The kitchen is often referred to as the “heart of the home” and for good reason. From family gatherings, holidays and everyday meals, the kitchen is home to plenty of memories. With the continuous release of “smart” products, is it not time that the kitchen also becomes the brains of the home? While the Food Replicator found in Star Trek is a ways off, there are still plenty of smart gadgets that fit right into your kitchen. Let us take a look at what products are a must for the kitchen of the future.
1. Google Nest Hub Max
Destined to be the centerpiece of your kitchen, Google’s Nest Hub Max is the answer to all of your recipe questions. At seven inches tall and 10 inches wide, it fits beautifully on a countertop. Fortunately, its diminutive size does not mean it lacks powerful sound. You will have no problem hearing recipes from across the room. The speakers double as a great way to listen to music while you are cooking up a storm or entertaining friends.
Google Assistant makes it easy even when your hands are covered with sauces and dressings. Need some help with a recipe before company arrives? Use the built-in camera and video chat with mom to get immediate help so dinner comes out just right. That the Hub Max can also help control the rest of your smart devices is just another reason it deserves a spot in every kitchen.
2. Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker
Sous vide cooking is all the rage these days, and you need to get in on this trend. Enter the Anova culinary sous video precision cooker. Online reviews note that this precision cooker cooks food perfectly. With Wi-Fi onboard, download the partner smartphone app, and you can adjust settings from across the room or across town.
Attaching to the side of a pot, the adjustable clip makes it easy to attach to nearly any size item. Pick up a dedicated container for sous vide or use your own – either way you are bound to taste something delightful. With step-by-step directions for recipes, you really cannot go wrong. Add water and dust-resistance, and this smart kitchen product is a must-own.
3. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug
When you think of a smart kitchen, a mug likely is not the first thing that comes to mind. That is all going to change once you try the Ember temperature control smart mug. There is no question that a mug that works with a smartphone sounds like overkill, until you try it. Download the compatible smartphone app, and you will never look at a “dumb” mug again. Han-washable, the mug is capable of heating any drink between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
The 10-ounce capacity is more than enough for a morning or midday coffee as well as anything else that strikes your fancy. Good for sixty minutes on a single charge, the Ember also includes a charging coaster for all-day use. This is the perfect solution for anyone who forgot to finish their morning coffee without time to make more. Just heat up what is left and you are ready to go.
4. Amazon Microwave
There are few products that personify the idea of a smart kitchen more than the AmazonBasics Microwave. Affordable, though muted in style, the Alexa-enabled microwave is yet another way Amazon is looking to conquer the smart home.
There are quick-cook voice presets that work with any Echo speaker in a home. Alternatively, you can press the Alexa button on the microwave and say your desired cook time. After the first time of saying “Alexa, heat my popcorn.” you will never look at any other microwave the same again. As a bonus, Amazon is currently offering up to 10% off on popcorn reorders so you can enjoy the voice-activated thrill again and again. Amazon will continues to add smart presets as future software updates, and that makes this microwave a superb value.
5. Drop Scale
Every kitchen needs a scale for measuring recipe ingredients, and now every house needs the Drop Scale. All you need to do is select your recipe of choice from the companion smartphone/tablet app. Once the recipe is chosen, the scale will help you piece together all the required ingredients. And if you find yourself out of anything, the Drop Scale will help you choose a readily available alternative. To make cleaning up easy, each suggested recipe is a one-bowl dish, so there is less washing. A smart scale with Wi-Fi might sound like smart home overkill, but give it a try, and you will wish you had purchased one sooner.
6. NutriBullet Balance
If you’re a health and fitness nut, the NutriBullet Balance smart blender takes the tedium out of healthy living. It isn’t your typical pitcher blender, as it has a smaller capacity and a bullet-shaped cup, hence its name.
A weight sensor is included in this blender, which you can use with a smartphone app (for Android or iOS) to automatically measure and log the nutritional value of juice, smoothies, or soup that you blend with it. This is what sets it apart from other blenders.
From the app, you can see a breakdown of all calories, fats, sugar, proteins, fiber and carbs that you’ve ingested daily or weekly. It also provides recipes you made recently or created and suggested recipes, helpful video tutorials, and screen shortcuts to your shopping list, recipe, pantry and profile menus.
It’s an excellent smart and powerful blender that caters to many different wellness goals and dietary restrictions, while taking the guesswork out of calorie counting. This makes it a great choice for serious dieters, athletes, or anyone who wants to monitor their nutritional intake closely.
7. Smarter FridgeCam
This little but smart camera sits inside your fridge and comes in handy, especially if you keep forgetting your grocery shopping list at home when you go to the store.
The Smarter FridgeCam works with a smartphone app to send you a live feed of the contents of your fridge, so if you’re at the store and can’t remember whether you have eggs or veggies in stock, it’ll give you the answer.
It takes a photo each time you open and close your fridge door and keeps on top of your food items’ expiry dates, reminding you to use them before they go bad. It also sends you phone notifications whenever you’re running low on anything.
What’s more, it can help you create a smarter shopping list by filling your online shopping cart for you if it’s connected to a major supermarket chain, ready for you the next time you shop.
Conclusion
There is no question that the kitchen of the future will be smart. Everything from lighting to refrigerators to blenders are adding Wi-Fi and readying themselves for the Internet of Things. With every product cycle, these items are getting smaller, smarter and less expensive. The question is not whether or not you want to have a smart kitchen. How long can you hold out?
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