Today’s kitchens can be outfitted with smart major appliances such as ovens, refrigerators and dishwashers. There are also plenty of small ones, like air fryers, coffee makers and sous vide devices. What does “smart” actually mean? It could be the inclusion of WiFi, but it’s also the embedded sensors that can enable automated cooking or baking, checking the internal temperature of something being cooked using a built-in thermometer, or adapt refrigeration and freezing. In my latest story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home & Garden section, I’ve explored what’s out there—and why many people aren’t actually using the features they spent so much money on.