A domestic appliance, e.g. a refrigerator, has a switching element and a network interface for connecting the domestic appliance to a local network. The domestic appliance has precisely one switching element, in particular a pushbutton, and can be connected to a remote control via the local network by actuating the switching element. A method is used to operate a domestic appliance which has precisely one switching element and a network interface for connecting the domestic appliance to a local network. The domestic appliance is connected to a remote control via the local network by actuating the switching element.