Euro Appliances: The Top Kitchen Appliance Trends For 2021

We speak to Liam Gawne from leading appliance manufacturer, Miele, about the hottest kitchen appliance trends to look out for in 2021.Renowned appliance brands available at Euro Appliances.

Kitchen appliances are the lifeblood of our homes – they are the machines that cook and store our food, wash our dirty dishes and our clothes, and help keep our homes neat, tidy and hygienic. Today, we are seeing lots of innovative and interesting trends shaping the world of kitchen appliances, explains Liam Gawne from leading kitchen appliance manufacturer, Miele: “Kitchen appliances are no longer just practical machines – they 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.” He lists some of the hottest trends shaping the world of kitchen appliances:

1.) Smart appliances

Smart appliances help maximise energy efficiency, and they are easier and more convenient to use – essentially, saving the user time, and ensuring perfect results time and again. Says Liam: “Customers no longer regard Smart Home devices as toys, but increasingly expect intelligent solutions that offer real added value. In this field, Miele’s focus is, and always has been, dedicated to not only developing and manufacturing outstanding appliances, but to also create inspiring experiences for their users. Experiences that are both time-saving, and truly helpful.

“To this end, Miele’s focus is not on creating clever gadgets, but rather, it is squarely placed on providing customer benefits, with simple application being the ultimate goal. Miele leads the market with a wide gamut of innovative technology, examples of which include CookAssist and TasteControl, 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. Investing in an Amazon Echo and Alexa Voice Service will now allow you to quickly and conveniently control your kitchen appliances, such as Miele@mobile appliances for example, orally.”

2.) Induction hobs

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 are incredibly popular due to their 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.

Unchallenged cream of the crop among kitchen hobs: Miele’s Generation 7000 range of full-surface induction represents untold freedom when it comes to cooking. Liam elaborates: “Up to six pots, pans and even casserole dishes can be positioned anywhere on Miele’s Generation 7000 range of induction hob units. Gone are the days of predefined cooking zones – with some of the models in Miele’s new generation of full-surface induction hobs, the entire appliance is a large cooking area that is unmatched in terms of flexibility. Your cooking will have no more boundaries – pots and pans can be placed and used on the entire hob surface. What’s more is that induction cooks fast, uses little electricity and the ceramic glass screen is really easy to clean.”

3.) 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. Says Liam: “Flexibility for best baking and roasting results, Miele’s combination ovens combine humidity and dry heat as you wish. 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.”

4.) Touch screens

Increasingly more home appliances are offering the ability to control and operate your appliances the same way you would operate your smart phone or tablet – via a touchscreen. To this end, Miele has launched the M Touch technology notes Liam: “With the innovative touch display you can quickly achieve your goal – Miele’s M Touch is simple to operate and self-explanatory. The appliance can be operated quickly and intuitively by touching or swiping the clear text touch screen. Many functions can be chosen at the touch of a fingertip. The central display with white text and symbols on a black background ensures perfect visibility of information. Where user prompt is required, information is presented in colour.”

5.) 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. Liam explains: “With integration practically becoming a standard thing with regards to kitchen appliances, as well as 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. To help, Miele’s gorgeous Generation 7000 range of appliances are available in Brilliant White, Clean Steel, as well as Graphite Grey and Obsidian Black.”

6.) 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, says Liam: “Take Miele’s Artline range of appliances for example – the entire collection dispenses with handles entirely to blend in seamlessly with flush furniture fronts. The range interprets the concept of full appliance integration in a whole new way – the function of the handle on a conventional model has been replaced by a sensor that is integrated into the fascia, called Touch2Open technology. Gently touching this 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.”

7.) “Secret” cookerhoods

Single-level islands 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.

Liam elaborates: “A vented hob, such as the TwoInOne from Miele for example, is a wonderful addition to any kitchen design. It offers super-efficient and fast-operating induction cooking, together with downdraught extraction that pulls the steam and fat directly from the source; filtering out any bad smells, smoke or grease and preventing them from straying into the room and lingering after all the cooking is done. It is 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.”