18 Appliances That Changed How New Yorkers Cooked Forever

New York kitchens have always been a mix of old and new. But some inventions have stood out as game-changers.

Whether it was a tool that saved time, preserved food, or made baking easier, certain appliances rewrote the rules of home cooking.

These machines made once-difficult meals accessible to the average home cook.

The Microwave Oven

When the microwave hit American kitchens in the 1970s and ’80s, it felt like a miracle. It let people heat food in seconds instead of minutes or hours.

Families no longer had to wait for the oven to preheat or reheat leftovers on the stove. Dinner could be ready in a flash.

It also changed the food industry. Microwave-safe meals, popcorn bags, and frozen dinners became household staples.

Today, it’s hard to imagine a kitchen without one, even if it’s just used to warm up co

The Refrigerator

Before the refrigerator, people relied on iceboxes and daily trips to the market. Keeping food fresh for more than a day or two was tough.

With the introduction of home refrigeration in the early 20th century, everything changed. Perishables could last longer, and shopping trips could be less frequent.

This allowed for meal planning, food storage, and leftovers, all things we take for granted now.

It’s one of the most important appliances in any kitchen, and one of the earliest to completely change cooking habits.

The Electric Mixer

The invention of the electric stand mixer gave home cooks a huge break. Tasks that once took muscle and time, like kneading dough or whipping cream, became effortless.

The most famous example is the KitchenAid, which started showing up in home kitchens in the 1920s and became a favorite by the ’50s.

It allowed people to experiment with baking, make larger batches, and try more complicated recipes.

Even today, a good mixer is a must-have for serious bakers and weekend cookie-makers alike.

The Slow Cooker

Crock-Pots became a kitchen staple in the 1970s. They were especially popular with busy parents who wanted a hot meal ready after work.

With a slow cooker, people could throw in ingredients in the morning and come home to dinner already done.

It helped make home-cooked meals more accessible, even during hectic weekdays.

Many still use them for soups, stews, and pulled meats, proof that this simple appliance had lasting power.

The Dishwasher

Washing dishes by hand used to take up a lot of time and energy, especially in larger families. Boomers and earlier generations remember drying racks and wrinkled hands after dinner.

The arrival of home dishwashers in the 1950s and ’60s helped free up that time and made kitchen cleanup less of a chore.

As models became more affordable and efficient, they became a standard part of most kitchens.

It changed how people cooked, too; suddenly, using more dishes didn’t feel like such a hassle.

The Toaster

It may seem basic today, but the toaster revolutionized breakfast. Before it came along, people toasted bread manually over a flame or in a pan.

The first pop-up toasters were introduced in the 1920s, and by the mid-century, they were in kitchens across the country.

It wasn’t just about convenience; it standardized breakfast routines and made quick meals easier for busy mornings.

Even now, the toaster remains a symbol of everyday efficiency in the kitchen.

The Food Processor

The food processor gave home cooks the power of a professional prep kitchen. It chopped, blended, sliced, and shredded at lightning speed.

When it hit the market in the 1970s, it quickly became a favorite for those who loved cooking but not the prep work.

It helped popularize more complex recipes and international cuisines that required fine chopping or dough mixing.

Many cooks still rely on it for everything from coleslaw to pie crust.

The Pressure Cooker (and Instant Pot)

Traditional pressure cookers have been around for decades, but the modern versions, especially the Instant Pot, completely changed home cooking.

They allow meals that used to take hours to be made in a fraction of the time, and they can handle everything from stews to yogurt.

The Instant Pot became a hit with working families and anyone looking to save time in the kitchen.

It’s a newer appliance, but its impact has already earned it a place in cooking history.

The Standalone Freezer

When upright and chest freezers became more common in homes, everything changed. Suddenly, people could store large quantities of food without worrying about it going bad.

This meant stocking up during sales, freezing leftovers, and preserving homemade meals. It became a tool for saving both time and money.

Boomers in rural areas especially valued them, often filling them with garden produce, meat, and baked goods.

Freezers expanded how Americans cooked by giving them long-term storage that used to only be possible with canning or drying.

The Coffee Maker

For decades, making coffee required boiling water and using a percolator or stovetop pot. It was a slower, hands-on process.

Automatic drip coffee makers made their way into homes in the 1970s and quickly became a staple of the American morning routine.

They made it easy to brew a full pot before work, and some models even came with timers to start before you woke up.

This appliance helped turn coffee into a daily habit, shaping breakfast routines everywhere.

The Blender

The blender first became popular in the 1930s, but it really took off in the post-war era when home kitchens were booming.

It opened the door to new textures and recipes, smoothies, milkshakes, sauces, and soups all became easier to make.

Later models added more power and durability, making them even more versatile.

Blenders helped bridge the gap between home cooking and restaurant-style meals.

The Air Fryer

One of the newest additions to modern kitchens, the air fryer has already made a big impact. It gives food a crispy texture with very little oil.

It became especially popular among younger cooks looking for faster, healthier ways to prepare fried-style meals.

Its speed and simplicity have earned it a place next to more traditional tools like the oven or toaster.

While boomers didn’t grow up with it, many have added it to their kitchens because of how easy it makes dinner prep.

The Electric Range

Before electric stoves, cooking was done over wood, coal, or gas flames. It required more attention and came with added risks.

The electric range brought steady heat, cleaner kitchens, and fewer fire hazards. It also meant more control over cooking temperatures.

As more homes were built with electric hookups, this appliance became a practical upgrade.

It helped make cooking safer, more predictable, and more accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.

The Bread Machine

When bread machines became popular in the 1990s, they gave home bakers an easy way to make fresh loaves without kneading or timing.

It was a game-changer for people who wanted homemade bread but didn’t have the time or skill to do it the traditional way.

Just pour in the ingredients, press a button, and wait for the smell of fresh bread to fill the house.

While not as common today, the bread machine changed how people thought about home baking.

The Electric Can Opener

It might seem like a small invention, but the electric can opener made a real difference in kitchen convenience, especially for those with limited strength or dexterity.

Opening canned goods used to be a messy and sometimes difficult task. This appliance made it smooth and hands-free.

It was especially useful in the ’60s and ’70s, when canned foods were a major part of everyday meals.

Even though manual openers still exist, the electric version helped streamline prep work for millions of households.

The Rice Cooker

In many parts of the world, the rice cooker was already essential. But in the U.S., it didn’t become widespread until the late 20th century.

Before that, making rice meant boiling water on the stove and hoping it didn’t burn or turn mushy.

The rice cooker made the process foolproof. It allowed families to add rice to their meals more often, without the guesswork.

For anyone cooking large meals or planning ahead, this appliance quietly became a kitchen MVP.

The Ice Maker

Not long ago, making ice meant filling trays by hand and waiting hours for them to freeze. It was a slow and often messy part of kitchen life.

When refrigerators with built-in ice makers became common, they took the hassle out of cold drinks and entertaining.

Suddenly, people didn’t need to plan ahead or buy bags of ice for gatherings. A steady supply was always on hand.

It’s a small feature, but it made everyday life more convenient and changed how people served food and drinks at home.

The Electric Griddle

Electric griddles gave home cooks a larger, more even cooking surface than a regular stovetop pan. They were especially popular for big breakfasts.

Pancakes, bacon, grilled cheese, and quesadillas could all be made quickly and in batches, which made them perfect for families.