt makers with room for 6 jars and others for up to 10.

Yoghurt makers usually have a timer so you can programme how the operation lasts. Yoghurt usually takes between 8 and 12 hours to ferment, depending on the temperature, volume of yoghurt, and the recipe.

We will take a yoghurt maker for 1.25 litres of yoghurt as an example. With a power of 18W it would need to be on for 8 hours to ferment one batch of yogurt. This would use 114W of electricity.

Electric coffee grinder

It is also the fashion to make the best coffee at home. Many people now have prestigious espresso machines or Italian-type coffee makers to make extraordinary coffee at home. There are even those who prefer what has been a fashionable procedure for years, cold brew, which uses what is called a French press. It is becoming popular for the type of coffee to be selected more carefully, the origin, etc, in order to maximise the flavour and the aroma. In order to enhance these aspects, experts recommend making coffee from freshly ground beans. This is precisely why electric grinders have returned to our kitchens.

Grinders produce different types of ground coffee, depending on the speed and power of the blades. There is usually a regulator for this. This function enables you to graduate the grind size to make it ideal for the technique you are going to use and for your preferences when drinking coffee. Another fact to take into account is that coffee beans are delicate. They usually lose some of their properties after grinding.

The electric grinder saves the manual labour involved the old grinders and produces freshly ground coffee in just a few seconds. They are easy to clean, take up hardly any space and can be moved easily.

As well as coffee, some models can grind spices and nuts.

To calculate consumption, we will take a grinder with capacity for 75 grams of coffee, with 180W of power. If you grind coffee once a day for a week and it takes 2 minutes, you will use it for a total of 14 minutes.

Blenders

In the 70s blenders used to be used to make exotic juices, but they have now become a common appliance in many homes. This appliance can be used to make fruit juices, smoothies, milkshakes and all kinds of drinks.

People are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of a healthy diet together with physical exercise, and smoothies and milkshakes are an essential part of that diet. They can also be used to prepare cold soups such as gazpacho, chilled garlic and almond soup and purées.

In recent times, blenders with a horizontal extractor have become popular and are used to chop fibrous vegetables like spinach and celery. They usually have an adjustable pulp regulator, which avoids leaving lumps. This type of blenders can also be used to make doughs for pasta and bread. They are easy to clean. But they are slow compared to vertical models.

There are blenders with different powers and capacities. The greater the capacity, the higher the power recommended. A blender with a jar holding 1 litre and with 600W of power, would need an average of 3 minutes to make a juice. If you make one juice a day, you would use it for 21 minutes a week.

Kettle

Water heaters known as kettles are very popular in countries where people make a lot of infusions. There are many different models: There are some that are plugged in directly, while others consist of a jug that sits on a base that is plugged in.

They work through resistors that heat the water. They are made of stainless steel or glass and have different capacities. They usually have an on and off mode: Once the water reaches the boiling point, they usually turn off automatically. This functionality means you avoid using extra energy after the water has boiled and it also minimises risk.

The main advantages are that it is quick (you can prepare an infusion in just 3 minutes) and the small size (it can be easily stored). Depending on how much it holds, it will need more power or take longer to boil the water.

As an example we will take a 1.7 litre kettle with 2,400W of power. If you use it once a day for 3 minutes over the course of a week, this will mean a total use of 21 minutes.

What is their total weekly consumption?

The total weekly consumption for these four domestic appliances is calculated as follows:

Always remember, when choosing your appliance, the importance of the energy efficiency label. If you choose those with the highest rating, you will not only be contributing to sustainability, but you will also save energy.