Today’s consumers are savvier than ever, and with the busy lifestyles that everyone leads, folks want to make the time that they spend in the kitchen as efficient as possible.
So far no one has invented a kitchen that can actually do the cooking for you, but until that day comes, here are a sampling of some of the higher end products on the market in dishwashers, refrigeration and cooktops.
Manufacturers are also taking style and color into consideration. Inspired by Italian design, the Viking Tuscany range is an architectural delight, combining modern technologies with old-world charm and sophistication. Colors are dark blue, stainless steel, graphite black or antique white. Six rack positions and eight cooking functions are featured, with available matching range hoods.
Aga also offers a line of colorful ranges in a swath of color choices. And it doesn’t hurt that the functionality of their ranges are top-notch. For example, the Aga Total Control, available in two sizes, is a heat storage cooker which uses radiant heat that can be turned on or off with the touch of a button. They’re available in electric or with gas ovens and oversized electric hotplates. Features include touchscreen controls and a digital remote that can program the ovens to switch on and off.
Miele’s combination steam/convection oven is, well, gaining steam; steam cooking is healthy, and health conscious consumers are taking note. This multi-functional unit is truly a speed oven, as food cooks quickly and simply. A zillion technological features make meal preparation easier than ever, including user-friendly, menu-driven controls aptly entitled MasterChef. Pre-heating is not even necessary.
Will there come a day when our ovens will anticipate our needs long before we do? App-enabled appliances are in demand, such as the GE Monogram French Door Wall Oven. In addition to sleek, chef-inspired design, this oven can be preheated remotely by an app or can alert you to when dinner is done cooking. Customizable cook cycles and video tutorials make this a standout.
The Freedom Induction Cooktop by Thermador, with either a stainless steel trim or a trimless option, is built with 48 individual 3-inch induction heating elements. “It has a natural-mapping user interface that intelligently recognizes cookware size, shape and position to deliver heat without boundaries, and allows cooks to use pots and pans of any shape and size,” says Elkin. There are no limits where to place the cookware, and the control remembers the power setting and moves it to follow the pan. Plus, the sleek, solid black surface allows appliances to virtually disappear into the countertop.
Originally born in the commercial kitchen, Wolf also makes a selection of high end appliances for the home cook, including the Wolf Gas Range, the Wolf Dual Fuel Range, the Wolf Convection Steam Oven and the Wolf M Series Built-in Ovens. Each contains features designed to make the kitchen experience less daunting. For example, their sleek built-in oven incorporates Dual VertiCross convection with two vertical blower fans and reconfigured heating elements that produce uniform heat and airflow throughout the oven, minimizing cool spots.
Although each of these models boasts their own unique technologies, some common threads are seen throughout. “Wolf’s built-in oven touch-control panels are easy to master and offer the same precise control of temperature, timer and mode settings—all visible via a crisp LCD display,” says Bedard.
And now comes: the talking fridge. Samsung has introduced a four door smart fridge with an integrated 8-inch LCD touchscreen, designed to mirror the display of their Galaxy S5 and Note 3 onto the built-in screen on the fridge. So, yes, your fridge can make a call for you. In addition, the Kitchen TV feature allows you to transmit shows from your Samsung devices directly onto the fridge. Besides all of its smarts, the fridge itself has a counter-height FlexZone Drawer and 28 cubit feet’s worth of extra large capacity.
Cutting down on waste by emphasizing freshness is a driving force behind Sub-Zero’s refrigeration. The company offers several models: Built-In Refrigeration, Integrated Refrigeration, and the PRO 48. All include similar technological features, such as dual refrigeration (separate, sealed systems for the refrigerator and freezer) as well as an antimicrobial air purification system.
As further example, the PRO 48 is enhanced with triple evaporators, allowing each compartment to be adjusted separately. “The PRO 48 is Sub-Zero’s most aggressive design statement. Models are available with or without a glass door,” says Michele Bedard, Vice-President Marketing Sub-Zero Wolf, Inc.
“As technology gets more advanced, so do appliances. Sub-Zero products have the ability to connect with home-automated control systems like Control4, Crestron and Savant. Sub-Zero built-in refrigeration products can notify the owner if the refrigerator door has been left open and allow them to change the interior setting to the energy-saving “vacation mode” if they will be out of the house for an extended period of time,” Bedard adds.
Food preservation at just the right temperatures, along with seamless design, is currently trending in kitchens across America. “Over the last five years, Thermador has seen a significant shift in the market from traditional side-by-side built-in refrigeration to built-in modular refrigeration,” says Zack Elkin, director of brand marketing. “This is largely due to culinary enthusiasts demanding a personalized kitchen that enables them to cook and entertain how they want, in a space that matches their unique design tastes.
To that end, Thermador offers the Freedom Collection, consisting of fresh food and freezer columns, wine columns and bottom-freezer refrigerators, complementing any kitchen design. The fully flush installation can be adjusted in any direction, and when a custom panel is used on the door, they virtually disappear once the door is closed. A full and frameless overlay is achieved with the heavy duty Freedom Hinge.
Today’s dishwashers are designed to reduce household noise pollution. Consumers no longer want to hear the clatter of a dishwasher running in the background, and Bosch heard them loud and clear.
“We are the quietest dishwasher brand in the United States; our Benchmark dishwasher is rated at 38db,” says Dan Kenny, Director of Brand Marketing, Bosch Home Appliances.
This is accomplished by insulating the dishwashers from the noise inside. “We suspend motors on little hammocks, so that there is no vibration inside. We have a filtration system that grinds out food particles,” says Kenny.
Dish drawers are another dishwasher trend, and some folks are opting for double dishwashers. Whether single or double, Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer becomes part of the kitchen’s landscape as it can be seamlessly melded into existing kitchen design. It is also ergonomically friendly, requiring less bending to open and close.
Fisher & Paykel’s double dishwashers operate independently, allowing the various wash cycles to accommodate a variety of loads; a wide range of settings, from fragile glasses to sturdy pots, is made possible by their SmartDrive wash function.