Isn’t it slightly mad to think about how much kitchens have changed over the decades?
It wasn’t even 50 years ago where microwave ovens were seen as ground-breaking technology, whereas now we have touchscreen toasters!
There’s so much kitchen tech available, it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. So we’ve put together a guide to help you out.
Table of Contents
Kitchen designs
Let’s begin by looking at the layout of your kitchen. You can integrate tech into the physical space of the room.
For instance, you could install sockets inside of your kitchen cupboards. That way you can plug in your appliances, but keep that modern, sleek, look in the room.
Think about charging too. Install USB sockets so you can easily charge your devices too.
Even the colour can make a difference to the space. Grey kitchens have an effortlessly modern look that blends well with tech and will look stylish for years to come.
Plus, of course, you could invest in new appliances with smart features.
Smart gadgets
This is the fun part: choosing gadgets. There are lots of ways you can upgrade your kitchen gadgets.
Smart Fridge
A smart fridge is a high-tech device that functions on a barcode and RFID system. In simpler words, it works by collecting the data of the products, such as the manufacturing details, from the internet. For instance, when you store something inside the fridge, it detects the item and records the expiry date, so you don’t have to check multiple times.
Moreover, it comes with a display where users can check for available items inside without opening the fridge. Besides that, there is also an option for entertainment in which you can choose to play songs through the fridge. Although the speaker isn’t huge, it should be enough to listen to while cooking.
In addition, a smart fridge is equipped with an AI camera that can scan through the fridge to suggest any recipes that you might want to try. Hence, if you often find yourself confused about what meals to cook, you will surely enjoy having this fridge at home.
Smart Toaster
If you love having toast for breakfast, but you constantly have to make do with a burned piece of toast, you will surely enjoy having a smart toaster at home. It uses smart technology to toast bread in a relatively shorter time than standard toasters do. Besides that, it offers a wider space to toast not only the usual bread but also bagels and waffles if you want to.
What makes it special is how you can customise your bread through the touchscreen. Once you have put in your bread, you can pick your preferred bread’s shade and crispness. Then, just wait until the bread pops up once it is ready. In addition, cleaning is also easy because the crumb tray is removable.
For the hard-core toast fan, you can find commercial-grade toasters from an industrial kitchen supply store that will transform the way you make the perfect slice. Whether you’re in a commercial setting or not, the speed and flexibility of these devices make it quicker and easier to make toast for you or your whole family.
You can get smart washing machines, fridges, ovens and all sorts nowadays. And of course you might already be familiar with smart lightbulbs, heating and hot water which all play a part in the kitchen too.
Personal preference
While it can be tempting to buy something for a novelty factor, it’s important to pick items that you will actually use. If you find an appliance you like the sound of, ask yourself how often would you use it in a week and is the price worth it?
It’s your kitchen, so you’ll know which gadgets will slot into your day-to-day life. Pick items that have the most benefits for you.
Home coffee bar
Coffee culture has taken over at a phenomenal speed, and with it has come so many new ways to drink coffee or buy coffee. Many people have invested in elaborate coffee machines for their homes, with some adding fancy crockery to match it.
Coffee culture has taken over at a phenomenal speed, and with it has come so many new ways to drink coffee or buy coffee. Many people (especially during the pandemic – sales of coffee machines increased by 412% as England went into a second lockdown) have invested in elaborate coffee machines for their homes, with some adding fancy crockery to match it.
Why not add a coffee bar to your living room for a twist on the entertainment area?
You could add a simple shelf or two for the machine and cups and throw in some fun coffee and tea jars to make the room look more homely.
Try hanging a picture or two above the space to fill it up and make it feel like you are in an actual coffee shop. A plant or two will give the area some warmth and a bit of colour as well.
Sustainability
When you start looking for new kitchen gadgets, you’ll notice that a lot of them revolve around sustainability. They can make your life easier, and be more energy-efficient. When you’re investing in new tech for your kitchen, make sure to check that it’s eco-friendly. You can check their energy rating, or ask for help during your purchase.
Future tech
It’s incredible to see what kitchen technology is now capable of doing. It begs the questions: what will kitchen tech look like in the future?
As technology advances, it’s expected to be commonplace to have a central tablet that responds to voice commands. You’ll be able to control timers, temperature, and appliances just by speaking.
Kitchens are going to get smarter, sleeker, and will be designed to make the cooking experience as easy as possible.
It’s exciting to think of what gadgets our kitchens will have in the future. In the meantime, you can focus on what’s already available to help make your kitchen work for you.
What would your dream tech kitchen look like?