The heat is on: The latest kitchen trends
Tech-savvy Kiwis often demand nothing but the best — and there is some very clever stuff on offer these days, writes LOUISE RICHARDSON
As a tech-savvy nation we like to embrace new technology, and many of the latest innovations can be found in our kitchens where we generally demand nothing but the best.
Even standard items such as dishwashers are improving all the time — some have no exterior knobs or handles, you simply touch a sensor to operate them.
Useful features such as boiling or chilled water taps, and even combinations of the two, are now a regular component of the home kitchen.
Vinny Raju is store manager at Kitchen Things in Auckland’s Mount Eden and he says the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating a customer’s dream kitchen.
“Of course budget does come into it and a kitchen set-up can range from just a few thousand dollars to $80,000, $100,000 or even more, especially as it’s becoming more common to have two kitchens, one where most of the food is prepared and a main one that’s more for show and entertaining.”
He says the smart home concept is being picked up by tech-confident owners, and the Samsung Family Hub fridges are especially popular.
“People really do use all of its functions: the camera that lets you see what you’re running out of while shopping for food, and the meal planner app which provides recipes at the touch of a button.”
Induction cooktops are another area where technology is reducing cooks’ workloads while enhancing their culinary results.
Modern versions offer multizone options. Neff, for example, has a four-zone induction cooktop which allows you to place pots anywhere and heat them where they stand.
You have precise control over all the cooking zones and a frying sensor monitors the set temperature and keeps it steady —goodbye singed steaks! Neff induction cooktops range from around $4000 to $6000.
Steam ovens are gaining in popularity. One of their biggest advantages is the fact that you can cook several different things at a time with no worries about cross contamination of flavour or smells, because each is in its own sealed bag.
Vinny Raju says his customers tend to be serious cooks who are happy to pay for quality and he is excited about his store’s new demonstration kitchen, which is opening next year.
“I think it’s fine to take appliances home and simply read the instructions, but when you watch a professional chef cooking with them it gives you a much better idea of what’s possible.”
While sleek and streamlined appliances are the order of the day, there’s still a big market for products such as the iconic Smeg fridge, which comes in a big range of colours and includes special designer editions, such as the Union Jack model.
It’s complemented by a small appliances collection, so your kettle, toaster and cake mixer all match.
In villas and bungalows home cooks often lean towards a more traditional style in terms of cookers, with the British Falcon range a regular best seller.
They too come in a wide colour palette, with a choice of induction and gas hobs. While a multifunctional Falcon oven can be as much as $12,995, with entry level models around $7000, these appliances are designed and built to last a lifetime, and as well as looking great they perform very well.
Raju says that Smeg’s combo oven and blast chillers are an increasingly popular kitchen feature.
“The chiller freezes food so fast immediately after cooking that there’s no time for freezer burn to occur and you can store the food for far longer than in a conventional freezer.
“Best of all, you can make your own ice-cream in just minutes!”