What's new in kitchen appliances, and what's worth paying for

Built-under pull-out drawer fridges

• A fridge that fits under the worktop and pulls out, so you see everything without kneeling down to the back of a shelf.
• Liebherr URPd 365i: 124 litres, 82 cm high, 60 cm wide, takes your own kitchen door front so it matches the units.
• SoftSystem closes the door gently, even when it is fully loaded.

0 °C BioFresh zones

• Drawers held close to 0 °C, with high humidity for fruit and veg and low humidity for meat and dairy, keep food fresh for up to five times longer than a standard fridge.
• BioFresh Professional adds HydroBreeze cold mist for crisper veg and a -2 °C Fish & Seafood safe - less food thrown away.

Fit-flush built-in side-by-side combinations

• An American-style fridge plus freezer made from two fully integrated columns that sit behind your kitchen doors, rather than a freestanding cabinet.
• Each column fits a standard 178 cm housing (aperture 1,772-1,788 mm high, 56-57 cm wide, 55 cm deep), and models with the side-by-side symbol can be paired side by side or stacked - fridge, freezer, wine or full BioFresh.

Glass pull-out OpenStage drawers

• Clear glass pull-out drawers inside the fridge, laid out like a deli counter, so you can see and reach everything.
• Self-closing, damped drawers with rails to hold bottles steady in the bottom drawer.

LED LightTower lighting

• LED light columns set flush into the side walls light the whole fridge, so everything is lit even when it is full.
• Because they sit flush in the walls, they do not eat into your shelf space.

Freezer drawers that lift out (VarioSpace)

• Under-counter freezer drawers that can be taken right out, giving you extra space for big or awkward items.
• Liebherr SUFNd 365i: fits an 82-88 cm high, 60 cm wide space, NoFrost, and LED lights come on as the drawers open.

Frost free (NoFrost)

• Cold air is blown round the freezer and the moisture taken away, so ice never builds up and you never have to defrost.
• Not every model has it: some use SmartFrost, which only reduces frost build-up - check the spec before you choose.

Energy rating (A to G label)

• Since 1 March 2021 fridges and freezers carry the A to G energy label (A+, A++ and A+++ have gone), so running costs are easy to compare.
• Vacuum insulation panels on some models keep energy use low even after years of use.

Fast freeze (SuperFrost)

• Drops the freezer to its coldest setting (-32 °C) to freeze a big shop quickly and keep its vitamins.
• Switches itself back to normal after 65 hours at the latest, so it does not waste energy if you forget.

• Under-counter single zone: one temperature, e.g. Bosch 21 bottles
• Under-counter dual zone: reds and whites at different temperatures, e.g. Bosch 44 bottles
• Full-height: around 83 bottles in two zones (Liebherr)
• Some Caple coolers convert into a can chiller with optional glass shelves; Liebherr makes a built-under "drinks fridge" for bottles and cans

Door that slides under the oven

• The door disappears under the oven in one move, so you can stand right up to the shelves to baste, season or clean without leaning over a hot door.
• Soft Open & Close damping means the door opens and shuts quietly, however hard you push it.

Built-in camera that watches browning

• A camera inside the oven recognises the dish and suggests the right settings, and you pick how brown you want it in the app.
• You can check on the food from your phone without opening the door and letting heat out.

Air fry built into the oven

• Gives crispy chips and favourites with up to 50% less fat, without a separate air fryer taking up worktop space.
• Comes with its own air fry tray, which is dishwasher safe on this model.

Steam and combi-steam cooking

• Steam mixed with fan heat gives crisp outsides and tender, moist insides on roasts and bread; pure steam keeps vegetables and fish moist.
• Steam reheating brings leftovers back without drying them out. Cheaper 'added steam' ovens (e.g. NEFF Vario Steam) add bursts of steam to normal baking and roasting.

Compact oven with microwave

• A 45cm-high oven that is also a 900W microwave, and can combine microwave with fan or grill, so a second oven and a microwave fit in one space.
• This Bosch model adds air fry and app control too.

Pyrolytic self-cleaning

• The oven locks and heats to about 470°C, turning grease to ash that you just wipe away - no scrubbing or chemicals.
• Not on every model: many compact and combi-microwave ovens have only hydrolytic/steam cleaning (e.g. Bosch CMG7241B1B), so check before you choose.

Fan cooking on several shelves

• Modern fan systems cook on several shelves at once: NEFF CircoTherm and Hotpoint ActiveMultiflow on up to four levels without flavours mixing, Bosch 4D Hotair with even heat 'on any level' - ideal for a Sunday roast or batch baking.
• Not equal on all models: cheaper or compact ovens may only promise even results on one to three levels (e.g. Bosch CMG7241B1B '2D Hotair: even heat on one level').

Meat probe

• Measures the core temperature of meat, fish or poultry so it is cooked through without overdoing it; Siemens' roastingSensor Plus reads three points.
• Mid and top models only (Bosch Series 4 and 8, Siemens iQ700) - e.g. the NEFF B64VS71G0B lists 'Sensors: N/A'.

Venting hobs pull steam down

• The extractor sits in the middle of the hob and draws steam and smells down under the worktop - no hood over your head.
• Faber's Galileo Smart extracts at up to 800 m³/h and has a waterproof motor with a spill reservoir, so a boil-over doesn't stop it working.

Hob and hood talk

• Pair the hob and hood in the app and the hood switches on by itself when you start cooking - you control its speed and light from the hob.
• With Intelligent Hood Automatic the hood matches its fan level to what the hob is doing, then runs on after cooking to clear the air.

Frying sensor stops scorching

• A sensor measures the pan's temperature and keeps it steady, so steaks and stir-fries don't burn.
• Choose from 11 preset temperatures between 70 and 220°C (works on zones marked PerfectFry).

Matt black glass hides marks

• NEFF's new matt black venting hob cuts glare and hides fingerprints and fine scratches.
• It wipes clean streak-free, more easily than a traditional glossy hob.

Flush ceiling hoods, regenerable filters

• Falmec's Nube sits flush in the ceiling with perimeter suction and a remote control - the extraction almost disappears.
• Can't duct outside? A recirculating version uses Falmec's Carbon.Zeo filter, which can be regenerated rather than thrown away.

Hidden flip-open centre vent

• Faber's Galileo Eclipse has a centre grill that you push to open for a bigger intake when you're cooking hard.
• When it's not in use, it closes flush, so the hob just looks like a plain black induction hob.

Induction: fast, precise and safer

• Heat is made in the pan, so it reacts instantly and stops when you switch off. Bosch says it boils 2 litres twice as fast as glass-ceramic.
• Safety features to look for are child lock, pan detection, automatic shut-down and overheat protection. These are listed on the Faber Galileo models, but check each model's spec.

Check the extraction rate and noise

• Check the m³/h rate. The Siemens/Bosch/NEFF venting hobs give 500 m³/h with a boost to 622 m³/h, and the Faber Galileo motors are rated up to 800 m³/h.
• Check the noise too: Siemens EX81AHL26E is 69 dB at max speed and 74 dB on boost, and the Faber Galileo Smart's range is 51-72 dB.

Ducted or recirculating

• Ducted means air goes outside. Recirculating means filters clean it and return it to the room. Faber sells many Galileo hobs as separate ducted (A830) or recirculating (F830) versions, and only the recirculating one comes with filters.
• Recirculating needs odour filters that you change or regenerate. Grease filters on venting hobs come out and go in the dishwasher (NEFF). Not every model can do both, so decide early in the design.

Gas

• Cheapest to run per meal, because gas is cheaper than electricity
• Only about 32% of the energy reaches the pan (ENERGY STAR)
• Open flames, hard to clean, and adds nitrogen dioxide to the air (Which?)

Ceramic

• Smooth glass top, easy to clean, works with any pan
• About 75 to 80% efficient (ENERGY STAR)
• Slowest to heat, dearest to run, and stays hot after use: a risk for children (Which?)

Induction

• About 85% efficient, heats the pan not the glass (ENERGY STAR)
• Fastest: Which? found it boils a large pan in 4.6 minutes against 12.4 on gas
• Needs magnetic pans; anyone with a pacemaker should check with their doctor (Which?)

TimeLight: time left on floor

• Projects the programme status and time remaining onto the floor in front of the dishwasher, so a fully integrated machine with a plain kitchen door still shows what it is doing.
• Everyone in the house can see it is still running and how long is left, so nobody opens it mid-wash.

Zeolith mineral drying

• A natural mineral (Zeolite) soaks up moisture during drying and turns it into hot air, so even hard-to-dry plastics come out ready for the cupboard - no tea towel.
• The minerals recharge themselves during the next wash, so there is nothing to maintain or replace.

DishDrawer: two independent drawers

• Two drawers, each a true half load, that can run different programmes at the same time - fine glass in one, dirty pans in the other.
• Opens like a kitchen drawer so loading is easy, and it can sit behind matching drawer fronts or be placed by a sink, in a scullery or an entertaining area.

Auto-dosing detergent tank

• Fill a built-in tank with liquid detergent and the dishwasher measures out the right amount itself each wash - no tablets to buy or forget.
• ASKO says the tank holds up to 30 days' worth of detergent.

Vario Hinge for raised installs

• When you open the door it lifts the kitchen front panel up so it clears the plinth - the gap needed under the door can be as little as 5 cm.
• Means the dishwasher can sit at floor level or higher (raised for easier loading) with fronts that line up with the rest of the kitchen.

AquaStop leak protection

• Stops the water supply if a hose or the machine leaks - important on an integrated machine you cannot see behind.
• Standard on the Bosch, Siemens and NEFF models checked here (Siemens backs it with a lifetime AquaStop warranty), but not every dishwasher has it - check the spec.

Third-level cutlery drawer

• A shallow top drawer for cutlery, utensils and small items, freeing the lower baskets for plates and pans.
• On mid and upper models (Bosch VarioDrawer / VarioDrawer Pro, Siemens and NEFF cutlery drawer); some cheaper models use a cutlery basket instead.

Height-adjustable top basket

• Rackmatic lets you raise or lower the top basket to three heights, making room for tall glasses or big plates and pans below.
• On NEFF it can be lifted even when the basket is already fully loaded.

Automatic dosing with detergent scan

• Fill the built-in detergent and softener tanks every so often; the machine weighs up the load, fabric and dirt and doses to the millilitre.
• New detergent scan: scan your bottle in the app and it sets the right dose for whatever brand you use.

Self-cleaning heat pump condenser

• The dryer clears lint from its condenser itself on every cycle, so there is no condenser to clean by hand.
• Stops fluff build-up slowly pushing up running costs, so energy use stays low year after year.

Cold-mist crease reduction (smartFinish)

• A cold mist cuts creases by up to 50%, so shirts and blouses come out smoother or ready to wear.
• Less ironing; also available on Siemens iQ700 washing machines, not just the dryers.

Steam refresh in built-in washer-dryers

• Steam-based Refresh removes cooking smells from clothes without a full wash - handy where the washer sits in the kitchen.
• Built in behind a kitchen door, it washes 8 kg and dries 5 kg, with a 60-minute wash-and-dry cycle.

Quiet, long-life inverter motors

• Brushless/inverter motors have less friction, so the machine runs quietly in the background - better for open-plan kitchens.
• Built for a long life (Hotpoint PRO-Inverter; Bosch and NEFF call theirs SilentPowerDrive).

Pet hair cycles and app control

• PetHairCare adds a prewash and extra rinse in the washer (and a burst of steam in the dryer) to lift pet hair into the filter.
• The HomeWhiz app lets you start cycles, change settings and get progress updates on your phone.

Heat pump vs condenser dryer

• Heat pump dryers use up to 77% less energy than B-class condenser dryers and are gentler on clothes.
• Not every dryer is a heat pump - plain condenser models are still sold (e.g. Hotpoint lists both), so check before buying.

Drum size and spin speed

• Freestanding washers now reach 10 kg at 1400 rpm (e.g. Bosch WGH254A0GB); a faster spin means drier clothes and shorter drying.
• Built-in (integrated) washers are usually smaller - Bosch WIW28502GB and NEFF W544BX2GB are 8 kg - so check the size if you wash for a big family.

Built-in vs freestanding (and stacking)

• Integrated machines hide behind a kitchen door to match the units; NEFF lists its built-in washer as not stackable.
• Freestanding Bosch washers and dryers are listed as stackable, so a washer and dryer can sit in a column in a utility using a stacking kit.

Heat pump dryer

• Reuses warm air, so it is by far the cheapest to run
• Costs more to buy
• Gentler on clothes, no hose to the outside

Condenser or vented dryer

• Cheaper to buy
• Costs more than twice as much to run
• Vented dryers need a hose out through a wall

The good bits

• One machine, so it saves space
• Cheaper to buy: Which? cheapest washer-dryer £319 against £429 for the cheapest pair
• Can be fully integrated behind a cupboard door

The downsides

• Most dry less well than a separate dryer
• The drying load is smaller than the washing load
• Much dearer to run than a washer and heat pump dryer

CUBE: chilled still and sparkling

• Filtered chilled still and sparkling water from the same Quooker tap, with the unit hidden in the cupboard beside the tank - no bottles to carry home and no extra gadget on the worktop.
• One CO2 cylinder gives about 60 litres of sparkling water; the filter is changed once a year (set of four cylinders £70, filter £70). Quooker says it replaces about 330 plastic bottles a year for an average household.

COMBI tanks: boiling and hot water

• COMBI gives 7 litres of 100°C water plus instant hot tap water (15 litres at 60°C) from one tank - handy where the boiler is far from the kitchen.
• COMBI+ adds thermostatic control and unlimited hot water from your existing supply; Quooker states the COMBI carries Energy label A.

Quooker Front: controls up front

• Quooker's 'latest and most ergonomic model' - hot and cold controls sit on the front of the spout.
• The front-mounted handle keeps your hand away from the boiling-water outlet.

Flex: pull-out hose, built-in safety

• The only Quooker with a pull-out hose - easier rinsing veg, filling tall pans and cleaning the sink.
• When the hose is pulled out the boiling function stops, so the hose can never give boiling water.

New finishes: Patinated Brass, Gold

• Patinated Brass is a 'living' finish that slowly develops character with use, now on the best-selling Flex.
• Over 35 styles and finishes, including Black, Gunmetal, Rose Copper and Gold, so the tap can match handles and lighting.

BLANCO UNIT: sink area as one

• Sink, tap and under-sink waste and storage designed to work together as one 'waterplace', so everything fits the cupboard below.
• Sinks come for undermount (suits natural stone worktops), flush, inset or flat-rim fitting, in 1, 1.5 or 2 bowls.

Child-safe handle (all Quookers)

• Boiling water only comes when you press the handle twice then turn it, with an illuminated warning ring - inspired by a child-proof medicine bottle.
• Quooker quotes a 2020 Dutch Burns Foundation study finding a boiling-water tap reduces the risk of burns compared with a kettle.

Insulated spout, spray not jet

• Every model has a well-insulated spout, and boiling water comes out as fine droplets, not a solid jet, so you can react straight away.
• Fixed to the worktop, so it cannot tip over like a kettle.

Right tank for your home

• PRO3 (3 litres boiling) suits homes with good hot water already; COMBI/COMBI+ (7 litres boiling plus hot) suit longer pipe runs. Quooker gives 10 W standby for all three tanks.
• Not every tap is 3-in-1: the Nordic Single Tap is boiling-only and sits beside a separate mixer.

Integrated

• Hidden behind doors that match your kitchen, for a calm, uncluttered look
• Flush with the cabinets: nothing sticking out, fewer gaps to clean
• "Likely to be the quietest option", says Quiet Mark, because the noisy parts are enclosed
• Can be fitted at a comfortable height, e.g. a dishwasher raised off the floor

• Costs more: Liebherr integrated fridge freezers start at £979, against £429 freestanding (Grand Designs, May 2026)
• Fewer models to choose from, and a replacement has to match the housing size (Which?)
• Harder to fit, repair and swap, so it is worth buying one that lasts

Freestanding

• Cheaper to buy, and installation is simpler
• Easy to repair, swap, or take with you when you move
• More choice of sizes, colours and styles

• On show, so the kitchen looks busier
• Louder on average, because nothing is enclosed (Quiet Mark)
• American-style models stick out past the worktops and take over the room

Buying cheap

• Less money up front
• Some budget models test well: Which?'s cheapest Best Buy washer-dryer is £349, and is energy and water efficient (Jan 2026)
• Easy to replace if it is freestanding

• Can cost more to own: the cheapest tumble dryer Which? found (£249) cost £1,251 over six years, against £799 for a £529 heat pump dryer
• Budget machines can become uneconomical to repair within 3 to 4 years (Whitegoods Help, a UK repair-trade site)
• Often shorter warranties, and a worse energy rating adds up over the years

Buying better

• Lasts longer: a German study of 1,075 homes found expensive washing machines lasted almost three times as long as cheap ones (University of Bonn, 2016)
• Often more efficient, so cheaper to run
• Better brands usually come with longer warranties and spare parts for longer

• More money up front
• A higher price does not guarantee reliability: Which? says some budget brands rank well and some big names rank poorly
• Within one brand, the dearer model often buys features, not a longer life (Whitegoods Help)

Pay for longer cover

• A built-in long warranty from the maker costs nothing extra: Hotpoint offers 10 years free on parts; Bosch 2 years, extendable to 5
• A repair is covered: Which? puts a washing machine repair at £82 to £108
• A long warranty shows the maker trusts its own product

• Bought separately, extended warranties average £84.80 a year (Which?)
• Half of people who claimed had problems doing so (Which?)
• Many plans do not cover what is already under the maker's guarantee

Buy cheaper and risk it

• Keep the £84.80 a year: that alone pays for one typical repair
• Your legal rights last up to 6 years in England and Wales anyway (Consumer Rights Act 2015)
• Faults in the first 6 months are presumed to have been there when you bought it

• After 6 months, you may have to prove the fault was there from the start
• One big repair, or a flood, can cost more than the cover would have
• Cheap machines can be uneconomical to repair at all