George Marx/GettyThe years since WWII have brought rapid and dramatic changes in the American culinary landscape, both for the better and for the worse. During that time a seemingly endless stream of modern gadgets has paraded through our kitchens, but Gourmet credits these 20 inventions with creating the most lasting impact on home cooking.

Click on the gallery for all 20 inventions.
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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Nonstick Coating
Discovered in 1938, Teflon was the original nonstick coating. Gaining FDA approval for food-processing equipment in 1960, the substance came onto the scene right around the time that the medical community began touting the low-fat diet.

Get Gourmet's recipe for Cornflake Fried Chicken.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Air Conditioning
While outdoor barbecues and oven-free indoor cooking are still beloved summer pastimes, it's unimaginable to bake a cake in August (or Christmas cookies in Florida) without air conditioning.

Get Gourmet's recipes for cookies.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Mechanical Timer
If you've ever played a board game that's timed by an hourglass, you can probably imagine how difficult it would be to use one of those timers to cook a roast or boil an egg.

Get Gourmet's recipe for Chuck Roast.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Chimney Starter
The smell of charcoal lighter fluid may be synonymous with summer, but the taste is another story-if you aren't wild about it, a chimney starter is a must.

Find out how to Save on Steak from Gourmet.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Plastic Wrap
From separating cake layers to forming hamburger patties to (horrors) cooking chicken sous vide, plastic wrap is used for countless projects in the kitchen.

Get Gourmet's favorite burger recipes.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Television
Julia Child and her incredibly successful, long-running series The French Chef (launched in 1963) revolutionized the way we cooked.

Gourmet on Julia Child.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Vacuum Sealers
Vacuum sealers, though newish on the cooking scene, promise to change the way we shop, cook, and store our food. By sucking the air out of plastic bags, sealers prevent freezer burn.

Gourmet recipe's for Freezer Friendly Favorites.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Dishwasher
Thanks to the dishwasher, even busy people can cook like chefs: Use as many bowls as you like for mise en place, serve a crowd of guests, and don't bat an eyelash over the cleanup.

Gourmet prep tips from the Gourmet Test Kitchen.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Silpat
This silicone mat fits into the bottom of a baking sheet and helps foods brown evenly without sticking; thinner, more delicate types of pastry are easy to slip off the sheet without breaking, so home cooks can successfully tackle advanced recipes like tuiles and petits fours.

Get Gourmet's recipe for Peanut Tuiles.

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20 Tools and Technologies

from Gourmet
Refrigerator
While the first home refrigerators debuted in the 1910s, mass production didn't begin in earnest until the Depression; fridge ownership nearly doubled during the WWII years, reaching 85 percent of American households by 1944. Today it's at 99.9 percent.

Get Gourmet's tips on using refrigerator leftovers.

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20 Tools and Technologies