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For those of us spending more time in our homes over the past couple of years, we understand that ease of use and convenience is everything. Smart technology not only simplifies our lives but, to be frank, it’s just cool. 

There is smart kitchen tech on the market today that can suit just about anyone — from smart sinks to fully-automated ovens and ranges, to intelligent refrigerators, to innovative small appliances. And looking into the future, there will be even more ease of use for the savvy home cook.

When shopping for your kitchen upgrades, be sure to look out for some amazing features in smart kitchen technology and decide which features will make your family’s life easier and more convenient. 

Smart Faucets

Smart faucet technology has evolved in great waves over the past 10 years. It all started with a simple touch-activated feature that allowed busy cooks to bump the faucet with an elbow to get the water flowing, making cleanup a breeze. Next, handsfree sensors were introduced, eliminating the need to touch anything in order to get the water flowing. And now there is voice-activated technology that can pour exactly what you need on command.

Think of your smart faucet like a sous chef helping you while you’re running around the kitchen. You can use Alexa or Google Assistant to carry your voice commands directly to your smart faucet. Pour exact quantities of water in standard and metric, with guaranteed accuracy every time. There are also programmable functions that you can utilize, like “fill the dog bowl” or “Grandma’s recipe” that will fill your precise preset measurements. Or you can ask your smart faucet to pour a particular temperature. This feature is great for bakers who need to activate yeast, or parents that need warm, but not too warm water to mix baby formula. 

Today’s smart faucets don’t skimp on style. Sleek designs are available in a variety of finishes to match any kitchen from farmhouse to modern to minimalist. And many still feature old-style functions that we love, like pull-out sprayers that make cleanup a breeze.

Smart Refrigerators

Smart refrigerators come in a variety of styles, colors (check out “bespoke” refrigerators), and technological advantages. In fact, smart refrigerator technology differs greatly from brand to brand, so shopping around for the features that best suit your needs is a must.

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The latest breakthrough is a refrigerator that has internet access and is able to recognize and manage items stored inside it. In this instance, automatic detection requires a barcode on each item, or items can be registered manually. Then, this refrigerator can send a list of its contents to other devices, such as your smartphone or tablet. That way, you know what you have and what you need when shopping. While this concept seems new, the technology was actually developed in the early 2000s. 

Some smart refrigerators allow a user to know which items are inside the refrigerator without opening it by simply checking the built-in camera, which can also connect to your other smart devices. Other smart refrigerator features include a warning when the door has been left open or if the freezer is running out of ice.

Smart refrigerators come at a premium price and often feature purifying water filtration, zone-specific climate control and even custom-shaped ice cube makers. 

Smart Ovens and RangesSmart ovens and ranges come with the added benefit of peace-of-mind along with the wow factors of their time-saving features. Most WiFi-enabled ovens and ranges come standard with remote monitoring that sends you push notifications when the oven is preheated or if you leave your house, and your oven is still on.

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Some smart ovens and ranges operate through your smart device or with Alexa or Google Assistant technology. That way, if you are busy, you can simply ask it to turn a burner down, preheat or turn off. You can even set the oven to a specific temperature. 

Many also come with double ovens that operate at different temperatures, making holiday cooking a breeze. One or both may also come with convection technology, cutting down overall cooking time. 

Like other smart appliances, the newer smart oven and range models are sleek and satisfying to the eye. Colors and finishes are available across many brands that will perfectly blend in with any decor. Other features can turn your kitchen from simple to professional. Ultra-luxury 60-inch dual fuel ranges are all the rage for precision cooking. Imagine boiling water in no time or keeping a steady, rolling simmer for perfectly poached eggs.

Innovative Small Appliances and Gadgets

Smart and innovative small appliances can add time-saving convenience to your life. These days, everyone seems to have at least one that they can’t live without, whether it’s a smart coffee maker or a speedy countertop pressure cooker or fully functional oven. 

It seems these days nobody is without a countertop pressure cooker. Several brands have integrated smart technology, allowing you to set and monitor your cooker right from your smart device. These cookers are so popular, you can find cookbooks dedicated to creating quick, easy, tasty meals, snacks and desserts for your family. Countertop ovens also come with a variety of WiFi-integrated features, and they can cook in dozens of different styles from convection cooking, to dehydrating, to air frying.

Other favorites include smart coffee makers. The newest technology comes with a high price tag, but it may be worth having a coffee grinder, coffee, espresso and milk frothing machine all in one. They are also programmable, saving your favorite recipes, and some can even make two cups at once, serving up coffee and a blissful domestic partnership.