The Way Kitchens Work: The Science Behind the Microwave, Teflon Pan, Garbage Disposal, and More

by Ed Sobey

If you’ve ever wondered how a microwave heats food, or why aluminum foil is shiny on one side and dull on the other, or whether it is better to use cold or hot water in a garbage disposal, you should read The Way Kitchens Work. Modern kitchens are hi-tech marvels, with more machinery than any other room in the house. Each of the 50+ entries includes its history, interesting trivia, and a discussion of the technology involved.

            Readers will also enjoy reviewing the utensils’ and appliances’ original patent blueprints, as well as photos of the “guts” of these culinary tools. The author even includes odd side stories, such as how the waffle iron played a role in the founding of Nike, how you can reset a turkey timer, and why socialite Josephine Cochran really invented the dishwasher in 1886--it wasn’t because she wanted to ease the burden of her servants, but because she wanted a device that would avoid the unsightly chips associated with hand washing.

            And finally, for those whose stovetop skills are still in development, Sobey provides information on the invention and use of the smoke detector and hand-held fire extinguisher.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Ed is curious - he wants to see the world and understand how it works. So he travels (a lot) and takes things apart. And, he enjoys putting things together from building robots to writing books.

As a math and physics major, Ed likes numbers. He's traveled to 61 countries on all 7 continents. He has directed 5 museums (including the National Inventors Hall of Fame and founding the National Toy Hall of Fame) and written more than two dozen books.

He holds a Ph.D. in oceanography and has participated in 20 some expeditions, including doing research on sea ice in Antarctica. With his wife, he has sailed across the Pacific Ocean and has done a circumnavigation teaching oceanography for Semester at Sea. Ed is a Fellow Emeritus in The Explorers Club.

An avid outdoors person, Ed runs, bikes, swims, kayaks, and SCUBA dives. Along the way he searches for the unusual gizmo to take apart - or at least figure out how it works.

Reviews

[Hakan Bulut]

thkdddsss

[Sebah Al-Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب حلو و ممتع لمن لهو هوس -مثلي- بتفكيك الأشياء و معرفة أسرارها. تناول ما قد يخطر على بالك من الآلات / الأداوت المستخدمة في المطبخ و شرح طريقة "اختراعها" و آلية عملها من الداخل و الخارج. وجدت متعة كبيرة في قراءة الكتاب.

كم تمنيت أثناء قراءته لو أن بيدي صندوق معدات لأفكك كل ما لدي في المطبخ و أفهمه أكثر!؛

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مما تعلمته:

علميا، الجانب المشع من الألمنيوم يجب أن يكون من الخارج لأنه يشع المزيد من الحرارة، لكن عمليا لا يوجد فرق كبير بينهما.

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طريقة عمل (قلاية) التي تعمل بآلية:
deep fry
عجيبة

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الطريقة الأفضل لغسل/تنظيف السكاكين هي أن لا يوضعوا في الجلاية لأنها (تدمرهم) لأنه الحرارة في الداخل تخفف من قوة الستيل و تخفف من حدة السكاكين من خلال الطرق بالمعالق و الأشياء الأخرى.

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مسمار التركي (للتوقيت) ممتعة آلية عمله.. و هو صالح للاستخدام مرة بعد مرة. :) ؛

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this would be very informative and entertaining but in fact it was a complete yawn. I don't think Mr. Sobey had any passionate interest in writing this book. He didn't seem fascinated with the material. It just seemed like a book that had been written because it might be possible to make some money selling it because schnooks like me would think it might be interesting and take a chance on buying it. Well I bought it. And I'm recommending that others not bother.

[Shila Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It would be great for the child who always has questions about how things work. It gives a pretty simplified but accurate description of how kitchen appliances work.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably great for kids & the mechanically inept. :)