Take a lap around the appliance aisle these days, and among the familiar top-load washers and bottom-freezer fridges you’ll notice a new generation of machines that appear to have been ideated for an episode of The Jetsons. Think: devices that cook food in record time and others that wash and dry your clothes at once.
These alternative appliances are often formulated for unconventional functions, like cooking al fresco or squeezing a washer and dryer into a particularly small space, but they typically come with a host of other benefits, like energy efficiency or even health perks. In short, these appliances check all the tech boxes, including some you may not have thought of yet.
Tulip Induction Burners
Induction cooktops are on the rise — and for good reason. They’re three times more efficient than gas and 10 times more efficient than electric, free from the indoor pollutants associated with gas stoves and, with no open flame or hot-to-the-touch surfaces, simply safer. They also boast aesthetic benefits, seamlessly integrating into (and sometimes even disappearing into) a variety of countertop materials. Netherlands-based maker, Tulip, leads the charge with modular models that homeowners can customize to their liking, adjusting the number, size and layout of the burners, with the option even integrate gas burners to boot.
GE Profile UltraFast Combo
This combination washer-dryer won “Best Home Technology Product” at the NAHB International Builders’ Show thanks to its all-around flexibility, saving time, energy and space. The compact unit takes up half the room of a standard set, and, because it’s ventless, it can be installed in a variety of places.
Danver Cosmopolitan Buffet
This innovative outdoor buffet fuses furniture-like form with chef-ready function. The powder-coated stainless-steel cabinets offer abundant storage and come with a secret: a two-burner induction cooktop can be integrated into a nested drawer in the left cabinet. So, whether you need a place to stash party supplies, somewhere to serve food and drinks or a fully flexible cook space, this multifunctional piece has you covered.
Ooni Frya 12
This 22-pound ultra-portable pizza oven allows you to take pizza night outside — and pretty much anywhere you want to go. The oven is fueled by hardwood pellets and can reach 950 degrees in 15 minutes, meaning you can have a bubbling, pizzeria-quality slice almost instantly. (Some cook in just 60 seconds!)
Bora X Bo
Whether your motivation is to prepare healthier food or reheat leftovers without drying them out, there are plenty of benefits to a steam oven. Bora’s take on the technology boasts first-in-class features like the integration of both steam and hot air technology, a large touch display and the ability to extract steam from the oven before you open the door, meaning no more scorching gusts when you go to remove your dish.
