14 kitchen innovations that are on my kitchen wish-list — and why you should add them to yours

If you're kitting out a new kitchen or renovating an old one, kitchen innovations are always worth considering. Even if your taste is more traditional than modern they can still help your kitchen run more efficiently.

And although designing a kitchen is largely based around layouts and units, being up to date on the latest kitchen products and developments is also important to ensure you create a functional space that meets all your everyday requirements, boosts the value of your home and, if you choose well, won't require updating any time soon.

While I may not personally spend hours in the kitchen cooking up a storm, I do admit to coveting anything that makes the experience easier, cleaner and more efficient. So with that in mind, here's the top 14 kitchen innovations I've got my eye on.

Which kitchen innovations are right for you?

"As kitchen design continues to evolve, built-in appliances naturally continue to be at the forefront of kitchen innovation, combining style, performance, and cutting-edge technology," says John Davies, head of marketing at Smeg.

"We’ve seen a growing demand for multifunctional appliances that maximise space and efficiency – such as combination ovens which can use steam, conventional and microwave ovens to create great results in up to 70% less time, with less worksurface clutter.

"Other innovation includes extractors built into induction hobs for open plan living, integrated wine coolers for the storage of your essentials, and large capacity fridges and range cookers that bring a touch of luxury to everyday living," he adds.

But, before getting too swept up in the enticing world of high-tech appliances and super stylish gadgets, it is of course really important to take some time to pinpoint what it is exactly that your individual household needs from a kitchen.

When developing your kitchen ideas – be it smart kitchen ideas or even farmhouse kitchen ideas, have a think about your lifestyle and the kinds of activities (other than preparing and cooking food) that will be taking place in your kitchen.

For example, if you rarely cook from scratch, then an oven or cooker packed with professional settings may well be a waste of money, whereas one which also offers an air-fryer function could be more appropriate.

Or, perhaps you love using apps to assist your life in which case a smart fridge that can help you shop is the perfect option. Either way, when investing in kitchen innovations be sure to establish what your needs are first, before you get swept away with products that really don't suit you, or your lifestyle.

Kitchen innovations: Cooking and extraction

If you're a keen chef, choosing kitchen appliances usually involves spending a large chunk of your budget on the right ovens and hobs.

But, whether you cook a lot, or a little, getting rid of the resulting odours is a key part of any kitchen ventilation plan. The good news is it's one of the areas where you are spoilt for choice with kitchen innovations, which means whether it's invisible extraction or ovens with over 200 settings, there's something to suit everyone. Here are some of my favourites.

1. Kitchen extraction that hides in the ceiling

“When designing your kitchen's layout, it is important to consider extraction," says Luke Shipway, head of product at Caple, "and when selecting an extractor you must consider the size of your kitchen and the amount of airflow required. This is where the m³/h (cubic meters per hour) rating helps as tt measures how effectively the extractor can clear the air. The bigger your kitchen, the higher the m³/h rating you’ll need," explains Luke.

"But, good extraction is not just about function, it’s also about making a statement in your kitchen," says Luke. One of our favourites? This hidden Caple CE930 ceiling extractor fan which sits flush in the ceiling and lowers via remote control.

Prefer to mix and match colours in a kitchen? No problem, the centre section can be replaced with plasterboard painted in your preferred shade. It also features dimmable LED lights, a maximum sound level of 62DB, four speeds and an A Energy rating.

Luke Shipway

Luke Shipway, with over 21 years of tenure at Caple, has covered various departments including sales, purchasing, and product management before ascending to the position of Head of Product. His extensive experience and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping Caple's innovative appliance solutions.

2. A hob and extractor in one single appliance

Downwards extraction fans have become popular over the last few years and make perfect sense to me in the way they provide extraction at source, removing steam and odours before it even gets a chance to reach the rest of the room.

"A built-in downdraft can provide a modern look while efficiently removing cooking odours and steam, especially if you're able to duct to an external wall," confirms Luke Shipway.

However, you could also go one step further and opt for an appliance such as this Novy vented induction hob that includes vents directly in the surface of the hob. I think it could also be a great solution in small kitchen ideas where there's less space for a large cooker hood.

3. Downward extraction with built in lighting

In most kitchens, cooker hoods can be a tricky thing to get right in kitchens of all styles. Modern designs can sometimes jar with classic styles of kitchen, while chunky models or those that match the cooker can look a little out-of-place in contemporary settings. In fact I'll admit to having a cooker hood that looked like a giant crystal encased mirror ball in one home. A step too far perhaps, but as it was part of an open plan kitchen diner, I was keen to avoid installing a cooker hood that looked too much like a cooker hood.

However, if installing a modern kitchen idea is your end goal, then this Neff N90 clear glass downdraught hood could be a solution. It's not only near-invisible, even when in use, but also comes with a host of other handy features, including 25 million colour illumination options which can help add an illuminating layer to the rest of your kitchen lighting ideas.

4. Extraction with expandable storage

Should I ever need to replace the cooker hood in my current apartment, this next product features high on my list. When you can get a product that offers not one, but three different functions, it's always worth a mention.

The Shelf from Falmec is a clever combination of appliance plus unit, which incorporates an extractor and a handy shelf above. While at first glance all you see is a smart black shelf, take a closer look and you will notice that the Shelf incorporates a very thin suction element.

At only 10cm deep, this slimline model can be extended by adding modules measuring 60 and 90 cm wide to customise and enhance the overall design. Made of black-painted steel with a black satin aluminium profile, the underside of the Shelf offers an integrated LED strip with dynamic light and the front panel can be matched to adjacent units for total design harmony in the kitchen.

5. A cooker hood that improves air quality

While all types of cooker hood should aim to suck away odours and steam, the latest models come with additional benefits that could even improve homeowners' wellbeing.

"Wellbeing-led design in the home is gaining popularity and indoor air quality is becoming ever more important to consumers," explains Jo Sargent, sales and marketing director at Franke UK. "There’s increasing awareness and concern about pollutants, allergens, and harmful chemicals such as VOCs found in household products such as paints and adhesives that is fuelling a desire for cleaner indoor air.

“The cooker hoods market is evolving to meet this demand and there are new models available that come with advanced filters and air purification technology that keeps air in the home cleaner and more comfortable," continues Jo. "Within the Franke range we offer several models with technology built-in to ensure the air in the home is clean and free of pollutants, allergens and VOCs, while at the same time offering high performance, energy efficient extraction.”

Franke’s Mythos Vertical Air Hub incorporates a high-performance extractor with a state-of-the-art air sanitisation system. As well as eliminating vapours and cooking odours, it utilises completely unique technology in the hoods market to abate up to 99.99% of bacteria and viruses through a separate air stream and two dedicated UV-C lamps, providing clean, hygienic and odourless air in the home.

6. A recirculation extractor with a unique filter

Although the best kitchen extractor fans tend to be those that are able to extract the kitchen odours to the outside, it's not always possible which is where recirculation extractors come into play.

Permitted in properties were there is additional sufficient ventilation, such as windows, the fans contain carbon filters to remove kitchen odours. However, these can be costly and unsustainable in the long term.

One product that's recently caught my eye is the new PlasmaMade E-Filter from Caple. It's a plug and play product with filtering technology that includes a combination of Plasma and electrostatic discharge (ESD), to break down unpleasant smells and substances and recirculate clean and fresh air back into the room.

If you're also in the market for an air purifier, you could fine this offers a solution in your kitchen, as it also tackles fine dust, pollen and other contaminants to improve the overall air quality in your kitchen.

Again, another great product for open plan kitchens and well worth considering for apartments or kitchens where outside extraction simply isn't an option.

7. Cookers with built-in air fryer mode

You'd really have to not have been paying attention if you missed out on the huge surge in popularity of the air fryer in recent years.

However, while their benefits are undeniable, for many people struggling with crowded worktops or gadget cupboards already bursting at the seams, the addition of an air fryer means adding to the problem. It's the main reason I haven't yet purchased one, despite constant requests from my sons to buy one.

The good news is, if you're planning a kitchen renovation and still don't have one, it's now possible to buy types of cookers and ovens with integrated air fryers, like this Miele H2766-1BP AirFry Built In Electric Single Oven. Unlike standalone air fryers which have limited capacity, the benefit of choosing one means there's more space and versatility, but with the same perfectly crispy results and fast cooking speeds.

8. An oven that could convince others I was a professional chef

While it's fair to I don't have the time or skills to stretch this next product to its full capacity, if I ever chose to indulge in cooking for pleasure, not just need, this would be up for consideration.

With over 200 automatic cooking programmes and full connectivity to the Bora Joy app, the Bora XBO could also be an option if your culinary skills are perhaps at the starter level rather than pro.

Offering steaming, baking, recipes, air fry tray and grilling plate, odour and steam free cooking and a quick clean mode with eco-friendly cartridges it's your perfect kitchen cooker for chefs of any level.

Kitchen innovations: Sinks and taps

While boiling water taps have been around for some time now, the very latest models offer all kinds of additional functions designed to make life run just a little smoother.

"Hot water taps are also a game-changer if you're looking to save energy and cut down on electricity bills," says Luke Shipway. "With the cost of electricity soaring high, it's becoming increasingly important to add alternative solutions to your home. Hot water taps are an excellent example of such solutions, as they provide steaming hot water with just the turn of a knob or the touch of a button. In contrast, boiling kettles can be time-consuming and inefficient, leading to unnecessary wastage of electricity.

"By opting for a hot water tap, you can have instant hot water ready for your cup of tea or coffee without having to wait around."

But, before we sit back and enjoy a cuppa, there's a kitchen innovation in the world of sinks that's also worthy of a mention.

9. Sign me up for this self-cleaning sink

Kitchen innovations that can make cleaning easier will always feature somewhere in my kitchen designs – of that I'm sure. Which is why this self-cleaning sink from Bora is currently sitting up there at the top.

In a beautiful black finish, at the push of a button, water flows down all four sides of the basin at the same time to clean the sides and the base in a matter of seconds. Collecting dirt and debris as it goes, it's resistant to water temperatures up to 180° and can be used with other conventional taps if you choose not to add the Bora tap. In this case, the self-cleaning function is controlled using a touch sensor that can be freely positioned below the worktop. If you have a Bora tap, it can be found at the top of the tap.

What's not to love? Superbly stylish and effortlessly practical in one.

10. Install a tap that does it all

While boiling water taps have been around for some time now, the very latest models offer all kinds of additional functions designed to make life run just a little smoother.

Quooker's new CUBE is designed to be fitted under the sink in the kitchen unit, next to the Quooker tank. It includes one or two filters that make the water as pure as the bottled water you buy in the shop. The Quooker CUBE is connected to a CO2 cylinder that can provide 60 litres of sparkling water. In addition, you can get boiling water at the touch of a button too.

Kitchen innovations: Appliances and gadgets

11. A bespoke appliance designed to your needs

Bespoke kitchens are nothing new and it often seems that pretty much everything can be made-to-order these days. However, the concept of bespoke kitchen appliances is relatively new to the scene.

Liebherr have come up with a brilliant way to ensure your fridge freezer offers exactly what you need. Their MyStyle Fridge allows you to choose any colour or pattern your heart desires, while you also get to configure the interior of the appliance, from the amount and positioning of storage to any special features such as the EasyTwist-Ice.

12. Appliances that can communicate with each other

Appliances that can be controlled via apps on mobile devices might have been around for some time now, but how about appliances that can actually communicate with each other?

Miele's KM 7897-2 Diamond Induction Hob, not only features its latest DiamondFinish coating innovation, which makes ceramic glass twice as hard as its conventional counterparts to reduce scratches from cooking grit and debris by 95% and abrasive sponges by 70%, but it also comes with other benefits.

By using the Con@ctivity function, the hob can actually be paired with a Miele cooker hood for automatic and efficient extraction – basically, the cooker hood detects when it is required and what kind of suction power is needed based on hob activity.

And, finally, a special printing underneath the ceramic glass prevents the pans from being too noisy when moved.

13. A built in vacuum to blast through meal prep

Winning at meal prep every weekend? If so, the BORA QVac needs to make it onto your kitchen appliance list. Small but mighty, it can be used to vacuum seal food for a plethora of reasons and can be flush-mounted in worktops or surface-mounted on top of them, making it the perfect addition to the kitchen.

From fruit, vegetables, meat and fish to sauces, soups and liquids in general, such as oils, vacuum sealing retains food’s natural taste and fresh, appetising appearance. It therefore helps to significantly reduce food waste. For an optimum shelf life, vacuum sealing can be combined with refrigerating and/or freezing.

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Kitchen innovations: Surfaces

14. A beautiful surface with a hidden talent

Invisible extraction is one thing. An invisible hob is a whole new level and one that I am totally up for in the form of CookingRAK.

Produced exclusively with RAK Ceramics porcelain which is capable of withstanding high temperatures, the induction system integrated into the surface works using electromagnetic currents which only heat the cookware placed on the hob, making it safe for use in busy kitchens.

Made from an extremely strong material, the surface is hardwearing, resistant to scratches, easy to clean and energy efficient. Plus, it can be used on a variety of kitchen island ideas meaning you can combine a cooking and dining space in one.

If these kitchen innovations have whet your appetite for more, why not take a look at our favourite bathroom innovations as well, and read our expert advice on what is smart lighting in order to help you create a whole house that's not just stylish, but future-proofed too.