Smart Kitchen Appliances Explored
A smart kitchen isn’t anything to do with how much you’ve spent on installing it, or how effective your cleaning regime is. Anything which is referred to as “smart” refers to the fact that it is connected to the internet, just like your smartphone, or a smart television allowing you to stream content from Netflix and similar. A smart device in the kitchen is connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) also, and you control is using an app on your smartphone or tablet, through BlueTooth technology or by using it alongside a digital assistant such as Alexa or Siri. In the kitchen, integrating smart gadgets and appliances into a basic design can make your home more efficient and even safer.
Create a Wish List
If you are planning a new kitchen from scratch, then integrating smart devices along the way is easier, and the only limiting factor is your budget. The sky is the limit when it comes to what gadgets can do, and prices can also be sky-high. If however you are stuck with your existing kitchen and looking for ways of incorporating smart gadgets, then you might want to limit your choices to things which can be easily added, rather than heading straight for the expensive smart cookers and fridges.
Get Advice from an Expert
If smart technology is a foreign language to you, or if you have no idea where to start, get advice from the experts first. Any large electronics store will have specialist staff who can talk you through the basics of home automation, and point you in the direction of some good starter products to test how they work for you and your family. Some retailers might also send out an expert to your home, to custom-build a range of gadgets for your needs.
Smart Fridges
At the bigger, more expensive end of the smart kitchen gadgets market is the smart fridge. The biggest brand in this sector are LG and Samsung, and both companies have several smart fridges in UK stores. They’re not cheap though, with prices starting at around £1000 for a basic model, up to as much as £5600 for the top of the range fridges. But what are the advantages of a smart fridge over a bog-standard fridge? Most smart fridges have an in-built camera, which lets you see what’s in the fridge without opening the door. Ever stood in the supermarket trying to remember whether you’re running out of butter or cheese? The app connected to your smart fridge lets you check. Many have other functions too, such as suggesting recipes based on the ingredients you have stored in the fridge, or reminding you when a food item is about to reach its use-by date. Some of the higher end fridges have adjustable storage drawers too, which can be used as either a fridge or freezer depending on your current needs.
Smart Ovens
Smart ovens are controlled either in the conventional way with dials on the machine, or by an app on your phone from anywhere, you happen to be. Pop a casserole in the oven before you leave home in the morning, and turn the oven on when you’re on your way home. Use the camera inside to see how things are cooking without opening the door, and losing temperature inside. Many smart ovens can even be voice controlled, making it easy to turn the oven on or off, or to adjust the temperature, whatever you’re cooking. As with the fridge, many of the smart ovens come with a touchscreen panel which will suggest recipes and automatically program the oven to cook whatever you’ve selected.
Smart Coffee Makers
Another touch of luxury is a smart “bean to cup” coffee machine, which retails at around £750. Download the app to your smartphone, and take control over your coffee, controlling everything from the strength of the drink, to the quantity of milk which is added to the mix. Once you’ve devised your perfect coffee, save the settings to your smart maker and replicate it at the touch of a button. Smart coffee makers are perhaps not the most useful piece of smart technology for the kitchen as the functionality is not much more than you get from your standard coffee machine, but at an elevated price. Perhaps save your money on this one and put it towards a decent standard coffee machine and splash out on smart functionality elsewhere?
Smart Instant Pot – the All In One Kitchen Gadget?
The Instant Pot is one of the best-selling kitchen brands and is marketed as the all-in-one kitchen gadget. A smart instant pot will cost around £100 and can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, pressure cooker or even to make cakes or soup. Cooking in this way can take a bit of getting used to, so make the most of the app which comes with your smart pot and take the opportunity to learn how to use it effectively. Save your favourite programmes into the machine, and then next time, just push one button on your app to start it cooking again. Using this style of slow cooker can be very useful in a busy household; just fill the pot with ingredients before leaving for work in the morning, and switch it on using the app to cook slowly through the day.
Smart Meat Thermometer and Food Probe
Nobody wants to send their guests home with food poisoning after a dinner party. A smart digital thermometer will keep you safe, but will be able to improve your cooking too. Insert the probe into whatever you’re cooking, selecting the food and cut on the app. The thermometer will use Bluetooth to speak to the app, and will tell you how long to cook for that perfect medium steak, or thoroughly cooked piece of chicken. Smart meat thermometers are at the cheaper end of the smart market, starting at around £80.
