Turn a monitor into a recipe command centre: Using a big screen in the kitchen

Stop juggling phones, printouts and greasy tablets — turn a big screen into a real kitchen command centre

If you cook at home, you've felt it: the recipe on a small phone drops, a video buffers, or the tablet die-cuts because a steam cloud fogged the camera. In 2026, many UK kitchens are solving that clutter with a single 32-inch (and up) monitor mounted at countertop height. Used right, it becomes a recipe display, video call hub and smart-home dashboard all in one. This article walks you through the practical steps — from choosing the right display (we cover the Odyssey G5) to mounting, splashproofing and content setups — so you get a resilient, chef-friendly kitchen monitor that fits real UK homes.

Why a large monitor in the kitchen matters in 2026

By late 2025 and into 2026 we've seen three clear trends that make large kitchen monitors a strong upgrade:

• Cookalong and video recipes exploded — more live classes and multi-angle streaming (restaurants and chefs offering paid sessions) require stable, large displays for following steps.
• Smart-home dashboards matured — Matter and improved local-control hubs mean one display can show ovens, fridges, cameras and timers in a single interface.
• Affordable high-quality 32" panels like the Samsung Odyssey G5 provide good value-per-inch, so dedicated kitchen monitors are cheaper than ever.

Put simply: a big monitor removes friction. You can see recipe steps at a glance, keep video calls hands-free with friends helping you cook, and monitor the home (oven temp, front door camera) without switching devices.

Choosing the right 32-inch+ kitchen monitor

Not every 32-inch screen is ideal for a kitchen. You want readability, durability and a mounting option that keeps steam and splashes away. Focus on three technical points:

• Resolution & size: 32" at QHD (2560x1440) is a sweet spot for recipe legibility at typical kitchen distances (40–80cm). 4K is great if you plan split-screen dashboards or photo-rich guides, but it's more expensive.
• Panel type: IPS for colour accuracy and wide viewing angles; VA for higher contrast (good in bright kitchens); consider an anti-reflective coating if you have glossy splashbacks.
• Mount compatibility: VESA 100x100 is standard — confirm hole pattern and weight so you can use a robust articulating wall arm.

Why the Samsung Odyssey G5 is a compelling kitchen pick (value angle)

The Odyssey G5 32" models that surged in 2025/26 brought gaming-grade panels into a budget bracket: QHD resolution, VA contrast and curved options. For the kitchen, those attributes mean readable text, deep blacks for video recipes and a price that lets you buy a good wall mount and splash protection too.

Pros for kitchen use:

• Affordable large-screen QHD — great value-per-inch.
• High contrast VA panels help videos and recipe cards pop.
• Many units are VESA-compatible and manageable weight for mounting.

Cons to be aware of:

• Curved panels can complicate vertical wall mounting for some sightlines (measure before you buy).
• Gaming monitors may lack built-in speakers or webcams — you’ll need external accessories for video calls.

Other monitor types to consider

• Touch / commercial displays: If you want tap-to-scroll recipes and kiosk-style dashboards, consider commercial touch displays or a 32" touch monitor. These are often sealed better against spill ingress than consumer monitors.
• 4K 32" monitors: Choose these if you plan to run multiple side-by-side windows (recipe + dashboard + video) or if you want very crisp text at close range.
• Budget panels: Some AOC and Philips 32" models offer 1080p or QHD at low cost — great if you’ll pair with a playback device that scales well.

Top picks for 2026 kitchen monitors (quick comparison)

For busy shoppers, here are four practical categories and example choices to consider. These are illustrative selections based on market direction in 2025–26; always double-check specs at point of purchase.

• Best value 32" QHD: Samsung Odyssey G5 32" (QHD, VA) — strong contrast, excellent price-per-inch.
• Best premium 32" 4K: A 32" 4K IPS monitor with USB-C and KVM — ideal if you want crisp split-screen dashboards and single-cable laptop docking.
• Best touch/commercial option: 32" PCAP commercial touch display — sealed front glass, built for frequent touching and easier to splashproof.
• Best budget alternative: 32" VA/QHD budget models — good if you want a simple recipe display and plan to protect the screen with a cover.

Mounting & placement: the practicalities

Mounting is where a kitchen monitor goes from idea to durable tool. Mistakes here will lead to awkward sightlines or, worse, unsafe installs.

Choose the right wall mount

• Articulating arm (recommended): Allows you to pull the monitor forward for close reading, angle it to avoid reflections, then tuck it flat when not in use.
• Tilting fixed bracket: Cheaper, slim — fine if your monitor is at a fixed, comfortable height.
• Ceiling pendant mount: Useful over islands but requires more careful cable routing and professional install.

Mounting checklist

1. Confirm VESA pattern (commonly 100x100) and monitor weight.
2. Mount into a stud or use certified heavy-duty anchors if fixing to plasterboard.
3. Position the centre of the screen roughly 40–60cm above the countertop surface for comfortable close reading; adjust for user height.
4. Allow 10–20cm offset from cooking zones to reduce splashes and heat exposure.
5. Plan cable routing: conceal HDMI/DisplayPort, USB (for webcams) and power via trunking or in-wall conduit by a qualified electrician if local regs require it.

Safety & heat considerations

Do NOT mount a monitor directly over a hob or very close to a cooker hood exhaust outlet. High heat and grease shorten electronics life. Leave a safety gap and, if necessary, shift the monitor to a side wall or island end.

Splashproofing: realistic and effective options

Most consumer monitors are not IP-rated for water ingress. Instead of hunting for a rare IP-rated consumer monitor, most UK DIYers use a layered approach:

• Tempered glass or acrylic shield: A fixed pane mounted a few centimetres in front of the monitor creates a sacrificial barrier. Use edge-sealed silicone gaskets to prevent grease build-up.
• Removable clear cover: A thin acrylic sheet with quick-release brackets lets you clean or remove it when needed.
• Silicone keyboard & waterproof webcam: Pair the display with waterproof input devices so a splash doesn’t ruin your setup.
• Commercial touch panels: If you need touch and maximum sealing, commercial panels with IP54+ front ratings are worth the premium.

Cleaning tip: use a microfibre cloth and a 50:50 mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol; avoid household cleaners with ammonia that damage anti-reflective coatings.

Hardware & software to make a monitor a true kitchen command centre

Think of the monitor as the display — you still need a compact computer or streaming stick and a few accessories:

Compute options

• Small PC / NUC / Intel N-box: Best for running full dashboards, Home Assistant, or multiple browser windows reliably.
• Raspberry Pi 5 or equivalent single-board computer: Cheap, low-power and perfect for running a dedicated dashboard (Home Assistant panel, DakBoard, or a fullscreen browser).
• Android TV stick / Fire TV / Chromebox: Simple streaming and native apps (YouTube, Netflix) — use if you mostly watch video recipes and use voice assistants.

Accessories

• Webcam: A compact 1080p webcam mounted on top for video calls — consider a privacy shutter.
• Microphone / speaker bar: For clear cookalong audio; many compact soundbars mount under the monitor.
• Bluetooth or RF waterproof keyboard/trackpad: For occasional input without touching the screen.

Software & dashboard tools

• Home Assistant / HomeKit / Google Home dashboards: Display cameras, oven temps, timers and grocery lists. In 2026, many dashboards can surface AI-suggested recipe steps tied to oven telemetry.
• Fully Kiosk Browser / WallPanel / DakBoard: Turn Android devices or a Raspberry Pi into dedicated screens showing recipes, calendars and weather.
• Cookalong platforms: Use YouTube Live, Zoom, or chef platforms that support multiple camera feeds. For paid classes, most providers now supply a full-screen player optimised for large monitors.

Video calls & cookalong tech: make remote help feel local

Cookalongs grew rapidly through 2024–25 and by 2026 they’re mainstream. A large kitchen monitor makes group cooking practical — but you need the right setup:

• Position your webcam so your hands and workspace are visible — consider a second, overhead camera for demonstrations (USB or wireless).
• Use a dedicated audio device (speaker + mic) so participants hear cues over pots and hobs.
• Optimise bandwidth: Encourage participants to use wired Ethernet for any local NUC or Pi to avoid video stutter.
• Multi-angle streams: Many chefs in 2025 started streaming two camera angles — an instructor face cam plus an overhead work cam. You can replicate this by feeding two USB cameras into a small PC and using OBS or Zoom’s multi-camera features.

Content suggestions and workflows for recipe displays

Large screens change how you interact with recipes. Here are recommended layouts and content sources to try:

Layouts

• Step-focused single-column: Large text, big timer and next-step preview. Great for busy hands-first recipes.
• Split-screen: Video on the left, step list on the right. Best for following along with a masterclass or long-form video.
• Dashboard mode: Small video + smart-home tiles (temp, timers, camera) + shopping list panel.

Sources & apps

• Video recipes: YouTube, Chef-led platforms, and increasingly higher-quality dedicated cookalong services.
• Recipe management: Paprika, BigOven, or cloud-based recipe managers that provide large-font printing or fullscreen modes.
• Smart-home integrations: Home Assistant dashboards or Apple HomeKit screens that can expose oven thermostats and timers directly on-screen.

Real UK setups — two short case studies (experience)

Case 1: London flat — Odyssey G5 as the family recipe screen

Sara and Tom installed a 32" Odyssey G5 on an articulating arm at 55cm above their counter. They used a Raspberry Pi 5 running a kiosk browser that flips between a recipe site and a Home Assistant dashboard. Results: zero phone drops, faster prep times and they now host weekly family cookalongs over Zoom using a 1080p webcam mounted on the monitor.

Case 2: Oxfordshire cottage — premium 4K + commercial touch

A family upgraded to a 32" 4K touch display with an acrylic splash shield. They run multi-window recipes, a live oven camera and a grocery list that updates via voice. The sealed commercial panel made cleanup simple and the built-in touch removed the need for a keyboard.

Budgeting, buying and installation in the UK

Plan for three lines in your budget:

• Monitor (hardware): Value 32" QHD (Odyssey G5-style) from mid-range retailers; premium 4K or commercial touch costs more.
• Mount & protective shield: Articulating arm and acrylic/tempered glass shield — don’t skimp here for long-term durability.
• Compute & accessories: Raspberry Pi or small PC, webcam, speakerbar.

For professional installs in the UK, look for AV installers or local trades on Rated People or Checkatrade who list VESA mounting and in-wall cable routing as services. If electricity routing is needed, hire a registered electrician to comply with UK regs.

Future-proofing: trends to watch (2026 & beyond)

• AI-assisted cooking: Expect on-screen assistants in 2026 that adjust step speed and portion sizes in real-time based on sensors and voice commands.
• Deeper Matter integrations: More appliances will expose structured telemetry (door open, preheat status) directly to dashboards.
• Multi-angle cookalong tech: Chefs will offer multi-camera streams with interactive overlays — large kitchen monitors are ideal viewing surfaces for these.

Pro tip: Build the monitor into a routine. Use one-tap actions (start timer, set oven to recipe temp via Matter/HomeKit) to keep hands free and reduce context switching.

Actionable checklist — set up your kitchen monitor in a weekend

1. Pick a 32" QHD monitor (Odyssey G5 for value) or a 4K if you want split-screen clarity.
2. Buy a VESA-compatible articulating arm and a tempered glass/acrylic shield sized to your monitor.
3. Choose a compute device: Raspberry Pi 5 for dashboards or a small PC for multi-camera cookalongs.
4. Mount the monitor into a stud, position it 40–60cm above the countertop and leave clearance from heat sources.
5. Attach webcam and speakerbar, set up Home Assistant or a kiosk browser for recipe display, and test video call audio.
6. Run one recipe in the new setup, adjust angles and font sizes, then lock the layout.

Final thoughts

In 2026 a 32-inch kitchen monitor is no longer a luxury: it's a practical upgrade that reduces friction, protects your devices, and elevates cookalongs and smart-home control. Whether you pick the Odyssey G5 for value, a 4K model for split-screen dashboards, or a sealed commercial touch display, focus on sensible mounting, splashproofing and a dedicated compute device for the easiest daily experience.

If you want help choosing the right monitor and mount for your UK kitchen — including local installers and a printable shopping checklist — we’ve built a free guide and comparison table to match budgets and layouts. Click through to compare models, or contact our team for a quick installation quote tailored to your kitchen dimensions and cooking habits.

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