Appliances are the lifeblood of any kitchen — these nifty machines help us to cook and store our food, wash our dirty dishes and clothes, and help keep our homes neat, tidy and hygienic. The great news, today’s kitchen appliances are more advanced than ever before. No longer just practical machines, kitchen appliances are evolving. Modern kitchen appliances are energy-efficient, smart and good-looking pieces of machinery, with state-of-the-art technology that helps us clean and cook more efficiently. So, what should you look out for when buying new kitchen appliances? Check out our list of hottest trends shaping the world of kitchen appliances in 2021 and beyond:
Smart appliances
Smart appliances help maximise energy efficiency, and they are easier and more convenient to use — saving you time, and ensuring perfect results time and again. No longer just kitchen ‘toys’, smart appliances are intelligent solutions that offer real added value for consumers. Forget the era of clever gadgets, this new era of smart appliances places the focus squarely on providing customer benefits, with simple application being the ultimate goal.
Take, for example, Miele’s innovative CookAssist and TasteControl technology, which ensures that food doesn’t dry out or become overcooked, and WifiConn@ct technology where the hob communicates with the cookerhood and allows it to automatically adjust accordingly. Miele’s smart devices also included Amazon Echo and Alexa Voice Service integration which now allows you to quickly and conveniently control your kitchen appliances using voice control technology.
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Induction hobs
Induction hobs have been popular for a little while now, but they’re really going to come into their stride in the New Year. Induction hobs function by creating a magnetic field between the induction element and the base of the cookware. This way, they heat the pan or pot directly, rather than wasting energy heating the cooking surface first, which only then heats the cookware, and the food.
Induction hobs offer many benefits: they heat up really quickly, they are extremely energy efficient, they allow you to accurately control the temperature, their ceran surface makes for a sleek, flush-mounted finish, and they produce very little residual heat for safer operation. What’s more, induction cooks fast, uses little electricity, and the ceramic glass screen is really easy to clean.
Convection steam ovens
Cooking with steam is fast becoming a mainstream choice for home chefs — it is quick, easy, tasty and really healthy! Add convection to the mix, and you really have the best of both worlds — moist, speedy, healthy and delicious food preparation, along with the browning and crisping abilities traditionally associated with baking and roasting.
Offering flexibility for best baking and roasting results, convection steam ovens combine humidity and dry heat to cook a variety of dishes. They are also really versatile and can be used for a wide range of applications from defrosting to blanching and drying. You can also prove dough in the oven, which is great for pizza or bread making.
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Touch screens
Increasingly more home appliances are offering the ability to control and operate your appliances the same way you would operate your smartphone or tablet — via a touchscreen. Appliances with touch screen technology can be operated quickly and intuitively by touching or swiping the touch screen. Many functions can be chosen at the touch of a fingertip, making it easy to cook the perfect dish every time.
Colour
Gone are the days when appliances were only available in white or stainless steel — when it comes to colours, there are two new kids on the block: Black and Grey. With the rise in popularity of open-plan living spaces, the aesthetics of kitchen appliances has become increasingly important. Today, a kitchen appliance isn’t expected to only offer high-end functionality and state-of-the-art technology, but it is also required to look good and compliment the kitchen’s interior design as well.
Handleless design
Speaking of the increasing popularity of open-plan living spaces, handleless kitchen cabinets have been pinned as one of the biggest kitchen trends for 2021 — offering a more streamlined, paired-back look. Which is why, integrated kitchen appliances have become a must-have in any kitchen worth its salt. These appliances can blend seamlessly with the surrounding cabinetry.
In these new handleless models, the conventional handle has been replaced by a sensor that is integrated into the fascia, using Touch-to-Open technology. Gently touching the sensor opens the motor-assisted door, damping its action as it reaches the fully open position. It’s all about simplicity and diverting the visual focus to cabinetry details instead.
Hidden cookerhoods
In 2021, kitchen designs will feature single-level islands. This design feature can truly open a space up, increasing the flow of light and the working space, as well as creating unhindered communication with guests during cooking and meal prep. What’s even better is a kitchen island, without the need for a bulky cookerhood overhead – keeping the lines of vision unhindered, thereby making the space seem bigger and airier. Seeing that most kitchen islands are bang in the middle of the kitchen, this has not always been possible — but now, with vented hobs, bulky overhead cookerhoods are no longer necessary.
Vented hobs offer a sleek, stylish and functional solution that is ideal for small kitchens, or for installation in a kitchen island, where a cookerhood would ruin the open-plan feel of the space. Also, the compact nature of their design allows for more countertop space to be allocated for cooking and prep, and for other elements such as under-counter drawers and units.
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