Thanks to reliable high-speed internet, turning your whole house into a smart home has never been easier. These 10 smart kitchen devices will make cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner something to look forward to every day.
Smart kitchen appliances speed up meal prep and make life easier—especially when you’re busy or on the go.
Thank you to my friends at Cox for sponsoring today’s post.
When we remodeled our house in 2017, we decided to build an entirely smart home. From lights and blinds to the refrigerator, we now have more than 100 WiFi-connected devices. That level of connectivity depends on a reliable home network—which is exactly what Cox Panoramic WiFi provides: consistent coverage throughout the house so all your smart kitchen appliances and devices stay connected.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and over the years I’ve added a range of smart appliances and gadgets that make cooking faster, safer and more convenient. Below I share how I use these smart kitchen devices to simplify everyday life and streamline meal prep.
Most smart kitchen devices connect via Bluetooth or WiFi. I strongly recommend WiFi-connected appliances because they let you monitor and control them from anywhere—even when you’re far from home. Bluetooth typically only works within a few hundred feet, while WiFi lets you check appliance status from across town or another country.
On one trip to France, I was able to check the status of my refrigerator, oven and dishwasher back home—so I could make sure the doors were closed and there were no alerts. Those remote notifications provide real peace of mind when you travel.
At home, I like having all large and small smart appliances visible and manageable from a single app on my phone. That’s especially helpful when I’m juggling multiple dishes or cooking for guests. Here are the top 10 smart kitchen devices I rely on for efficient, stress-free cooking.
Table of contents
- Smart home hub
- Smart refrigerator
- Smart oven
- Smart dishwasher
- WiFi sous vide
- WiFi air fryer
- WiFi Crock Pot
- WiFi meat thermometer
- Smart lights
- Nest thermostat
- A day in the life
Smart home hub
A voice assistant like an Amazon Echo or Google Home is indispensable once you start adding many WiFi devices. In the kitchen, a smart home hub is perfect for playing music while you cook, setting multiple timers, and triggering appliances hands-free.
I regularly use voice commands to play Spotify, set cook timers, preheat the oven and even start heating water from the fridge’s hot water dispenser—simple tasks that free up my hands when I’m busy cooking.
Smart refrigerator
A smart refrigerator gives you real-time monitoring for temperatures in the fridge and freezer, ice maker levels and filter status. It can alert you if a door is left open or if temperatures start to rise—helping prevent spoilage and wasted food.
Some models include extras like a built-in single-serve brewer or a hot water feature. With the companion app, you can activate those functions remotely and check appliance status from your phone or by voice command.
Smart oven
Smart ovens let you preheat remotely, start a bake cycle from your phone and monitor remaining cook time without having to stand in the kitchen. That makes it convenient to begin cooking even when you’re finishing errands or still at the grocery store.
Remote monitoring also helps you confirm when the oven has reached the right temperature and keeps you informed if a timer is running low—handy when you’re multitasking around the house.
Smart dishwasher
A smart dishwasher reports cycle status to your phone, notifies you when rinse aid is low, and can remind you to reorder dishwasher pods. That small convenience saves time and removes guesswork from kitchen maintenance.
WiFi sous vide
A WiFi-connected sous vide circulator is one of my favorite small appliances. It lets you set and monitor bath temperature and cook time from the app, so you know exactly when your steaks, pork chops or tri-tip are done to perfection.
Remote control means you can extend a cook or make small adjustments without having to be in the kitchen—ideal for long, low-temperature cooks where precision matters.
WiFi air fryer
A WiFi-enabled air fryer connects to a companion app with preprogrammed recipes and step-by-step guidance. Use the app to choose a program or set custom time and temperature, then receive a notification when cooking is complete—perfect when you’re managing multiple dishes.
That alert feature keeps you from overcooking sides while the main dish finishes on the grill or stovetop.
WiFi Crock Pot
WiFi slow cookers let you start a recipe and then monitor or adjust time and temperature from your phone. If you run late, simply switch to the warm setting remotely so dinner waits for you at the right temperature.
Slow cookers are a great example of how smart appliances reduce stress and expand flexibility in daily routines.
WiFi meat thermometer
A WiFi meat thermometer reports internal temperatures to your phone in real time, which is especially helpful for grilling or smoking large cuts. You can walk the neighborhood, run errands, or play with the kids and still know exactly when the roast reaches the target temperature.
That remote monitoring turns multi-hour cooks into relaxed, predictable events.
Smart lights
Hands-free lighting control is a simple but powerful convenience in the kitchen. With smart light switches, you can ask your voice assistant to brighten the counters, dim overhead lights, or turn everything off when dinner is ready and your hands are full.
Smart lighting also improves safety—no fumbling for switches when your hands are wet or full of ingredients.
Nest thermostat
A smart thermostat like Nest integrates with your home ecosystem so you can adjust climate settings remotely. If the oven heats up the kitchen, simply lower the AC from the app or ask your voice assistant to set the temperature—keeping the kitchen comfortable while you cook.
A day in the life
I use these smart kitchen devices every day to simplify meal prep, keep food safe and save time. From preheating the oven remotely to receiving alerts when the air fryer finishes, the convenience and control delivered by WiFi-connected appliances have made cooking more enjoyable and less stressful.