I've used my modern dishwasher to raise dough, but man... those old energy using 1970s dishwashers could do all sorts of things including cooking salmon! Seriously, fillets wrapped in tin foil flat on the top rack with a heat dry cycle.
For another appliance, you ever try one of the cool rise refrigerator dough? They are great for when you have company and want to make something semi-impressive for breakfast. But they are one of those things that is best eaten fresh, gets sad fast.
Maybe should mention that during the 70s my mom taught Home Ec including one called "bachelor's arts" for the guys... one of her good friends worked for the Gas Company doing cooking with gas demonstrations, she was a fantastic fascinating lady! Probably would have a show on the Cooking Channel these days, but back in Alaska in the 1970s she brightened a lot of people's days.
edit: Here's one recipe
https://www.bhg.com/recipe/overnight...gerator-rolls/
I made them like cinnamon rolls but more like the Czech fillings from my father's side, prunes or dates and nuts and things chopped up, so a fusion of my modern stuff with the old stuff.