Moving into a new home—or simply upgrading your current space—is the perfect chance to create a kitchen that blends functionality with inspiration. Whether you’re designing from scratch or adding modern touches, the right tools can make all the difference. This guide highlights the must-have kitchen appliances to help you build a kitchen that supports creativity and efficiency from day one.
Whether you’re planning a new kitchen or just looking for a few upgrades, these appliances will make your kitchen as smart as you are. When talking about “the best” of anything, there’s always room for discussion—but we’ve curated a list of our top 10 best kitchen appliances, from dishwashers and smart faucets to stylish small appliances and tech-forward ranges. Each item is praised for performance, design, and innovation.
So whether you’re going for a full kitchen remodel or just exploring a few small improvements, these essentials will help turn your kitchen into a modern, high-performing space that inspires every day.
What Are the Must-Have Kitchen Appliances?
When you’re ready to remodel your kitchen or set it up for the first time, having the right appliances is key to making cooking more efficient—and more enjoyable. The tools you choose can influence how you prepare meals, from simple snacks to gourmet dishes. Whether you’re whipping up a quick breakfast or experimenting with new recipes, the right mix of small kitchen appliances and major essentials will empower your creativity in the kitchen.
Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher
The Bosch 800 Series easily earns its place among the top 10 best kitchen appliances for any modern home. Named Wired’s pick for the best dishwasher, it stands out with thoughtful features like a third rack for cutlery, Bosch’s adjustable RackMatic system, and specialized heavy-duty and eco-friendly cycles. Not only is it impressively quiet, but it also comes in a wide variety of finishes, handles, and configurations—making it simple to integrate into the design of any kitchen remodel or upgrade.
Anova Precision Cooker
Sous vide is a cooking technique that involves sealing food in vacuum bags and cooking it underwater at a precise temperature. It might sound complex, but it’s one of the must-have kitchen appliances who want consistently perfect results without the guesswork. Once limited to professional kitchens, sous vide has become increasingly popular at home thanks to user-friendly immersion circulators. Our top pick is the Anova Precision Cooker—praised by Reviewed.com and TheSweetHome.com as a top choice for its simplicity and performance—making it ideal for anyone just starting their cooking journey.
Miele Combi-Steam Oven
A steam oven is exactly what it sounds like—an oven that uses steam to cook food. Its humid cooking environment keeps meals moist without needing extra oils and is perfect for preparing vegetables, rice, and even for reheating leftovers better than a microwave. The Miele Combi-Steam Oven is a standout example, blending sleek design with advanced features like convection cooking, WiFi connectivity, sous-vide functionality, and MasterChef programming. It’s easy to see why this appliance earns a spot among the top 10 best kitchen appliances for modern kitchens.
Dacor Heritage WineStation
Love trying new wines but hate feeling pressured to finish a bottle? The Dacor Heritage WineStation might be the best kitchen appliance for wine enthusiasts. Designed to fit seamlessly within modern kitchen cabinets, this built-in system can serve up to four bottles at once, preserving freshness for up to 60 days without compromising flavor or aroma. With automated, temperature-controlled dispensing and an easy-to-use LCD control pad, it delivers the perfect pour—whether it’s a taste, half glass, or full glass—at the touch of a button.
Sub-Zero Pro 48″
It’s always been difficult to compete with Sub-Zero when it comes to refrigerators, and the new Sub-Zero Pro 48″ Refrigerator/Freezer with Glass Door makes it even harder. WiFi is only the beginning—this refrigerator uses advanced air purification technology developed by NASA to scrub the interior air of ethylene, mold, viruses, and bacteria every 20 minutes.
Separate doors and drawers compartmentalize cooling capabilities and allow for custom settings. As one of the must-have kitchen appliances, the Sub-Zero Pro 48″ can be installed seamlessly with contemporary kitchen cabinets, creating a sleek, integrated look. Smaller versions offer the same technology in sizes appropriate for more compact kitchens.
Jenn-Air Induction Cooktop
While we’ve always been a fan of the professional-grade gas range, the Jenn-Air 36” Induction Cooktop makes a compelling argument for modern induction technology. Available in two styles, black glass or “Euro-Style” stainless, this five-burner cooktop heats up quicker than a traditional gas range, and its sleek design complements a variety of kitchen cabinets. Truly one of the must-have kitchen appliances, the Jenn-Air cooktop combines performance with style for the modern kitchen.
Grohe Blue Chilled & Sparkling
If you drink a lot of sparkling water, you’ve probably noticed the plastic and glass bottles piling up in your recycling bin, not to mention the time and energy it takes to ship that water from Italy. The Grohe Blue Chilled & Sparkling faucet—often ranked among the top 10 kitchen appliances—has won taste tests against some of the top sparkling water brands. It can save potentially tens of thousands of plastic bottles and reduce energy consumption over its lifetime. Plus, with a simple twist of the wrist, you can choose between filtered and chilled still water, chilled medium sparkling water, or full sparkling water, making it a smart addition not only to indoor kitchens but also to outdoor kitchens for refreshing hydration year-round.
Wolf Cooktop Modules
Can’t decide between induction and gas? You don’t have to with Wolf’s cooktop modules. Built with the same trusted quality as their traditional ranges, Wolf offers 15″ gas, induction, grill, fryer, teppanyaki, steamer, and multifunction cooktop modules to create the perfect cooking suite for your family. These versatile modules are part of any list of must-have kitchen appliances for serious home chefs. Pair them with thoughtfully designed kitchen sinks and a built-in vacuum seal drawer, and you’ll even be able to cook sous vide with professional precision.
Breville Juice Fountain Elite
We all know we should be eating more fruits and vegetables. To do so, many of us regularly enjoy a glass or two of juice each day. However, many bottled fruit and vegetable juices contain added sugar and lose nutrients during pasteurization. Making juice at home is essentially like eating whole fruit—an easy and nutritious way to get your vitamins on the go.
The Breville Juice Fountain Elite is widely considered one of the must have kitchen appliances, featuring a die-cast steel housing, titanium-plated cutting disk, 1000 watts of power, two-speed controls, and a “clean and green” juicer bag for easy cleanup. It can even juice a pineapple with the skin on, and the parts are dishwasher safe. Whether you’re revamping your kitchen setup or planning your dream home from the ground up, remember this: just as you carefully choose a front door to make a statement, your appliances should reflect your lifestyle, too.
Dry Ager Meat Maturing Fridge
In our modern world, traditional food techniques are experiencing a renaissance. The Dry Ager Meat Maturing Fridge combines modern technology with old-world butchering methods. While most families may not need their own meat drying fridge, it’s a game-changer for home chefs serious about steaks and barbecue. Also ideal for making homemade charcuterie and storing cheese, it’s no surprise this innovation ranks among the top 10 kitchen appliances for culinary enthusiasts. Designed and built in Germany, the family-owned company also offers a compact version that fits under a standard countertop.
Conclusion
Designing your dream kitchen is more than just picking cabinets and countertops—it’s about choosing the tools that bring your cooking and lifestyle to life. From smart refrigerators to professional-grade cooktops and wellness-focused additions like juicers and sparkling water faucets, today’s must have kitchen appliances combine form, function, and innovation.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or fine-tuning your space, this curated kitchen home appliances list is your starting point to create a high-performing kitchen that reflects your needs and passions. Invest wisely, and your kitchen will do more than look good—it’ll support everything from casual breakfasts to ambitious culinary experiments for years to come.
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