How To Build Your Smart Kitchen

Why Do You Need a Smart Kitchen

Kitchen improvements and remodeling can be an expensive investment by itself, and so adding smart home devices and appliances can further increase the initial costs.

So, do we actually need it?

Let us discuss the possible benefits that can be generated by a smart kitchen:

1. Speeding up the cooking process

Kitchen can be a messy place to be in. This is where you cook your dishes where food materials and kitchen equipment can be everywhere. This is where you wash your dishes and utensils—-another messy work—, and some families even eat in their kitchen.

Smart kitchen appliances can reduce the mess by suggesting a smarter management, while at the same time also improving speed. Faster time in the kitchen will indirectly contributes to saving more energy.

2. Energy saving

Smart dishwasher uses less energy and water. Smart lighting can help light difficult areas (i.e., an LED strip can be fitted under a cabinet), while also being more energy efficient. Smart stoves and thermostats can automatically turn off your appliances, giving you precision and energy-saving benefits.

3. Aiding your creativity

Smart appliances like a smart display system can set timers, suggest and show a recipe in a step-by-step fashion, and convert measurements among other features. There are also smart appliances (smart ovens, smart stoves) that can automatically cook your dishes. With smart kitchen appliances, you can be a better cook, virtually instantly.

So, Where Do I Start?

With all the smart home appliances available today, starting your smart kitchen remodeling can be confusing—if not intimidating— due to all the available choices. 

Ultimately, the answer will depend on your needs. You might focus on aesthetics, so focusing on smart lights or displays might be a wise idea. Some others might focus on functionality, so smart appliances like a smart oven might be a better investment.

Below, we will discuss some of the key items of a smart kitchen, so you can be a better judge for the improvements you’ll actually need.

Smart Speaker or Smart Display

Nothing will turn your home smarter than having a speaking, smart assistant to assist you in your daily needs. On the other hand, a smart speaker is also one of the most affordable smart home appliances nowadays, where you can get an Amazon Echo,2nd gen(link) with only $70. There are also more affordable options like the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Home Minis, that can cost below $50. 

A smart speaker can, for example, set up multiple timers to help with your cooking precision, or assist with conversions (i.e. tablespoons to teaspoons, etc.). 

If you want to turn this up a notch (and have the available budget), you might want to invest in a smart display like the Amazon Echo Show. They will give all the benefits of a smart speaker while also offer visual features like giving you a step-by-step guide for your recipe, or even play a video of cooking instructions. Some smart displays, like the recently introduced KitchenAid’s smart display, are specifically designed for kitchen needs, so they might be worth considering.

Smart Ovens

Smart ovens are probably the most worthy addition of a smart kitchen, especially if you are either a cooking beginner, or don’t have that much time to cook in the kitchen.

A smart oven typically involve having a built-in camera inside. This camera—with A.I. technology—- can recognize the food put within it, and then will determine the right preset (temperature, cook time, recipe) to process the ingredients. This camera can also stream video to your smartphone, so you can observe the process and make sure you’ll get the desired results.

A smart oven, however, can be an expensive investment. However, it’s getting more affordable than ever, with products like the new June Ovens now only costs $600 (previously $1,500+). There are also other, more affordable products like the AmazonBasics Microwave, that although won’t give you all the smart features of a smart oven, comes with useful Alexa integration.

Water Equipment

Kitchen uses a lot of water, so switching your faucets and dishwasher into their smart version can significantly reduce your utility bills in the long run, while also providing ease and convenience.

A smart faucet, for example, can integrate with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant—among other smart assistants—, so you can give precise commands like “dispense five milliliters of water”. You can also set up automation to further improve efficiency and convenience.

Smart faucets, however, can be relatively expensive. For example, the Delta VoiceID faucet can cost slightly above $500. 

A smart dishwasher can also improve water efficiency, especially because it can clean more dishes at one time compared to traditional dishwashers.It can also self-diagnose to detect leaks. Other smart features like the ability to monitor and control the process from your phone is an added convenience.

Smart Lights

Lighting is an essential aspect of any kitchen, and adding smart lights can be a relatively affordable way to improve your kitchen. 

However, you might not need too much investments on smart lights for your kitchen compared to, say, the living room. For example, you might not need colored smart bulbs. In most cases, investing on a smart switch or a white-colored lighting is sufficient. 

A smart switch can be very affordable, starting at around $30, but you can set up various automation like turning off the lights automatically when you leave the kitchen area, or after a certain time of the day. 

Smart LED strips can also be a good solution when you have cabinets over the counter, so you can light the bottom of the cabinet efficiently. 

End Words

Remodeling your kitchen into a smart one can be done with a relatively modest budget, as long as you can prioritize on your needs. In general, focus on improving energy and water efficiency so your investments will be justified in the long run. 

If you want more functionalities, investing in a smart oven or various appliances with cooking-assistance features will be a good idea for a long-term basis. While they might be initially expensive, it will save a lot of money in energy, and your precious time.