The Best Gadgets to Turn Your Regular Kitchen Into a Smart One

If you're interested in home automation and smart technology, you might have explored using smart appliances in the kitchen-but smart appliances can be expensive, and you might question the wisdom of replacing a perfectly good range or fridge if there's nothing wrong with it other than a lack of smart tech.

Luckily, there are some DIY upgrades that can smarten up your kitchen at a fraction of the cost.

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While you can spend upwards of $15,000 on a smart fridge if you get one with all the bells and whistles, there are a few DIY upgrades that can make your regular fridge a lot smarter.

Mount a tablet for a smart fridge" workaround

Add a mount to your fridge to conveniently check the availability of grocery items, build your shopping list, and keep track of coupons. A magnetic one will work for metal fridges, but choose one that has a good warranty, like the Mippko Magnetic Mount, which has a five-year guarantee. You can get a decent quality tablet mount for between $25 and $60.

Add smart sensors to your fridge and freezer

Although most fridges, smart or not, are designed to control the interior temperature and moisture pretty well, if you want to keep tabs on what's going on inside, you can get sensors that will relay that information to your smartphone. Keeping your veggies fresh for longer or making sure that your cold brew is steeping at just the right temperature is simpler with sensors, and they will also alert you to a door left ajar. You can add them for around $50.

Add a fridge cam

If you're prone to forgetting what's left in the fridge between the door and the grocery store, or if you want to double-check ingredients for dinner to see if you need to stop on your way home, a fridge cam is a good solution. You can get one for between $150 and $200, and although that's a little pricey for a remote camera, it's a lot cheaper than a new fridge, and it will last longer than a cheaper one that's not designed for use inside a refrigerator.

Devices to smarten up your oven

A smart range can cost over $3,000, depending on the size and features. But you can use some upgrades to make your oven smarter without replacing it.

Use a smart meat thermometer

A Chef IQ smart meat thermometer will give you live updates on your meal as it cooks, sent right to your smartphone, starting at around $100. In addition to monitoring, you can set cooking temperatures alerts so you'll know when your meal is done cooking based on the recipe you're using.

Use a smart speaker for recipes and conversions

A smart speaker like an Echo Dot that can read recipes aloud, help you do conversions, or answer kitchen-related questions is a good option for easier recipe-making. You can get a basic one for around $50, or much less if you wait for a sale.

Use a hands-free timer

You can use a voice-activated timer to set oven timing and an alarm that will alert you when the food is ready. Instead of getting your sticky kitchen fingers on your knobs and buttons, a voice-activated timer allows you to set your cook time without touching your appliances.

Smarten up your sink

Touchless faucets and water usage apps are gaining popularity because of their convenience and potential water bill savings, but smart faucets cost between $350 and $700, depending on the brand a features. Here are some ways to smarten up your sink without breaking the bank in the process.

Add a touchless faucet adapter

For a cheaper smart faucet alternative, you can add an adapter to your existing faucet to make it a touchless one. You'll need to have a freestanding faucet without a removable wand to make this device practical, but it only costs about $30 to add.

Add smart leak detection

You can install smart leak detector that will send an alert to your smartphone if it senses moisture. A multipack of leak detectors can outfit your whole house, including your dishwasher and kitchen sink, so that you'll know right away if there's water somewhere there shouldn't be. Expect to pay between $30 and $75.

Use smart plugs for smaller appliances

Rather than getting a new slow cooker, coffee pot, or electric kettle that can be programmed or activated from your phone, you can plug these appliances into a smart plug. This will allow you to control many of their functions without the need for embedded smart tech.

A set of smart plugs costs around $30 and if you use a smart speaker with Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa, you won't need a hub (though you can install a smart home hub for around $130). You can use smart plugs to control the lighting in your kitchen, whether to program a particular schedule or turn the lights on from your phone or tablet as you get up for a midnight snack. Most smart plugs are also be voice-activated, like this two-pack from GE, allowing you to turn your appliances on and off when your hands are full or covered in dough.