With modern technology advancing as fast as it is, household tasks are becoming much easier. While we don’t quite have robots cooking up 5-star meals for us with a simple verbal request, we are at the point where we can ask for some simple tasks to be completed for us – such as making coffee. Looking to spice up and speed up your handwork in the kitchen? These are some of our favorite smart kitchen technology. And some ways that you can make your cooking experience more customized and personalized with the flick of a switch; or in this case, with just a shout.
Amazon Alexa/Google Home
The foundation underneath the majority of this smart kitchen technology is Amazon Alexa and Google Home. These two AI devices are activated by simply saying “hey Alexa/Google”. Once that phrase has been said within earshot, whatever question or command you say afterward will be registered. If the phrase is within their database of commands, the device will comply with your request. When the device is connected to the other hardware we will discuss in this article, it will send over the signal to begin the specific command. These devices are not only limited to kitchenware either. Asking for the weather or to set timers by themselves makes them extremely useful devices to keep in your home for convenient, hands-free assistance.
Smart Kitchen Technology:
Instant Pot Smart WIFI 8-in-1 Pressure Cooker
Already a famously convenient meal-making machine, Instant Pot improves what was thought to be a perfect device even further. What could once be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, steamer, yogurt maker, cake maker, food warmer, and sauté device all in one… is now capable of all these different functions. All while being accessible remotely through an online smartphone app or with Alexa voice commands.
Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Smart Coffee Maker
Some people (me) can’t get out of bed unless they have the smell of coffee in their noses. But it’s rather hard to make if you can’t get up in the first place. With Hamilton Beach’s Alexa activated coffee maker, you won’t need to! Have a fresh batch of coffee waiting for you by simply saying a voice command once you wake up. However, you will need to get out of bed in order to to grab it once it is finished brewing. We haven’t quite made it that far yet…
GeniCan Scanner
Have you ever forgotten to add something to your shopping list after you threw away the empty can or bottle? GeniCan’s product helps eliminate that problem. It incorporates an electronic shopping list that can be added to with a simple scanner that attaches to the side of trash bins. Just scan the product as you’re throwing it away or use its voice control feature and it will be added to the list. Or you can set it so that it automatically reorders it through Amazon.
NutriBullet Balance Smart Blender
If you’re a smoothie-lover wanting to maintain your daily calorie intake, this is the blender for you. Using “SMART” technology, this blender will pair with your smart device and will display in real time the nutritional content within your blender, from calories, fat, carbs, sugars, protein, and more, by visually gauging your ingredient volume. You can also download their handy smartphone app that will help give you many new smoothie recipes.
Williams Sonoma 2 Slice High Speed Toaster
What do you think you can accomplish in the kitchen in 15 seconds? No one would ever be able to confidently say “make toast”… until now. No one would also be able to do so without pushing down a spring-loaded lever. Williams Sonoma has created a touch-screen toaster that allows you to select the exact shade and crispiness level for whatever toaster pastry you may desire. Bread. Bagels. Waffles. English muffins. Doesn’t matter. If you forgot your toast or was not able to grab it in time, do not fret; this device also has a quick 15 second reheat function that will breathe warm heat back into your bread.
Hestan Cue Smart Induction Burner & Frying Pan
Worried that you’re not the greatest chef and can’t make well cooked meals on your own? This assisted cooking system will change your mind, and the way you cook. This fry pan guides you along your culinary journey, communicating with the Hestan Cue recipe app as well as the induction burner using Bluetooth technology to monitor your cooking to ensure perfect results. As you cook, the app will guide you through recipes and instructions step-by-step. This is while the induction burner will maintain and monitor heat levels based on your desired level of doneness.
GE Scan-to-Cook Countertop Microwave
Take the guessing game out of microwaving food. Simply scan a barcode for how the manufacturer intended something to taste. Also equipped with Amazon Alexa, just talk to your microwave about your problems. Or about how long you want your leftovers to be warmed up for, and GE’s .9 cubic foot microwave will (hopefully) oblige without question.
GE Slide-In Double Oven
Microwave not keeping you enough company? GE also makes an electric oven that can connect to your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This llows for handsfree communication, however it does not come with the scan-to-cook feature. So you may have to be a little more verbal with this one.
Sensate Voice-Activated Kitchen Faucet
Kohler Konnect pairs with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home Kit in order to bring you most out of your faucet. With a touchless motion sensor, you can turn the water on and off with just a wave of the hand, and using voice commands, this faucet can pour out specific amounts of water with a verbal request, as well as monitor your water usage using the Kohler Konnect app. Also, no need to worry about a leaky faucet anymore; a notification will be sent to your connected mobile device if any unusual flow of water is detected.
Apanage Automatic Soap Dispenser
You’ve seen them in public restrooms, now hopefully you’ll see them in private restrooms too (or kitchens). Powered by 4 AA batteries, Apanage has an automatic, motion-sensor, waterproof base soap dispenser that comes with 3 adjustable soap liquid levels. Compatible with most kinds of liquids, this dispenser can be used for hand soap, dish soap, or even hand sanitizer.
Where to Buy:
Some of these things may sound outlandish, but these technologies are already becoming a norm in some stores. BestBuy offers much smart kitchen technology that is not only limited to kitchen appliances. And general stores such as Walmart allows a wide range of different devices that can be purchased that make your life in the kitchen easier. Online stores of course are the most accessible to people in this time for direct delivery to your doorstep, and many brick and mortar stores offer curbside, non-contact pickup if you decide to go and retrieve it yourself.
For the Traditionalists:
No, tech is not for everyone. Some people may find that the act of cooking is something that should be done by hand or that they find it to be meditative and take refuge in the act of preparing a meal from start to finish with their own bare hands, but some people may find that cooking and preparing meals to be tiresome or takes too much time in their busy lives. However, if you do enjoy cooking and do not see anything wrong with making the process a bit easier and don’t mind sharing some of the glory with a few items that quicken the output of your meals, implementing a few of these smart kitchen technology into your can’t hurt too bad, right?
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