Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Gen Z's Kitchen Vision: Air Fryers Rise, Ovens Evolve
Imagine your kitchen in 2075!
Young people today think kitchens will be smaller, smarter, and more efficient.
They love air fryers because they're fast, use less energy, and take up less space.
Some think big ovens might not be needed as much, but others say ovens are just changing.
Future kitchens might have robot helpers, plants growing inside, and places to make cooking videos.
It's all about making kitchens easier and better for the environment.
A survey by Wickes suggests Gen Z envisions future kitchens (2075) to be compact, efficient, and less reliant on traditional appliances like ovens.
Air fryers are increasingly popular, often replacing full-sized ovens due to their speed, energy efficiency, and convenience.
Gen Z respondents predict appliances like ovens, toasters, and kettles could disappear, replaced by tech-driven alternatives.
Industry experts believe ovens are evolving, incorporating features like air frying and smart controls, rather than disappearing.
Future kitchen predictions include AI cooking assistants, indoor herb gardens, zero-waste systems, and content creation spaces.
- Who
- Gen Z consumers and UK adults surveyed by Wickes
- What
- A survey predicting future kitchen trends, highlighting the rise of air fryers and potential evolution of traditional appliances
- When
- Predictions for the kitchen of 2075, with current trends analyzed
- Where
- United Kingdom
- Why
- Driven by a desire for sustainability, convenience, and efficiency
Gen Z Vision
Industry Perspective
The Fate of Traditional Appliances
Gen Z Vision
Gen Z respondents predict that large appliances like ovens, toasters, and kettles may disappear entirely, replaced by tech-driven alternatives. They envision a compact, sleek, and hyper-efficient kitchen focused on streamlined, multi-tasking tools.
Industry Perspective
Industry experts like Smeg's Head of Marketing suggest ovens are evolving, not disappearing. Modern ovens are incorporating features like air frying and smart controls, merging functionalities rather than being replaced.
Reasons for Appliance Shifts
Gen Z Vision
The popularity of air fryers is attributed to their smaller size, lower energy consumption, and faster cooking times, appealing to Gen Z's focus on efficiency and low environmental impact.
Industry Perspective
The shift is driven by changing cooking habits, with brands adapting by creating versatile appliances that combine features. The choice is not 'air fryer or oven' but rather how appliances can cater to modern needs.
- Survey Conducted By
- Wickes
- Survey Respondents
- Over 2,000 UK adults (including over 1,000 aged 18-27)
- Future Kitchen Year Predicted
- 2075
- Key Gen Z Kitchen Trends
- Smart technology, hyper-efficiency, compact design, hidden appliances, modular layouts, self-cleaning surfaces, AI cooking assistants, hydroponic herb walls, zero-waste systems, content creation spaces
- Factors Driving Trends
- Sustainability, convenience, wellness, digital living, lifestyle shifts