Everything we use in our everyday lives was once a new invention. The thing is, most of us take certain items for granted and never think about the fascinating history behind them. From can openers to macaroni and cheese, our daily conveniences have origin stories that might come as a surprise to many people. It’s especially fascinating when an invention we take for granted has been around for such a long time. For some reason, certain items seem more modern than they actually are. Join us as we take a look at everyday things we know and use today that are a lot older than we might think. You might be surprised by what you learn!
#1: Canned Food
How old do you think canned food is? Would you be surprised to learn that this convenient invention is over 200 years old? Many people assume that canned food was invented in 1809 when Frenchman Nicolas Appert figured out how to hermetically seal food in glass jars. However, some people think that Appert was doing research as far back as the 1770s.
Appert developed this approach to food preservation as a way to keep food longer for troops. With Appert’s invention, canned and preserved food was born. This invention changed the way we preserve and eat food forever. Interestingly, can openers weren’t invented until the 1850s. Before can openers, soldiers would cut open cans with bayonets or smash them open with rocks.