The Kenyan Settlers’ Guide: Now we’re cooking!
How revolutionary the electric stove must have seemed.
AFTER years of slaving over a wood-burning oven, what a boon the newfangled electric stove must have been for early 20th century Kenyan housewives.
In fact, the Kenya Settlers Cookery Book and Household Guide gives detailed information on how best to use this revolutionary new appliance.
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The use of heavy saucepans with ‘ground flat bases’ was advised but the guide pointed out that specially shaped pans were available to allow the housewife to have two or three pots simmering on just one plate. I wonder how many readers remember their mothers using those triangular shaped pots?
The housewife was urged to save electricity by switching off the plate about ten minutes before cooking was completed as the plate would stay hot for about that time.
When cooking in the oven it would be unnecessary to baste meat as only a small amount of evaporation would occur. I suppose this was in contrast with the old, furnace like wood burners?
Alas the hot plates on the new electric stove would not be suitable for heating non-electric irons, so the housewife would need to buy a smart new electric iron.
It was a good idea to save electricity by acquire yet another modern appliance, an electric kettle (wow!) to boil small amounts of water.
Here is how housewives were instructed to use their ovens:
“Arrange oven shelves according to the type of food to be cooked. Switch on full heat. Leave on full heat until the required temperature is obtained. Place food in oven and turn switch to low position for cooking. Watch the thermometer and clock and do not open the oven door frequently. Turn the oven off for the last 20 to 30 minutes.”
I think our modern electric stoves have come a long, long way since those days. I wonder what the Kenyan housewives would have thought of microwave and convection ovens.
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