System and method for controlling a smart cooking appliance, including: at an oven comprising a cooking chamber, a food support platform, and a control unit; detecting a first event corresponding to a start of a cooking process for a food item, wherein a first heating surface of the cooking chamber is operating at a first preset output level; in response to detecting the first event, activating one or more actuators to move the food support platform to a first position; while the food support platform is at the first position and while the first heating surface is operating at the first preset output level, detecting that oven reconfiguration criteria are met; and in response to detecting that the oven reconfiguration criteria are met, activating the one or more actuators to move the food support platform from the first position to a second position that is distinct from the first position.