As new tech hits the market that lets you interconnect different aspects of your home, you may find yourself thinking about ways you can use technology to modernize your kitchen. New gadgets make shopping, cooking, and cleaning easier. Although some kitchen tech is pricey, some options can ease your daily life without breaking the bank.
In this article, we’ll cover everything from large appliances to small gadgets to help you find the perfect kitchen tech to fit your lifestyle.
For just about every type of appliance out there, there’s a “smart” version that can connect to Wi-Fi, respond to voice controls, and sync with your smartphone. Smart microwaves, stoves, ovens, and dishwashers often come with touch screen interfaces and a number of time-saving features.
Most of them can also pair with smart home devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Smart appliances are often available as a full smart home system that links appliances, lighting, AI assistants, and more.
Smart microwaves, stoves, and ovens let you set timers from your phone or by using your voice. You can even control temperature and cook times with paired apps.
Smart dishwashers usually feature child-safe auto-locking abilities. If you’re lying awake at night because you can’t remember whether you locked your dishwasher and started the cycle, you can check from your phone – anywhere, anytime.
Smart appliances will never let you forget the tea you warmed up in the microwave or the roast that’s baking in the oven. When your food is finished cooking, the appliances ping your phone so that you know exactly when to take it out.
Perhaps the most famous of smart appliances, smart fridges, come packed with useful features. First, you can use their large touch screens to watch TV while you cook. If you have young children, they can entertain themselves with games on the fridge screen so that they aren’t dangerously underfoot. If you link your fridge with an AI assistant, it can work as a smart hub for kitchen lights, dimmable windows, music, and other auxiliary features.
Some smart fridges feature cameras that let you look into your fridge without opening it, which helps reduce your energy consumption. You can even layer text over the camera feed, which is useful for keeping track of food expiration dates. A smart fridge will pair with your phone so you can access these pictures and expiration dates from anywhere, including the grocery store. If you’re standing in the aisle staring into space because you know there’s something you forgot, simply take a peek at your fridge app!
Smart fridges also link with retailers, like Amazon and some grocery stores, to order your food automatically as it runs out. You can manually repurchase items when you notice that you’re low, or you can schedule automatic recurring purchases for staple items.
Some smart appliances are a significant financial investment, so some homeowners hesitate to buy something they aren’t sure they’ll use much. Luckily, there are several ways to incorporate tech into your kitchen on a budget.
If you want easy reordering but don’t have the budget for a smart fridge, don’t fret! There are other ways to order groceries right from your kitchen – and right when you need them. Food ordering buttons stick to your fridge or the foods inside, keeping track of when an item expires or runs low. The buttons connect to apps that alert you when it’s time to repurchase an item. Some of them can also automatically reorder food on a predetermined schedule.
A really simple but useful type of kitchen tech is a smart kettle that you control with an app. Next time you’re driving home from a stressful day at the office, turn your kettle on when you’re a few blocks from home. You’ll have boiling water ready to brew a cup of calming chamomile tea as soon as you walk in the door.
You can also use the app to create a schedule so that your water is boiling as soon as you wake each morning. Smart kettles are more energy-efficient than traditional models, so they can save you several hours of boiling over the course of a year.
Smart food scales help you weigh food and convert measurements. Simply place your food on a touchless scale and pull up the measurements on your phone. These scales are really helpful for avid bakers, precise cooks, and people who are counting calories.
Those who fear undercooking or overcooking their meat will appreciate the accuracy of a smart thermometer. These gadgets read and predict food temperatures. They can even estimate cook times and the optimal temperature you should set on the oven or grill.
Hidden tech can make a big difference in your kitchen’s environment and utility. Often, the following devices can pair with the larger smart appliances listed above.
Smart lights and windows dim and brighten at will. Smart windows contain a customizable tint that you can control with your phone. Smart lights work the same way, and both connect to smart fridges and other smart home devices.
Hidden water sensors sit under your appliances and ping your phone if they detect a water leak, which dramatically reduces potential water damage. You can use the sensors beneath sinks, your dishwasher, or even your water heater. Bonus: you may be able to get a discount on your homeowner’s insurance when you install these.
Smart water filters eliminate harmful toxins and residue from your drinking water. They tend to work better than traditional carbon filters, so they’re great for people with allergies and other sensitivities. Depending on where you get your water, you can install a filter in the fridge or sink.
Whether you’re adding tech on a budget or have the ability to overhaul your entire kitchen, there are numerous ways to “smarten up” your kitchen.
Want to discuss which smart products are best for your space or how they might look in your kitchen? Schedule a free design meeting with our team to brainstorm ideas together.