How to build a smart kitchen

Planning a kitchen remodel or renovation is a big step. In addition to considering what material to use for new counters and cabinet colors, it’s also a good time to think about what technology you want in your kitchen. A renovation is the perfect time to build a smart kitchen with all the connected technology you’ve always wanted. Interested? Here’s what to consider and why.

Think about what you cook in the kitchen

Smart technology works best when applied to something you already do every day. Before you look at appliances (and they don’t all have to be from the same brand), think about how you use your kitchen. What kind of dishes do you cook most often? Do you use the hob, the oven for baking or the microwave most often? Are you more of a slow cooker chef? If you consider these things now, you can make the right decisions later. Once you know what you consume the most, use that information to determine your budget and how you’ll spend it. Then we can move on to the fun stuff!

Choose a smart home platform that you like

You might also want to look at the apps offered by major kitchen brands like LG, Samsung, and others to see if there’s a specific app design or compatibility feature that you want. For example, you might want to make sure your devices work with a specific voice assistant like Alexa. We also recommend buying devices that are sure to work with the new universal smart home protocol, Matter, which makes it easier to control them with an app of your choice.

Buy a connected smart oven

There are many devices you could start with, but smart ovens (and their accompanying stovetops) offer some of the best app-friendly features that you’ll use repeatedly. These include the ability to remotely monitor and set temperatures, receive timer or temperature alerts, and other important notifications. Some smart ovens even have built-in meat probes that can send you updates on when larger meat dishes have reached the right temperature or give you cooking instructions for an unfamiliar dish. We have guides on hobs and ovens with some great recommendations for smart versions.

Add a smart fridge

If you look through our list of the best refrigerators, you’ll see that they have a variety of smart features. models like Samsung’s Family Hub This includes a variety of sensors and a dedicated smart screen for communicating with others, creating lists and reminders, and more. It’s expensive, but you can use your fridge as an alternative kitchen management smart device. Other models skip the screen but have interesting features like the ability to scan the inside of your fridge and create a shopping list without ever opening it. Some fridges keep tech to a minimum, with things like alerts if you leave the fridge door open or letting you know it’s time to change the water filter. You can pick just about any smart tech you want, but we suggest simple is better for the fridge that doesn’t benefit as much from tons of extra smart tech. When it comes to food storage, you really want one that supports different climate regimes that help food last longer. Check out our fridge buying guide for more tips.

Find a smart microwave or toaster

Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba and other companies produce a variety of intelligent microwaves that work with language assistants and app control. You can choose your cooking mode or preset from your phone, turn off beeps if you prefer silence (a feature long overlooked in older microwaves), and even do things like monitor internal humidity.

If you don’t use a microwave that often or don’t have an oven, consider getting a smart toaster. These little appliances have a wider range of cooking and heating options thanks to their convection cooking design, and their smart capabilities are similar. High-end models like the Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro can do everything from air frying to grilling to proofing and baking pizza. You can also recognize what kind of food you put in and use an app to manage the cooking, as well as give you recipes and recommendations via app.

Buy an Instant Pot or similar smart cooker

Instant Pots are all-in-one devices that can perform the following tasks: slow cook, pressure cook, prepare rice or yogurt, sear food during preparation, and more. If you make a lot of one-pot meals in your kitchen, or tend to eat a lot of rice with your meals, etc., consider adding a compact Instant Pot as part of your remodeling plans. They’ll fit anywhere on your counter, and the more advanced versions are packed with smart tech that gives you app controls and alerts no matter what you’re planning on cooking. Also, Instant Pots and related stoves are usually much more affordable than smart toaster ovens or microwaves, even if they come with smart technology. Read the Instant Pot guide to learn about the different models and find the right one for you.

Choose a smart speaker or display

Tie it all together by choosing a voice assistant speaker compatible with your smart devices. Google Assistant uses models like that Nest audiohas Alexa Amazon Echoand Siri is available on HomePod Mini. They can play music from your favorite services, answer questions, help you manage your calendar, take voice calls from friends, among many other tricks. They’re also super handy in the kitchen, where you can use them to set timers, ask for recipe conversions, and ask questions about specific ingredients.

An alternative is a smart display like this echo show 15 or the Nest stroke max. These models feature a touchscreen that allows you to identify ingredients, stream cooking videos, follow a blog recipe you find, and more.

Start looking for smaller devices

With larger devices connected to your smart home, you can add additional kitchen accessories at will. For example, you might want a smart meat thermometer for large roasts. Or, if you like sous vide cooking, a intelligent sous vide device has an incredible improvement in quality of life compared to older methods. The same goes for smart coffee makers that can work with voice assistants or smart lighting for your kitchen alcoves. The sky is the limit when it comes to what to add!

Finally, remember that a major kitchen remodel with lots of new smart technology will also put a strain on your WiFi router. It helps to have a more advanced router with a solid range and dual-band support so you can offload some of your smart devices to a different band – otherwise you may experience slowdowns.

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