Digital Trends

There is no shortage of marketing gimmicks in the world of kitchen appliances and gadgets—like the robot whose sole purpose in life is to make croutons from your leftover French bread. But practical, convenient, stylish, and space-saving designs always reign supreme. Think about, for example, how much counter space your stovetop takes up. Wouldn’t it be groovy to be able to use this space as a work surface when the stove isn’t in use?

Eco-friendliness is also at the top of most homeowner’s lists of priorities. According to Allison Gatta of GE Consumer and Industrial, the cross section of connected technology and water/energy use is important. “The introduction of connectivity will open a number of incredible new paths of efficiency,” she says. Witness the company’s Eco Dashboard in its Ecomagination Homebuilder program, which provides energy and water usage info to homeowners, allowing them to modify their consumptive behaviors accordingly.

Several interesting kitchen-of-the-future type applications have surfaced, as well, such as the idea that smart kitchens can take stock of the food, present a variety of meal suggestions based on ingredients, and even guide cooks through preparation. For details on other futuristic concepts, see our slideshow.

As far as tried and true technologies go, connected displays are becoming more and more commonplace in the cookery, proving that the trend of LCDs in a refrigerators or elsewhere has staying power—especially when you can access recipes via the Internet, play photo slideshows, and more.

Here, we have separated the useless from the useful, and have selected a few uber-cool concept technologies that will make your mouth water—literally and figuratively.

Samsung RFG299 French Door Refrigerator - $3,100

The concept of a display on a refrigerator isn’t new, which means it’s actually somewhat useful. Samsung’s new RFG299 French Door fridge ($3,100) includes a 7-inch touch screen above the ice and water dispenser that gives you access to calendars, nutrition facts, schedules, and photos. You can also control the refrigerator’s temp and water filters. According to Samsung, the fridge has the industry’s largest internal storage at 28.5 cubic feet. The extra space is thanks to the RFG299’s urethane insulation, which reduces the size of the walls from 2.04 inches to 1.38 inches thick, while maintaining a standard footprint. Now you can pack more meats and fruits than you ever dreamed possible, and thanks to the LCD, find something tasty to do with them.