See more of the story

Kitchen designers are embracing technology like never before. Smart home technology was identified as a key emerging trend in the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s recent Kitchen & Bath Design Trends report.

Manufacturers have introduced several smart kitchen technology innovations that emphasize time savings and convenience.

Several refrigerator models feature built-in cameras that let you check the contents from the supermarket, saving you a trip when you discover you’re out of some must-have ingredient. We’re also seeing fridges with embedded LCD screens that make it possible to have groceries delivered to your doorstep; the screens also let you browse recipes and sync family calendars.

Wi-Fi-controlled ranges let you preheat the oven remotely, so it will be ready when you get home. So-called scan-to-cook technology is another smart innovation found on new ranges and microwaves; scan the bar code on a packaged meal, and the appliance takes it from there, setting the correct temperature and cooking time — and even pinging your phone when dinner is ready.

“Digital assistants” like the Amazon Echo and Google Home can perform an array of cooking-related kitchen tasks. They also enable hands-free control of other kitchen components such as turning off or on lights or faucets.