17 Best Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $300 $200 & $100

In this article, I review the 17 best smart kitchen gadgets under $300 $200 and $100 respectively. Heck, I’ll also include a couple of smart kitchen gadgets under $50.

Among them are a blender that displays nutritional data on your smartphone, a smart kitchen scale that works with your iPad, and a trashcan that opens on command.

Here are my picks organized by price:

• Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $300
• Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $200
• Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $100
• Bonus! Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $50

You can use the links above to jump down to the section for your budget or peruse the full table of contents below. All of my picks make great gifts that you can give at the holidays, weddings, showers, or as birthday gifts any time of year.

I’ll include some handy price comparison tables so you can compare the products in each category at a glance as well as go into more detail about each product.

Sound ok? Let’s get you some smart kitchen gadgets.

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Smart Kitchen Gadgets Make Cooking Fun

Ah yes, the best smart kitchen gadgets — toasters, coffee makers, slow cookers, blenders, moppers, mixers, scales, and—

BAM!

[Remember Emeril Lagasse’s cooking show on Food Network? I used to love when he did that whole BAM thing. He also has a killer turkey-sausage chili recipe.]

The best smart kitchen appliances can help make your life easier in the kitchen—and more fun.

Like Emeril, they can also help you to “kick it up a notch.”

The future of cooking looks bright. So bright in fact, that the global smart appliances revenue is projected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2020-2025) of 16.0% over the next five years, resulting in a projected market volume of US$13,414m by 2025. Household penetration will be 7.4% in 2021 and is expected to hit 18.9% by 2025.

That’s some pretty crazy growth, right?

So now that we know you, Emeril, and I are in good company, let’s dive a little deeper into the smart kitchen technology gadgets for 2021 and beyond.

They’re great to give as gifts, especially to yourself. 😉

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Best Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $300

Here is a summary of my top picks of the best smart kitchen gadgets for under $300:

#1 → Tricked-Out Smart Display: Facebook Portal

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I think Facebook Portal is the coolest of the smart displays, mainly because it has the largest monitor and it lets you rotate it into Portrait mode. This can be a huge space saver in the kitchen and is super helpful where guided recipes and video calls are concerned. Speaking of video calls, Portal is the only speaker right now that will actually follow you around the room to keep you in the Frame during your calls. Amazon has added this to the new (smaller) Echo Show 10, but it is not available just yet.

There are lots more features as well. Check out my comparison of the Facebook Portal Plus vs Amazon Echo Show vs Google Nest Hub if you are interested in learning more.

#2 → Microwave on Steriods: Amazon Smart Oven

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Amazon followed up last year’s introduction of its new Amazon Basics Microwave by announcing a more sophisticated version at it hardware event in September. Like the AmazonBasics micro, the Amazon Smart Oven works with Alexa for voice control.  For example: “Alexa, Microwave for two minutes” or “Alexa, Stop the Microwave.” But the Smart Oven’s scan-to-cook technology just blows me away. Hungry for a frozen dinner? Simply scan the barcode, and the Smart Oven automatically adjusts power levels, cook times and more, according to package instructions. This makes it a super-smart choice for anyone who does a lot of microwaving.  This is one of the best smart kitchen gadgets I am asking Santa to deliver this year.

#3 → Touch-Free Trashcan: simplehuman

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Germ-a-phobes rejoice! The simplehuman Touch Free Trash Can / Recycler makes having to touch any part of your trashcan on a regular basis a thing of the past. In fact, the only time you’ll need to put your hands on this puppy is when it comes time to change the bag. With super-sensitive voice recognition, you just say “Open Can” and the cover raises for you auto-magically. What? Now, how cool is that. Don’t feel like talking? No worries…just wave your hand over the top and infrared fields sense the motion and open the can automatically.

This model is currently not available over at Amazon but you can check the latest pricing over at SimpleHuman.com.

Thanks to CNET for this “handy” video review.  [I’m not sure why your hands would ever be “full of chicken guts” though. Gross!]

Depending on the model you buy, the simplehuman trash can has either one or two compartments The two-compartment can has one for trash and one for recycling. Simple Human makes also makes both extra strong trash bags and recyclable trash bags. They’re not required, but they designed to be a perfect fit for the Touch-Free, so you may as well stock up. Nice work on the up-sell guys. If you can’t already tell, this is one of my favorites on the list of best smart kitchen technology devices this year.

#4 → Smart Toaster: Breville Die-Cast 4 Slice

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When we initially started searching for the perfect smart toaster, we went looking for one that was compatible with our smartphones and Alexa. Then we thought for a minute. Why on earth would we want to control a toaster with our smartphone? LOL. I mean, you’ve got to stick some bread in the darn thing anyway right?

The Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster has some pretty smart technology even without your phone, Alexa, or Siri. For example, one really cool thing about it is that it’s motorized. Your bread/toast falls and rises like an elevator scene from your favorite movie. The one-button toaster lets you preview your toast during the baking, er toasting, cycle. Moreover, it is safe to touch on the outside even after heating. This is good news for “someone” who “may” have burnt his hands putting away an old school toaster in the past. But we won’t name any names here. You can also get the Die-Cast Two-Slice Model with pretty much the same feature set.

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Best Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $200

Here is a summary of my picks for best smart kitchen gadgets for under $200 followed by mini-reviews of each product.

#5 → Smarter Blender: Nutribullet Balance

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Know a smoothie nut? Then the Bluetooth-enabled Balance Smart Blender from Nutribullet with the “world’s first nutrient extractor” would make a perfect gift. Through the Nutribullet Balance app, it connects to your smartphone and sends nutritional information as real-time as you add it to the blender bottle. This device is freakishly accurate in our testing and probably one of the smartest devices we’ve come across. Add spinach to the cup, and it automatically displays how much you’ve added as well as nutritional data on your connected device. Now you’ll know how many calories, fat, carbs, and proteins you’re consuming in every drink. Now you can go ahead and make that guilt-free green smoothie. Yum. Just go easy on the yogurt. 😉

#6  → Indoor Hydroponic Garden: AeroGarden

If you aren’t familiar with hydroponics, it basically the science of growing planets in door without the use of soil. The science has gotten so good in fact, that it is practically impossible to fail.  AeroGarden from MiracleGrow (yes that MiracleGrow) makes some of the best smart hydroponics systems out there. They have a wi-fi enabled one that lets you track and feed your plants via your smartphone, but that is probably overkill for most.  I’m going to recommend a slightly less smart and more affordable version that comes in a cool-looking stainless steel finish that will look pretty spectacular in your kitchen. The people who grow using these systems love them. I wrote a blog post awhile back about some of the best smart hydroponics systems for beginners if you are interested in learning more.

#7 → Alexa 10″ Display: Amazon Echo Show 2nd Gen

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Despite Amazon releasing two smaller versions of the Echo Show this year, the 2nd-Generation Amazon Echo Show remains one of my favorite smart kitchen technology devices. The Show not only helps you with timers and alarms, but you can use it to display your favorite recipes on-screen step by step. You can also use it to call mom hands free or watch your favorite music videos or YouTube memes while whipping up a little something-something. Oh, and pair it with a highly affordable Wyze cam, and you have the ability to monitor your front door, a baby’s room, or any room in the house. You can learn more about how the 2nd-Gen Show measures up against the Echo Show 8 and 5 in this article I wrote.

#8 → Alexa-Enabled Slowcooker: Crockpot 6 Quart

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I don’t know about you but I have always loved using my slow cooker. The ability to make simple meals that are savory and delicious and to set it and forget has been a boon for a bachelor like me. This latest Crockpot from the champ of slow cookers takes the convenience factor a step further.

You can ask Alexa to start or stop the slow cooker, program cook-times, adjust heat settings, and even check the status of your meal from anywhere. You don’t even need an Alexa-enabled device for it to work as you can control it using the free Alexa app on your phone or tablet. However, just asking Alexa via my Echo Show sitting on my kitchen counter just makes the experience even more magical. You can program cook-times from 30 minutes to 20 hours and even adjust cook settings while you are away from home. Smart.

#9 → Sous Vide Cooker: Anova Culinary

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Next on our list of best smart kitchen technology appliances and gadgets is the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker. I have to admit, I was a bit lukewarm to the idea of “precision cooking” before I started researching this article. How does it differ from cooking on the stovetop or grill, I wondered? Bill Clark from Anova’s own Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker offers a great explanation. [You can see a video interview with him on Amazon’s product page.] “Grilling leaves hot spots and cold spots and everything in between…with precision cooking you get your desired doneness all way through,” Clark said. Cooking with the Sous Vide is simple. You just fill a pot with water, clip the cooker, sync it to the app, put your food in a plastic bag, and clamp the bag into the water. If you’re interested in learning more about Sous Vide cooking, check out this great video guide for beginners from Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food.

Again, the benefit is that it allows you to cook your food to the desired temperature with precision. This not only ensures the food is cooked the right temperature for taste but it address health concerns about under-cooked food as well.

#10 → Budget Robot Mop: iRobot Braava Jet 240

Especially during busy times of the year like the holidays or when you are entertaining, there is no better way to clean up your messy kitchen and bathroom floors than having to do nothing at all! Robot mops and vacuums used to be too expensive to be affordable for most. Thankfully, this is no longer the case, and these are now more affordable than ever. While there is a ton of competing products in this space, the iRobot Braava Jet 240 is a wonderful budget option in a robot moppers.

People you own this mop rave about it and you can’t beat the price. It gets into hard to reach places, including under and around toilets, into corners, and below cabinets, using an efficient, systematic cleaning pattern.  It’s also pretty versatile and has options for both wet and dry sweeping.  Totally a back saver. If you want to see some additional options, check out this article I wrote comparing the Roborock s6 vs Braava m6 vs 360 robot mops.

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Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $100

The following table provides a summary of my picks for the best smart kitchen gadgets under $100:

#11 → Alexa Coffee Maker Hamilton Beach

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Wouldn’t it be cool if you just have Alexa fire up the coffee maker for you in the morning so that you can have a nice hot cup of Joe waiting right when you get out of bed?  You can. “Alexa, turn on my coffee maker”  is now a reality with this gem from Hamilton Beach. You can ask
Alexa to turn on your coffee maker to brew up to 12 cups in the glass carafe. Have a favorite coffee? Add it easily using the swing-out brew basket and pour in water without pulling the coffee maker out from under the cabinets, thanks to the front-fill water reservoir. You can even choose your desired brew strength — regular or bold — through the Alexa app, via voice command or manually. The Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker works with the Alexa app or with Amazon Echo devices, such as Amazon Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Show, and more.

#12 → Connected Kitchen Scale: Drop

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If you like to try new recipes AND you have an iPad, the Drop Connected Kitchen Scale can give you a productivity boost in the kitchen. For around $100 depending on where you shop, the Drop connects to your iPad and gives you step-by-step instructions for cooking a variety of delectable delights. The app weighs ingredients as you go and tells you when you’ve added enough. Oh, and if you want to use it as a scale to weigh out your breakfast granola or gym meals, it does that as well.

Check out this video from Ben Harris, CEO of Drop explaining how the scale works. Great accent dude!  And the scones look yummy too.

Editor’s Tip: This product is designed to work with an iPad. Customers have complained about trying to get it to work with their smartphones. Also, you’ll need a current version of the iPad, so be sure to check the requirements carefully before you buy one.

#13 → Alexa 8″ Display: Echo Show 8

While I own both the Echo Show 2nd Gen and the Echo Show 8, I have my 2nd Gen Show displayed proudly on my kitchen counter and my I use my Echo Show 8 in my bedroom. However, the Echo Show 8 is less expensive than the larger 2nd Generation Show and I understand now everyone is as crazy as I am about having smart screens all over the place. LOL. That said, the Echo Show 8 offers pretty much all of the benefits as the 2nd Gen Show in the kitchen. You can use it to browse recipes, set timers, check the weather, browse YouTube, control other Alexa enabled devices, make video calls, and much more. The Echo Show 5 could potentially work in the kitchen as well, although with my eyesight I find it is helpful having a larger screen in the kitchen. Check out this post I wrote if you want a breakdown of the technical differences of the Echo Show 8 vs Echo Show 5 vs Echo Show 2nd Gen.

#14 → Dual Prob Kitchen Thermometer: iDevices

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The iDevices Smart Kitchen Thermometer is another one of our favorite best small kitchen appliances for your smart home kitchen. This little tech gadget simply does what it was designed to do and it does it well. That is, it monitors the cooking temperature of whatever you are stewing, roasting, broiling, or baking and notifies on your smartphone when it’s done. The thermometer automatically syncs up with the iDevices app on your iOS connected device. It then displays the real-time temperature of what you are cooking and notifies you when dinner is ready. Two probes allow you to select two different zones to ensure the desired done-ness. The app also includes a variety of recipes if you’re looking for new ideas. This is one of our most essential smart kitchen technology appliances and gadgets on our list for any aspiring cook.

#15 → Kitchen Ambience: Philips Hue Lightstrip

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Last on our list of smart kitchen appliances is a bright idea for your smart home kitchen. What is it?  An idea I LOVE ♥—smart LED lighting in the kitchen. Why? It just looks cool. LED light strips to help create a perfect ambiance whether you are dining, cooking, or entertaining. Stick them under countertops, around kitchen islands, under cabinets, or where the wall meets the ceiling. They give off a perfect splash of colorful light to help lift your mood. Oh, and they also go great with a full-bodied Cote de Nuits. I like the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Lightstrip for its reliability, smart device compatibility, and ability to bend and install easily. There are also less expensive options available. By the way, these look great behind your living room TV, too.

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Smart Kitchen Gadgets Under $50

Here is a summary of my picks for the best smart kitchen gadgets under $50.

#16 → Pizza Pizzazz: Presto Plus

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Impress your friends — or maybe your kids or your significant other — with your tech-savviness while you whip them up a hot and delicious pizza cooked to perfection every time. You can add all of your favorite toppings can it does a great job on both fresh and frozen pizzas. You can even use its rotating action to cook, up some perfect chicken wings and nuggets, jalapeño poppers, pizza rolls, fish fillets, egg rolls, and more. It also can be used to make quesadillas and grilled sandwiches to boot! Yum!

#17 → Budget Kitchen Scale: Homeever

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Currently, this is Amazon’s Choice for a connected kitchen scale and I can see why. The interface works just like a regular scale making it super easy to use. It offers multiple units of measure (grams, ounces, pounds, kilograms and milliliters)  and includes a tare function that makes it to subtract the weight of containers etc.  This makes it super convenient for you to measure the pure weight of the food or liquid inside your containers, pots, pans, etc.

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Best Smart Kitchen Appliances – Your Turn

Without question, the Internet of Things [IoT] is alive and well in the kitchen.  And the future of cooking sure looks bright [source: Epicurious.com].

So what do you think about our picks for the best smart kitchen gadgets this year?

Do you plan to purchase any of this tech? Perhaps you have a favorite essential kitchen device you feel I missed?

If so, I would love to hear about it. Please leave a comment below and let me know.

Also, if you enjoyed this article would you mind giving us a social share using the buttons at the top or bottom of this page?  Thanks for your support!

You may also be interested in some of our other blog posts.  I’ll include some links to similar posts below.

But most importantly, bon appétit!

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You Might Also Like

If you enjoyed this article about the best smart kitchen gadgets under $300 $200 and $100, you might also like:

• Roborock s5 vs Braava m6 vs 360: Let’s Get Robot Moppin!
• Echo Show 2 vs Facebook Portal Plus vs Nest Hub Max:
• Smart Home Ideas 2021 [17 Tech Gadget Gifts They Will Love]
• A+ Alexa! 19 Awesome Amazon Echo Device Gifts for 2021
• Yay, Alexa! 9 Best Amazon Device Gifts for Kids

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About the Author

Tim Brennan, Technical Writer & Blogger

Tim Brennan [a.k.a. "Tec Timmy"] is a senior technical writer with over 20 years of experience writing for companies and organizations in and around Greater Boston, including GE and MIT. In addition to actively writing for this smart home blog, Tim is also a regular contributor over at UniversalRemoteReviews.com. Tim holds a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University. Brennan is a father to two sons, an active blogger, a Star Wars nut, and loves a good taco🌮. There is a strong chance he is developing a crush on Amazon Alexa. You can learn more about Tim here.