Inventors in the Kitchen Trivia Quiz

The modern kitchen would be a very different place if not for these inventors and their inventions.

A multiple-choice quiz by jcpetersen. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jcpetersen

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
324,235

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
1698

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. You've probably never heard the expression, "the greatest inventor since Otto Rohwedder," but you should have, since he was behind the invention of what convenient food item? Hint

canned food

seedless watermelon

sliced bread

squeezable ketchup bottle

NEXT>

2. Charles Strite didn't like the burnt toast served at the employee cafeteria, so he did something about it. What did he invent? Hint

whistling tea kettle

kitchen timer

pop-up toaster

waffle iron

NEXT>

3. Milk shakes wouldn't be possible without a device Stephen Poplawski invented in 1922. What is this invention? Hint

electric blender

milk pasteurizer

whipped cream in a pressurized can

freezer

NEXT>

4. In 1858, Ezra Warner patented a device with a large curved blade and a bent shaft. What was it used for?

Hint

slicing bread

opening cans

cutting grapefruit

peeling bananas

NEXT>

5. Some inventions happen by accident, which is what happened to Percy Spencer when he found a candy bar melted in his pocket. What invention did this lead to? Hint

microwave oven

easy bake oven

candy coated chocolates

insulated lunch box

NEXT>

6. Watching a cook mix dough was the inspiration behind Herbert Johnson inventing what device in 1908? Hint

rolling pin

waffle iron

electric blender

standing mixer

NEXT>

7. Professor Doctor Carl van Linde was one cool character. He was the first to patent and produce a practical what? Hint

mechanical dishwasher

microwave oven

refrigerator

electric blender

NEXT>

8. Josephine Cochran was a frustrated socialite. She loved hosting dinner parties, but not cleaning up after them - so what did she invent? Hint

vacuum cleaner

paper plates

mechanical dishwasher

rubber gloves

9. A DuPont chemist named Earl Tupper turned inflexible polyethylene slag leftovers into something that could be used to store kitchen leftovers. He received a 1945 patent for what invention? Hint

aluminum foil

tupperware

the "doggie bag"

zip-lok bags

NEXT>

10. It's not essential in making ice cream sundaes, but it sure helps. What did Alfred Cralle invent in 1897? Hint

waffle maker

whipped cream in a pressurized can

ice cream scoop

ice cream cone

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. You've probably never heard the expression, "the greatest inventor since Otto Rohwedder," but you should have, since he was behind the invention of what convenient food item?

Answer: sliced bread

Packages of mechanically pre-sliced bread were first sold on July 7, 1928 after Otto Rohwedder patented the first mechanical bread slicer.

2. Charles Strite didn't like the burnt toast served at the employee cafeteria, so he did something about it. What did he invent?

Answer: pop-up toaster

Strite received a patent for his invention in 1921. By adding springs and a timer to a toaster, the inattentive kitchen staff no longer burned toast.

3. Milk shakes wouldn't be possible without a device Stephen Poplawski invented in 1922. What is this invention?

Answer: electric blender

Ten years later, in 1932, Poplawski received another patent for improving his blender to liquefy fruits and vegetables.

4. In 1858, Ezra Warner patented a device with a large curved blade and a bent shaft. What was it used for?

Answer: opening cans

This first can opener was not very convenient, as it was too dangerous to even leave the grocery store - a clerk had to open the cans when you bought them.

It was an improvement, however. Previously, cans were opened using a hammer and chisel.

5. Some inventions happen by accident, which is what happened to Percy Spencer when he found a candy bar melted in his pocket. What invention did this lead to?

Answer: microwave oven

Spencer was an orphan who never graduated grammar school, but was an engineer at the Raytheon Company making magnetrons, a key component of radar systems. Spencer engineered a process to improve production from 17 magnetrons per day to 2,600 per day.

In 1945, Spencer was awarded the patent for the microwave oven.

6. Watching a cook mix dough was the inspiration behind Herbert Johnson inventing what device in 1908?

Answer: standing mixer

Johnson was an engineer for the Hobart Manufacturing Company, which became KitchenAid in 1919. That same year they started selling a home mixer (previously they made large capacity mixers for professional use).

7. Professor Doctor Carl van Linde was one cool character. He was the first to patent and produce a practical what?

Answer: refrigerator

Van Linde's research into practical refrigeration first benefited the brewing industry and eventually led to the liquification/purification of gases.

8. Josephine Cochran was a frustrated socialite. She loved hosting dinner parties, but not cleaning up after them - so what did she invent?

Answer: mechanical dishwasher

Cochran did not invent the dishwasher to save herself any work; she had servants to do the dishes. Unfortunately those servants ended up chipping and breaking the dishes. Cochran invented her dishwasher to get the dishes clean faster and without damaging them.

Cochran debuted her dishwashing machine to the public at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, but only businesses with a large amount of dishes (i.e. hotels, restaurants) were interested.

9. A DuPont chemist named Earl Tupper turned inflexible polyethylene slag leftovers into something that could be used to store kitchen leftovers. He received a 1945 patent for what invention?

Answer: tupperware

In 1958, Tupper sold his company for $16 million, divorced his wife, and bought a private island.

10. It's not essential in making ice cream sundaes, but it sure helps. What did Alfred Cralle invent in 1897?

Answer: ice cream scoop

Originally called the "Ice Cream Mold and Disher", Cralle's device could be operated with one hand, using a mechanical lever to release the ice cream.

Source: Author jcpetersen

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