10 Clever Home Appliance Innovations You’ll See in 2026
KBIS 2026 was filled with industry firsts. Much of the innovation on display in the expansive home and kitchen display involved large appliances. Major brands including Samsung, LG, GE and Sharp were on hand to provide insight into the future of home technology.
We were there to see it all up close and talk with product managers, engineers, and brand reps about all the new major appliance features coming in 2026.
The latest refrigerators, ovens, dishwasher And laundry systems were well represented at the show, and the innovations on display weren’t just flashy: they were practical improvements designed to make life at home a little easier.
Here are 10 highlights of KBIS 2026.
1. Golden Heater, a new rapid cooking technology
Sharp has launched its Celerity stove featuring industry-first cooking technology.
It’s not every year that we discover a new type of cooking technology. Sharp’s new Celerity oven features “Golden Heater” technology that fuses microwave heat, true convection and infrared heat to cook food three times faster than a standard oven. We enjoyed cookies baked in just 9 minutes, which would normally take 15 minutes. The result? They were as good as grandma’s.
2. Refrigerator Barcode Scanner to Easily Create Grocery List
A convenient built-in scanner helps you track grocery items when you run out.
This technology was the first revealed at CES but GE Profile was on hand at KBIS to showcase its proprietary grocery store barcode-reading refrigerator.
The smart fridge has a small scanner on the front door that lets you scan groceries when you run out. From there, you can add them to a list on your phone or shop directly through the brand’s Instacart integration.
3. Oven cooking sensors
Several ovens on display at KBIS are equipped with cooking sensors that alert you when food is browning, so you don’t overcook it.
Oven manufacturers have also gotten smarter. Ovens have had cameras for some time, but more innovative algorithms are learning to use them better. Cooking sensors, which monitor food as it cooks for signs of browning and alert you when it gets close, are designed to prevent burning and overcooking.
KitchenAid, Sharp and LG are just some of the kitchen brands that are integrating a cooking sensor into their upcoming ovens.
4. Bottle and straw washers
The Midea washing machine is equipped with dedicated reusable straw washers.
One of our favorite upgrades was Midea’s straw washing station in its new washing machines, scheduled to launch this year. Straws are notoriously difficult to clean, but this dedicated spot on the bottom rack shoots water directly into your reusable straws, ridding them of grime, mold, and other buildup.
5. Integrated basket to store your sweaters
This simple addition to the washing machine drum protects your sweaters and delicate clothes from abuse.
Whirlpool unveiled the first in the industry built-in delicate laundry basket. A simple design that allows you to wash delicate sweaters and shirts with a regular load.
The basket protects these items from the hard knocks that occur during a standard wash. It’s also a good way to hold socks together, making them easier to match when it’s time to fold them.
6. Nugget ice maker for the refrigerator
Whirlpool’s new refrigerator produces nugget ice in the front and classic cubes in the freezer below.
With all the excitement surrounding nugget ice, it’s hard to believe we just got our first refrigerator with a built-in nugget ice maker. Whirlpool’s latest release pumps crisp, chewable ice from a front dispenser and standard ice cubes from the bottom freezer.
7. UV cleaning of the washing machine
UV cleaning allows the machine to fight bacteria even when washing in cold water.
Although this one seemed a bit gimmicky to me, Whirlpool introduced the world’s first UV cleaning washing machine, which blasts clothes during a standard wash to kill bacteria.
The goal of UV cleaning is to fight bacteria without using boiling water, which can damage fabrics over time.
8. An integrated vacuum tank
The feature-rich oven from SKS has an integrated vacuum tank.
Sous vide cooking has been adopted by amateur cooks and professional chefs alike. Low and slow bain-marie usually requires specialist equipment, but SKS’ new feature-rich stove has a vacuum tank built into the cooktop.
The trap? The cooker, with gas and induction burners and many other innovative features, costs a the whopping sum of $12,000.
9. Lower dishwasher rack that flips up for easy loading
A dishwasher with a lower rack that flips up for easy loading? Yes please.
The soon-to-be-launched Kenmore dishwasher features a simple update that makes loading and unloading easier. The lower basket slides and flips to the same height as the upper basket. This will certainly be a welcome innovation for those with back problems or mobility issues.
10. Smart AutoFill Water Dispensers
Smart auto-fill lets you set down a glass or bottle and walk away while it fills.
Refrigerators are getting smarter and that includes pouring spouts. We’ve seen several refrigerators, including those from GE and KitchenAid, with smart autofill technologies that use cameras or weight sensors to determine exactly how much water to fill in a bottle or glass. When it’s 90% full, the water stops, allowing you to get going again.
