Buying a full suite of kitchen appliances for a new home is a tremendous opportunity to embrace your new life, improving so many aspects of your day-to-day habits. Buying appliances isn’t something you do regularly, often with years in between, so there is always a lot to learn along the way. This list of must-have kitchen appliances with highlighted features to look out for will allow you to hit the ground running so you can make informed decisions that will set you up for success.
1. Refrigerator
A high-quality fridge freezer is first on the list of essential kitchen appliances — something every home simply has to have to keep food fresh and beverages cold. They come in a wide range of types and styles including top mount, bottom mount, side-by-side, French door and more. Integrated fridges, that blend in seamlessly with your kitchen panels, have also become incredibly popular in Australia, especially for those looking to capture contemporary aesthetics with their interior design.
New features to look out for:
- Smart connectivity for remote monitoring and control
- Built-in cameras to see the contents of your fridge
- Touchscreen interfaces for recipe suggestions and grocery lists
- Temperature and humidity controls for different zones
2. Oven
Your next big ticket item will be an oven, an absolute necessity to meet all your baking and roasting needs. Depending on the size of your new kitchen, you will likely either choose a wall oven that's built into your kitchen cabinetry or a freestanding model that you can essentially place anywhere. Beyond this, you may also want to consider options like steam ovens which have a reputation for fostering healthy cooking, or combination ovens which incorporate two types, typically steam and microwave, together meaning there's one less appliance required.
New features to look out for:
- Advanced convection systems with multiple fans for fast and even cooking
- Sous vide functions for precise low-temperature cooking
- Self-cleaning modes like steam and pyrolytic cleaning
- Built-in temperature probes to alert you when food reaches specified temperatures
3. Cooktop
A cooktop is another cooking appliance you'll need to cater to all your dishes that require pots and pans, of which there are plenty. The options you'll have to choose from are just as abundant with gas, ceramic and induction cooktops, as well as combination models, which are fairly new to the market. Thinking about how many elements/hobs you'll need is also important as well as the size which typically ranges between 60cm and 90cm.
New features to look out for:
- Automatic pan detection
- Flexible cooking zones for different sized cookware
- Downdraft ventilation (particularly good for cooktops on kitchen islands)
Related article: Ceramic vs gas vs induction cooktops — which is best for you?
4. Microwave oven
A self-explanatory inclusion, microwaves are great for heating, reheating and defrosting dishes when time is of the essence. Like ovens, built in microwaves have become very popular in this country for their integrated look. The most recent innovations with these products tend to be those that combine multiple modes of cooking like steam cooking and grilling. This makes a new microwave oven an incredibly versatile offering, perfect for a modern home.
New features to look out for:
- Inverter technology for more consistent and even cooking
- Sensor cooking that can automatically adjust timing and power based on humidity and moisture levels
- Voice control and compatibility with voice assistants
5. Dishwasher
No new homeowner wants to spend time doing dishes after moving in, which makes a quality dishwasher one of the most important appliances in the kitchen. Advances in technology and manufacturing have come a long way with these in recent years making them more water and energy efficient and quieter as a result. Like refrigerators, integrated options that blend seamlessly against your kitchen cabinets, have become a sought-after solution, complementing popular minimalist styling trends.
New features to look out for:
- Quieter operation with reduced noise levels, often below 40 decibels
- Soil sensors that can adjust cleaning based on the level of dirtiness
- Flexible rack systems to accommodate dishes of different shapes and sizes
6. Rangehood
A rangehood is key to ensuring a healthy environment, ventilating steam, smoke and other unwanted pollutants from the kitchen while cooking. New rangehoods are a marked improvement on older versions in the key areas of energy efficiency, noise reduction and design, seamlessly blending into modern kitchen designs.
New features to look out for:
- Enhanced airflow with better motor technology and higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) ratings
- LED Lighting for better illumination
- Automatic sensors to detect steam and smoke and adjust for optimal performance
7. Food waste disposer
A food waste disposal unit is a worthy inclusion in a new home, cleanly and efficiently dealing with food scraps that can otherwise leave unwanted mess and odours in your space. On top of this, they also have strong environmental credentials, reducing waste to liquid form that can be easily dealt with by water treatment systems instead of going to landfills.
New features to look out for:
- High-powered motors with increased horsepower for efficient grinding of tough food waste like avocado stones
- Quiet operation thanks to better insulation and anti-vibration technology
- Anti-jamming features that can reverse grinding direction to prevent clogs
8. Toaster
There's nothing better than the perfect piece of toast done exactly to your liking, which makes the toaster a cherished little appliance. You'll find no shortage of options for these encompassing different sizes and styles. The latter point is more significant than you think as it is often quite a visible appliance on a countertop which provides a great design opportunity in itself.
New features to look out for:
- Digital displays with timers showing toasting progress
- Bagel and other speciality settings
- Even toasting technology with sensors ensures your bread is toasted evenly
9. Kettle
For every cup of tea that gets poured, a reliable kettle has been used to make it. There are countless other uses too including cooking tasks where boiling water is required in quick time. The products have improved greatly in terms of safety and efficiency and there's also a wide variety of styles and colours with something for everyone.
New features to look out for:
- Rapid and quiet boil options
- Boil-dry protection to prevent an element from burning out when the kettle is empty
- Cool touch exteriors to prevent burning
10. Coffee machine
There's always one coffee enthusiast in a household and even if there isn't, there are sure to be guests to your new home that are. A coffee maker will help you create the perfect brew for all occasions, leaving happy friends and family in its wake and the beautiful aroma of coffee beans in the air. You'll find everything from easy-to-use coffee pod machines to artisan espresso machines for serious baristas.
New features to look out for:
- Programmable brewing to have your coffee made when you want it
- Built-in grinders integrated into the machine with adjustable settings
- Automatic cleaning and descaling
11. Water filter
A modern home should be a healthy home and clean, filtered water can help you achieve that. After installing a reputable water filter system, you'll instantly notice the difference and taste and odour, especially if you live in a region in Australia with water quality issues. You'll find both under-sink systems and water filter taps, giving you a number of options to consider.
New features to look out for:
- Advanced filtration systems that remove a wide range of contaminants
- Filter life indicators that tell you when it is time to change a filter
- Quiet operation for reduced noise pollution
12. Stand mixer
Nothing makes a new home more homely than the smell of fresh bread, scones, muffins or cakes and for these things, it helps to have a quality stand mixer. It's another handy appliance that can save you a lot of time mixing, beating and kneading for a variety of cooking and baking tasks. New models also come with a range of attachments that add even more versatility, allowing you to do things like pasta making, meat grinding and vegetable slicing.
New features to look out for:
- Powerful motors for dealing with heavy bread dough and large batches
- Tilt-head and bowl-lift designs that allow easy access to the mixing bowl and attachments
- LED indicator lights for greater clarity in the mixing bowl
13. Blender
Blenders are one of the smaller appliances in the kitchen but they can certainly be used to prepare a wide variety of drinks and dishes like shakes, smoothies, soups, purees, sauces, dressings, nut mixers, spices — the list goes on. If any one of those things is frequently part of your weekly menu then you'll want to be sure you have a high-quality blender by your side.
New features to look out for:
- Self-cleaning modes for easy maintenance
- Sound enclosures for noise control
- Heat-resistant jars for hot sauces and soups
14. Food processor
For larger-scale dishes similar to the above you'll need a food processor, an amazing time saver when you have a large household to cater for. It quickly takes care of time-consuming food prep like chopping, slicing and dicing at the simple press of a button. Like many of these kitchen appliances, new food processors are more versatile, efficient and quieter than they've ever been making it a great time to buy.
New features to look out for:
- A wide range of pre-programmed settings for chopping, slicing, grating and more
- Auto-stop features to stop the food processor when a task is complete
- Integrated scales for precise measuring of ingredients
15. Rice cooker
Rice cookers make cooking rice an effortless task. Simply put rice and water in the cooker, press a button and you're done. It's such a staple element of so many dishes that you'll find yourself using your cooker more than you might realise. They can also be used for porridge, quinoa and other grains, soups and more, but the simplification of rice cooking alone justifies its presence.
New features to look out for:
- Fuzzy Logic Technology that adjusts the temperature and cooking time based on the type of rice and the desired texture
- Dual temperature sensors at the top and bottom of the cooker to monitor temperatures more precisely
- Induction cooking for even heating and consistent cooking results
16. Slow cooker
A slow cooker is a great asset for a busy lifestyle as it allows you to quickly prepare set-and-forget meals. Decently sized, they are also fantastic for cooking in bulk for large families. They are most often used for stews, soups and casseroles making it a well-used appliance, especially in the winter. They are also energy-efficient, helping you save on your electricity bill.
New features to look out for:
- Multi-cooking functions that enable you to do sautéing, browning, steaming, and pressure cooking
- Automatic stirring to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking
- Temperature probes allow for more precise cooking with internal temperature monitoring
17. Air fryer
Five years ago, air fryers probably wouldn't have appeared on any list of must-have kitchen appliances but now they have effectively replaced the deep fryer as the means of creating crispy, fried texture food. There are a number of reasons for this, one of which is that they use significantly less oil than deep fryers making for healthier dishes as a result. They are also user-friendly, energy-efficient and easy to clean.
New features to look out for:
- Temperature and time control with precise and adjustable settings
- Dehydration mode to dehydrate fruits, vegetables and meats
- Rapid air technology for advanced air circulation and even cooking
All your kitchen essentials covered for your new home
With this comprehensive list of must-have appliances, you are now in a great place to create a well-equipped kitchen that will allow you to manage all your everyday tasks with ease. The kitchen space is seen as the hub of the modern home so it pays to give it the care and attention it deserves so one and all can reap the rewards day in and day out.
Related article: 13 kitchenware essentials that every home should have