For many years, the traditional oven, often equipped with a built-in grill, has been a staple in kitchens, essential for preparing family meals. Its reliability and versatility made it a must-have for home cooks everywhere.
However, the advent of smaller, more convenient countertop appliances has begun to transform culinary practices.
The microwave revolutionized home cooking in the 1980s by using electromagnetic waves to heat or reheat food in minutes. Despite its convenience, some culinary enthusiasts have criticized it for producing food that lacks the appealing look and flavor of traditional cooking methods.
More recently, the air fryer has emerged as a game-changer in the kitchen. Gaining widespread popularity about five years ago, this appliance has significantly influenced how meals are prepared at home.
Busy cooks have praised air fryers for their affordability and efficiency, with prices starting at just £20. These devices use rapid hot air circulation to give food that oven-baked texture and taste quickly, making them a favorite for those short on time.
Time-poor cooks have raved about the affordable appliances, which start from as low as £20 and work by circulating very hot air at high speeds around food to create dishes that feel oven-cooked in no time at all.
Even professional chefs have hailed it as a must-have, saying it offers a more efficient way of cooking vs an oven that’s often healthier because fat is quickly drained off.
Jamie Oliver’s passion for the appliance spawned a cook book, TV show and collaboration with Tefal to create his own range of air fryers.
Where have such changing trends left the traditional main oven? Turned off mostly, with many families saying they use it only to prepare bigger weekend meals, including Sunday roasts and air fryer Christmas dinners.
Main ovens have been sidelined as microwaves and air fryers have caught home cooks’ attention – but kitchen innovation experts say technology is poised to give the appliance a reboot
The air fryer has become the must-have kitchen appliance of the last decade – with even professional chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay raving about their efficiency… but critics moan about the space they take up
However, according to experts in culinary innovation the kitchen landscape is changing again – and we’re increasingly losing our appetite for the stand-alone air fryer.
Focus has shifted back to making the oven, often integrated, once more the focal point of a modern kitchen – with technologic advances transforming them into sleek-looking, futuristic cooking machines.
Those sold by major electrical retailers are already increasingly sophisticated, with self-cleaning (using very high heats to burn off food residue and grease), automatic cooking and steam functionalities featuring in even more basic models.
Technology is poised to go even further though, with cooks in the next decade likely to enjoy hyper-speed cooking, live oven cameras and voice activated controls as standard.
Jag Sandhu, UK account manager at high-end Swedish kitchen brand ASKO, told the Daily Mail: ‘We’re seeing more demand for things like guided cooking, automatic settings and connected features that let you check in remotely or get a bit of extra help when needed.
‘At the same time, people don’t want things to feel complicated, so the best technology is the kind that works quietly in the background and plays a big role in simplifying daily routine.’
A Series 6 Electric Oven, which retails at £1,119, comes with cameras built-in, ensuring you can keep a close eye on whatever you’re cooking up… even away from home
Apps now let you control cooking from afar, and the Smeg Omnichef, which starts at around £1500, can already cook a roast chicken in 30 minutes and roast potatoes in 35 minutes
Integrated air fryers are increasingly being introduced and next-generation heating technology, including using graphite elements that can shave 30 per cent off cooking times, means pre-heating an oven is likely to soon be a thing of the past.
The Smeg Omnichef, for example, promises seven-in-one cooking that can roast a whole chicken in just 30 minutes, and roast potatoes in 35, using a combination of traditional, microwave and steam cooking.
Last year, electronics giant Haier launched the ID Series 6 Oven, which can choose a cooking programme based on AI cameras detecting the dish that’s been placed inside it.
Bosch’s Series 8 built-in ovens come with a digital control ring engraved in the glass – as consumers want the technology they have elsewhere in the home in the kitchen
Not only can the appliance capture the cooking in real-time – you can watch via the hOn app – but it also automatically adjusts the temperature if dishes are looking more bronzed than they should.
And it gets to know the tastes of the household tucking in too – if you’re a family who likes roast potatoes on the crispy side, the ID Series 6, which costs around £1,200 quickly learns that preference.
Combi-Steam ovens from upmarket New Zealand brand Fisher & Paykel, which retail from around £1,000 depending on the model, for example, already include a voice-activated oven door that can be controlled via an app.
Over at Bosch, AI is also being embraced when it comes to cooking up a storm; the brand’s Series 8 built-in ovens comes with a 6.8in touch screen and a digital control ring engraved in the glass.
Sophie Lane, product training manager at Miele GB says consumers want the same tech they have elsewhere extended to one of the most important rooms in the home.
She tells the Daily Mail: ‘What’s really driving the next wave of innovation is the move towards more intelligent, connected appliances that deliver consistently high-quality results.
‘It’s not just about one feature, it’s the combination of connectivity, sensors and automatic programmes that’s transforming how people cook and giving them greater confidence in the kitchen.’
And a burnt frying pan could soon also be confined to the cooking history books too.
Next month sees Miele launch its KM8000 induction hob paired with M Sense cookware – essentially using pans with built-in sensors that communicate directly with the hob to automatically adjust heat levels and prevent boiling over.
So, could it soon be thank you and goodnight to the air fryer, then?
Chloe Blanchfield, product and consumer manager at Hisense, says the brand is now introducing ovens with built-in air fryer functionality at all levels from entry to premium.
She explains: ‘The oven’s central role within the kitchen makes it difficult to replace. Air fryers simply cannot match the capacity or versatility of an oven and many modern smart ovens now feature dedicated air-fry settings that deliver comparable results without requiring manual input.’
Blanchfield adds that besides the technology, aesthetics play a major role too, with cooks simply tired of having work surfaces that are cluttered up with appliances.
‘There is a clear shift towards sleeker kitchen designs with minimal countertop clutter. Even those who favour more expressive or maximalist interiors still want the flexibility to decide what is on display – typically prioritising aesthetics over functional appliances,’ she says.
