One of the surefire signs you’re becoming an adequate home cook is if you start to get excited when bringing a new appliance into the kitchen. Sure, cooking can be a real labor of love, but it doesn't have to feel like pure drudgery and you’re allowed to have a good deal of fun with it.

While some people enjoy building their media centre, there’s something to be said for outfitting your kitchen with helpful smart devices first. These tend to offer ways to save time and peace of mind during a busy dinner party without sacrificing the end result of your lovely meals.

If you're considering an appliance upgrade as of late, let us run through a few different variants that might appeal to you:

WiFi-Connected Ovens

Who among us hasn’t burnt something in the kitchen? Sure, ovens have timers, but they’re not always reliable or helpful, and some people just prefer not to use those features. A Wi-Fi-enabled oven could give you the best compromise.

Many models now let you remotely control the temperature and settings from your phone. So if you forgot to preheat or need to check on progress, that’s fine - just tap a few buttons instead of hovering nearby. Some even stream video feeds, so you can literally keep an eye on dishes from anywhere. To some people that sounds a little silly, but if you’re not great with timings, this can be a very convenient alternative.

Smart Refrigerators

Smart fridge technology can seem unnecessary at first, but might change your whole food routine. Using internal cameras and inventory tracking, you can tell what's running low and even suggest recipes based on what you have in stock, which can also help you avoid wasting food in the long run, and keep track of expiration dates. That alone could slash your weekly planning headaches in half. Moreover, learning more about your fridge can help you implement your own fixes when needed, such as learning what to do when your Kenmore fridge isn’t cooling.

All-In-One Cookers

We tend to think that a good kitchen needs to be a large kitchen, but the truth is that not all of us have the space, the real estate, and the investment to enjoy a large space with every appliance. There’s where smart all-in-one cookers could be a nice alternative. These all-in-one cooking units can bake, grill, air-fry, dehydrate, and more - getting the job done without a ton of counter clutter.

Moreover, most models have simple presets to walk you through whole meals with the touch of a button, so they’re a great investment if sending your child off to college or if renovating the household and needing to vacate the kitchen for a little while. Having more flexibility, especially if your oven is full, can save you a decent amount of time for the better. With this advice, we hope you can find a smart appliance that works for you.