Smart home devices add easy automations to your daily life, allowing you to control lighting, locks, entertainment hardware, and more, all through simple voice commands or with an intuitive and personalized companion app. But when it comes time to throw dinner together for the whole family, who says the web-connected fun has to stop in the kitchen?
Whether you're looking for a hands-free microwave experience, a coffee maker that knows exactly how you like your morning joe, or a fully-loaded countertop oven, we've put together this roundup of the best smart kitchen appliances to help you pick out some of the best web-connected cooking (and cleaning) tech.
The best smart microwave
Toshiba ML-EM34P Smart Microwave
- Supports Alexa (requires an Echo device)
- 1.3 cubic feet
- 1,100 watts
- Automatic humidity sensor
- 23 cooking presets
- Some cooking presets can be ineffective
Sometimes when you're jumbling a medley of kitchen tasks, it would be convenient to be able to ask a voice assistant to help with some meal prep. Well, now you can, thanks to the awesome countertop savant that is the Toshiba ML-EM34P Smart Microwave.
Featuring Alexa support, you can use an Echo device to interact with the ML-EM34P. Commands include starting and stopping a microwave cycle, activating a cooking cycle with a certain time ("Alexa, defrost for two minutes in my microwave"), and more. Do note that the microwave itself doesn't have Alexa built into it, so you'll need to have an Echo device nearby in order to use the voice features.
At 1.3 cubic feet, this stainless steel microwave is also plenty large for most reheated meals, TV dinners, and other types of small- to medium-sized cookware. We also love the inclusion of a humidity sensor that automatically adjusts the cooking temperature based on the food you're heating up.
The best smart sous vide machine
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
- Can be controlled manually or with an app
- Boils water to exact temperature
- Easily clamps to side of pot
- Can cook to feed up to eight people
- Can lose Wi-Fi connection
Sous vide cooking is a unique cuisine-style straight from the kitchens of France. The basics involve vacuum-sealed foods being submerged in a pot of boiling water that is brought up to a very specific temperature and then circulated evenly throughout the cooking cycle.
Where traditional sous vide machines require the manual inputting of temperature settings, this Anova Culinary cooker is web-connected, which allows you to choose and input recipes from the Anova app directly to the cooker. It even picks all the correct time and temperature settings! The only thing you'll need to do is clamp this bad boy to the side of your pot, and you're good to go.
While some users have complained about the unit losing its Wi-Fi connection, this seems to be a small enough trouble that a majority of sous vide cooks are not experiencing.
The best smart faucet
Owofan Touchless Smart Faucet
- Touch-free controls
- Includes auto shut-off
- Stainless steel, lead-free design
- Has a 23.6 inch extendable hose
- Installation can be a bit complicated
Smart faucets have seen a big step-up in popularity over the last couple of years, and Owofan offers an excellent product to match up with this increased demand.
While you're not going to be firing up your kitchen sink with a companion app, the Owofan Touchless Smart Faucet is equipped with a "smart" motion sensor. When you wave your hand past the front of the sensor, the sink turns on. Wave it past again, and the sink turns off. Turn on the water and accidentally leave the room for 15 minutes? The Owofan includes an auto shut-off feature that turns off the water after three minutes of inactivity.
Designed with stainless steel and lead-free materials, the Owofan also sports two spraying modes and a 23.6-inch extendable hose for the toughest of cleaning jobs.
The best smart pressure cooker
Instant Pot Pro Plus
- Incredible versatility
- Major usability improvements
- Remote control functions fun and useful
- Community recipes can be hit and miss
In the world of pressure cookers, Instant Pot reigns supreme. Designing and engineering some of the top countertop cookers on the market, Instant Pots include a medley of cooking options, are easy to clean, and are durable and long-lasting.
Now what about Wi-Fi connectivity? With the Instant Pot Pro Plus, the company has that covered, too. Once the Pro Plus is connected to your network, you can download the Instant Brands Connect app to automatically input step-by-step recipes into the pressure cooker. Just throw your food in, choose the meal from the app, and you're good to go.
On top of automatic meal-prep, you can also use the Connect app to manually enter cook times, choose cooking presets, adjust temperature, release steam, and more.
The best smart coffee maker
Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart Coffee Maker
- BrewID allows for automatic brewing
- Keurig app allows you to remotely dial in brew settings
- Five strength and six temperature settings
- Can store up to 10 favorite presets
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Limited voice commands
When it comes to coffee-brewing, Keurig has long been a celebrated name for both the home and workplace. The Keurig K-Supreme Plus Smart takes things to the next level with a feature called BrewID.
After purchasing a set of Keurig coffee pods, BrewID is able to detect exactly what pod you've placed in the chamber, adjusting settings and cup size to deliver the best-tasting hot beverage. And with the Keurig app, you can even connect the K-Supreme to Wi-Fi, allowing you to dial in brew settings without even needing to be near the machine.
On top of five strength and six temperature settings, and the option to store up to 10 favorite brew presets, the Keurig K-Supreme is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to fire up a cup of coffee without even lifting a finger.
GE Profile Smart Oven with No Preheat
- Supports voice commands
- No preheating required
- Guided recipes help you discover new meals
- Not compatible with most smart home platforms
While it isn’t smart enough to interact with Google Home or Amazon Alexa, the GE Profile Smart Oven with No Preheat packs in plenty of other features to make it a worthwhile investment. This includes voice controls to adjust settings and guided recipes to help you discover new meals. It also syncs with GE Profile Connect Plus, ensuring it’s always updated and running the latest software.
Aside from those smart features, the GE Profile Smart Oven is a well-rounded countertop oven. The big selling point is its “no preheat” technology, which lets you start cooking without waiting for things to heat up. Toss in automatic shutoff when the cooking time is done, a self-presenting oven rack, 11 preset cooking modes, and a sleek overall design, and you’ve got a smart oven that’s worthy of a spot in your kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to smart kitchen tech, it's important to know what features you're looking for your appliances to have. Do you want hardware that throws in a couple of basic sensors to add automation? Or are you looking for a fully-outfitted smart refrigerator that doubles as a command center for your home's Internet-of-Things ecosystem?
You also want to go with a trusted brand whenever possible. Big names like Samsung, LG, and Toshiba have been producing long-lasting kitchen tech for decades and are typically the best models when it comes to expanded, web-connected features, companion apps, and overall customer support.
Yes and no. If you're looking at cheaper appliance categories, like coffee makers and pressure cookers, the addition of smart features shouldn't bump the price up too immensely.
That being said, larger, more industrial appliances like dishwashers and refrigerators can be pricy to begin with. So after tossing in web features, you could be easily looking at a $1,500-plus investment for your home.
Yes! There are a number of smart kitchen appliances that feature support for voice assistants, including Alexa, Google Assistant, Bixby, and more. Commands can be as basic as starting or stopping a cooking cycle or as advanced as automatic meal preparation for devices like web-connected pressure cookers.
