Home technology is evolving rapidly and if there is one place in your home where you want to take advantage of that, it is in your kitchen. The appliances that are available today are amazing, offering a wonderful opportunity to save money and time. The modern kitchen has also become a popular entertainment hub in the home, often branching out to other living spaces using open floor plans, so having the latest “tech” can also make your home the envy of all your neighbors.
Smart Appliances
When you no longer have to open the fridge to see inside of it, you know things are starting to get high-tech. A feature as simple as this can save you significant money over the course of the year. Or how about your fridge recommending a recipe based on what is inside of it? A coffee maker that has your coffee ready to go when you first wake up, or a dishwasher that can notify you when detergent is running low. These are just a few of the amazing features that smart appliances offer today.
Seamless Connectivity
Two game changers when it comes to appliances are AI and IoT. Your kitchen appliances can now talk to each other to make your home more effective in terms of energy use and overall safer due to certain commands. Going back to the coffee maker… what if the coffee machine is triggered by you turning off your morning alarm? In terms of safety, the stove can talk to your exhaust system to adjust the fan speed when needed.
Interactive Countertops
The evolution of the countertop has been something to behold over the last decade or so. Some have integrated charging stations for your devices. Or how about a countertop that offers a screen where you can follow along with a recipe rather than having an extra device or a piece of paper with 10 years’ worth of gravy stains on it?
Personalized Assistants
If there is one thing that I abuse in my house, it is the Alexa personal assistant feature. I constantly yell out commands to remind me of meetings and due dates, but I also use it frequently when cooking. Alexa tells me when something is ready to come out as well as helping me with recipes when I get stuck on certain ingredients… and it is all hands-free.
Eco-friendly
This is a game changer in terms of excess waste being eliminated. For instance, I can tell my smart faucet to dispense the exact amount of water when cooking. My favorite feature, however, is the fridge that alerts me when certain food items are going to waste. You know that pint of blackberries you stuff in the back of the refrigerator and forget about? Well, now you won’t have to worry about discovering them with that nasty white fur all over them a month later.
Ambiance
Another great feature I love is voice-activated mood lighting and music in the kitchen. It may sound simple, but how often have you accidentally turned on the lights with fingers coated with olive oil or sauce?
If there is one area of the home where you invest heavily in smart equipment, the kitchen would be my first option. I cannot even begin to tell you how much money we have saved over the years with our smart fridge alone.