7 Convenient Kitchen Appliance Features for 2025
Soft-close doors and fridge cameras were just two of the clever kitchen appliance features at the recent KBIS show
The annual combined Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders’ Show (IBS) is always a great place to check out the latest bells and whistles available in kitchen appliances. The 2025 event, held Feb. 25-27 in Las Vegas, was no exception. Here are seven features that stood out for their combination of ingenuity and practical application.
Dacor 24-inch dishwasher
2. Pop-Open Dishwasher Doors
Nobody likes opening a dishwasher and finding wet and spotted dishes. Heat, fans and a stainless steel tub can help, but to dry dishes more quickly and efficiently, manufacturers are increasingly adding an automatic-open feature that slightly opens the dishwasher door at the completion of the wash cycle to discharge steam.
One especially sleek-looking example showcased at KBIS was this AutoRelease-equipped Dacor dishwasher.
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2. Pop-Open Dishwasher Doors
Nobody likes opening a dishwasher and finding wet and spotted dishes. Heat, fans and a stainless steel tub can help, but to dry dishes more quickly and efficiently, manufacturers are increasingly adding an automatic-open feature that slightly opens the dishwasher door at the completion of the wash cycle to discharge steam.
One especially sleek-looking example showcased at KBIS was this AutoRelease-equipped Dacor dishwasher.
10 Kitchen Appliance Trends for 2025
JennAir Rise induction professional-style range
3. Soft-Close Doors and Drawers
Slamming appliance doors and drawers can be loud and even dangerous, especially for kids. They can also cause wear and tear on the appliance and make its contents shift or fall. Taking cues from cabinet design, many of the appliance manufacturers at KBIS showed off soft-closing features on their latest oven and refrigerator doors and drawers. For example, JennAir’s new 48-inch induction pro-style range, seen here, has a smooth-close mechanism that gently pulls the oven door closed. And ZLine’s new built-in refrigerators with graphite gray interiors have smooth-closing fridge drawers.
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3. Soft-Close Doors and Drawers
Slamming appliance doors and drawers can be loud and even dangerous, especially for kids. They can also cause wear and tear on the appliance and make its contents shift or fall. Taking cues from cabinet design, many of the appliance manufacturers at KBIS showed off soft-closing features on their latest oven and refrigerator doors and drawers. For example, JennAir’s new 48-inch induction pro-style range, seen here, has a smooth-close mechanism that gently pulls the oven door closed. And ZLine’s new built-in refrigerators with graphite gray interiors have smooth-closing fridge drawers.
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LG counter-depth MAX refrigerator with Zero Clearance hinges
4. Fully Flush Hinges
Built-in and integrated refrigerators that are completely flush with surrounding cabinetry are a huge kitchen trend. But they’re typically significantly pricier than standalone refrigerators. And counter-depth fridges aren’t a perfect alternative since, despite their name, they typically stick out a door’s width beyond cabinetry.
But at KBIS, LG debuted an expanded line of three- and four-door counter-depth Max refrigerators that bridge the gap. They have 45% thinner doors (without compromising insulation) and new Zero Clearance hinges, which allow the main compartment’s doors to open fully with only 4 millimeters of clearance between the side of the appliance and the adjacent cabinetry or wall. They were a Best of IBS award finalist in the kitchen and bath category, which reflects the innovation behind their design. With the seamless trend showing no sign of slowing, other manufacturers are sure to follow their lead.
4. Fully Flush Hinges
Built-in and integrated refrigerators that are completely flush with surrounding cabinetry are a huge kitchen trend. But they’re typically significantly pricier than standalone refrigerators. And counter-depth fridges aren’t a perfect alternative since, despite their name, they typically stick out a door’s width beyond cabinetry.
But at KBIS, LG debuted an expanded line of three- and four-door counter-depth Max refrigerators that bridge the gap. They have 45% thinner doors (without compromising insulation) and new Zero Clearance hinges, which allow the main compartment’s doors to open fully with only 4 millimeters of clearance between the side of the appliance and the adjacent cabinetry or wall. They were a Best of IBS award finalist in the kitchen and bath category, which reflects the innovation behind their design. With the seamless trend showing no sign of slowing, other manufacturers are sure to follow their lead.
Midea OneTouch AutoFill ice and water dispenser
5. Autofill Water and Ice Dispenser
If you have better things to do than wait for your huge Stanley tumbler to fill, you’re in luck: At KBIS, Midea debuted its OneTouch AutoFill ice and water dispenser that lets you press a button and step away. The feature’s auto-sensing technology detects the size of a cup (up to 10 inches tall and 40 ounces in capacity) for the perfect fill.
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5. Autofill Water and Ice Dispenser
If you have better things to do than wait for your huge Stanley tumbler to fill, you’re in luck: At KBIS, Midea debuted its OneTouch AutoFill ice and water dispenser that lets you press a button and step away. The feature’s auto-sensing technology detects the size of a cup (up to 10 inches tall and 40 ounces in capacity) for the perfect fill.
7 Exciting Design Trends for Kitchen and Bath Products in 2025
Miele MasterCool refrigerator
6. Built-In Fridge Cameras
If you often stand in a grocery store wondering whether you have an ingredient at home, you’re a good candidate for an app-connected in-fridge camera system — a feature that enables a user to see inside their fridge from anywhere using an app on their smartphone. Miele’s new generation of MasterCool refrigerators, for example, includes multiple cameras and can even see inside drawers. (Cameras are popping up increasingly inside ovens too.)
Fridge cameras aren’t just handy — they can lead to less overbuying and thus less food waste. Frequently opening a fridge makes it work harder to regulate its temperature, so cameras can also reduce energy consumption. At KBIS, we saw them in luxury refrigerators (like Miele’s) and the top-of-the line models offered by most major manufacturers (such as Samsung’s Bespoke fridges), but the technology seems bound to trickle down to more midrange models.
6. Built-In Fridge Cameras
If you often stand in a grocery store wondering whether you have an ingredient at home, you’re a good candidate for an app-connected in-fridge camera system — a feature that enables a user to see inside their fridge from anywhere using an app on their smartphone. Miele’s new generation of MasterCool refrigerators, for example, includes multiple cameras and can even see inside drawers. (Cameras are popping up increasingly inside ovens too.)
Fridge cameras aren’t just handy — they can lead to less overbuying and thus less food waste. Frequently opening a fridge makes it work harder to regulate its temperature, so cameras can also reduce energy consumption. At KBIS, we saw them in luxury refrigerators (like Miele’s) and the top-of-the line models offered by most major manufacturers (such as Samsung’s Bespoke fridges), but the technology seems bound to trickle down to more midrange models.
SKS invisible induction island
7. Invisible Induction Cooktops
SKS — formerly known as Signature Kitchen Suite — made a splash at KBIS with this kitchen island with a hidden induction cooktop and pop-up downdraft ventilation system. When not in use, the vent is flush with the countertop and the cooktop blends in with the counter’s wood grain finish, leaving a nearly seamless expanse of functional prep space.
This island is still in development, but invisible induction technology is already available to consumers. For example, the already-available outdoor Cosmopolitan kitchen from Danver, which was also on display at KBIS, is prepped to fit Invisacook induction burners.
While invisible induction admittedly is more niche and high-tech than some of the simple features mentioned previously, as it becomes more widespread, it could be a game changer — particularly in compact kitchens, since it effectively reclaims a cooktop’s width of countertop.
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7. Invisible Induction Cooktops
SKS — formerly known as Signature Kitchen Suite — made a splash at KBIS with this kitchen island with a hidden induction cooktop and pop-up downdraft ventilation system. When not in use, the vent is flush with the countertop and the cooktop blends in with the counter’s wood grain finish, leaving a nearly seamless expanse of functional prep space.
This island is still in development, but invisible induction technology is already available to consumers. For example, the already-available outdoor Cosmopolitan kitchen from Danver, which was also on display at KBIS, is prepped to fit Invisacook induction burners.
While invisible induction admittedly is more niche and high-tech than some of the simple features mentioned previously, as it becomes more widespread, it could be a game changer — particularly in compact kitchens, since it effectively reclaims a cooktop’s width of countertop.
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1. Removable Coordinating Accessories
Among the handiest yet simplest appliance features gaining popularity are removable accessories that enhance functionality and storage capacity.
For example, a survey of refrigerators at KBIS suggests that removable water pitchers — such as this one in Café’s new counter-depth smart refrigerators — are catching on, allowing users to dispense filtered water in the fridge or bring the pitcher to the table. (Café’s, which was introduced a few years ago, automatically refills when docked.) Whirlpool’s four-door refrigerator had new Tupperware-like bins that fit perfectly into a space-saving Prep and Store shelf. And in the laundry category, LG showed off removable laundry baskets designed to fit just right in its pedestal storage drawers.
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