Hoosier Cabinet
Hoosier cabinets are so named because they were first made exclusively in the Hoosier state of Indiana. Many homes in the United States had a Hoosier cabinet in the early 1900s. Popular among the people because of the various utilities, this kitchen work unit had many special features.
Features of the Hoosier Cabinet
A traditional Hoosier kitchen cabinet was made of oak wood. It had features such as flour bins, sugar bins, tin bread drawers, spice jars and even porcelain pullout work areas. The flour bins even had sifters attached for making the cabinet more practical. Spice racks were also provided for. Additional counter space for preparing a meal or rolling out dough is also provided in the form of porcelain top pullouts. All in all, the Hoosier cabinet made the kitchen cabinet an efficient piece of furniture where most of the kitchen chores could be easily carried out.
Modern Hoosier cabinets
Modern day Hoosier cabinets are available in oak wood and with oak wood panels. Sliding shelves that can be adjusted according to the workspace needed and the drawers have smooth-rolling slides enabling high ease of use. The tin flour bin and the tin sugar bin can also be dismantled in case it is not needed in the modern kitchen. Contemporary Hoosier cabinets do not have a flour bin or sugar bin, as they are considered cumbersome for cleaning purposes. Some cabinets also do not have separate spice racks. The baking center which had the flour bin, the sugar bin and the spice racks has been entirely done away with owing to modern day kitchen requirements. Cherry or Hickory is also used instead of oak for manufacturing Hoosier cabinets.
Hoosier cabinets for the ultimate kitchens
When Hoosier cabinets were introduced for the first time in the United States, they brought about a revolution of sorts for thousands of cooks all over the country. This was because; the Hoosier cabinet had all the essentials in one place and for the first time one could get everything within reach all at one place. Custom-built according to the demands of the modern kitchen, Hoosier cabinets still provide the home chef an easy workspace within the kitchen.