The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home. It’s where we gather with family and friends, cook and share meals, and entertain guests. One of the latest trends the kitchen has seen is the integration of smart devices.
Smart devices are designed to make our lives easier and more convenient, and the kitchen is no exception. With the addition of smart devices, you can control lighting, appliances, and even the temperature of your kitchen from your smartphone or tablet.
In this first three-part series on making your home smart, we’ll look at smart home technology options for the kitchen to give you a few ideas in case you’re looking to upgrade or improve your kitchen.
What Is Smart Kitchen Technology?
Devices with smart technology are connected to the internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. They can be used and controlled remotely through apps or voice commands with a smart home platform like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Many smart devices also have learning capabilities that analyze usage data to be more efficient and helpful to you. In the kitchen, this means gadgets and appliances that make cooking a lot easier.
Must-Have Smart Kitchen Technology
In the kitchen, there are smart devices that can make cooking and meal prep easier, they also have many lifestyle benefits. For example, with a smart kitchen, you can entertain guests by controlling the lighting and temperature of your kitchen remotely. Smart devices also make it easy to stay organized, with some devices featuring built-in calendars and recipe books. Let’s check out some.
Smart Refrigerator
Ever been at the grocery store and couldn’t remember if you have enough eggs? No need to worry about that anymore with a smart refrigerator. The smart refrigerator can let you take a peek through an app on your phone connected to internal cameras. That’s just one of the many features of smart fridges. Automatic temperature sensors, air filtration, and more are all common features. Some models even take it a step further by scanning barcodes to keep an inventory of food, complete with expiration dates and connectedness to grocery list apps. Keeping your food fresh has never been easier.
Smart Oven
Ever wished you could get a head start on preheating your oven while you’re in your car on the way home from work? Smart ovens can do that — simply connect with your app and set it to preheat. It’ll be ready and waiting at 400°F when you walk throughin the door.
Smart Microwave
Smart microwave ovens can do everything a regular microwave can do but with even greater control and functionality. Built-in, sensor-cook technology takes the guesswork out of cooking and does away with the scorched-outside-frozen-inside microwaved food of old. All you need to do is say, “Alexa, please defrost the meat,” and voila!
Other Options for Smart Home Technology In the Kitchen
You don’t have to get major appliances to enjoy smart kitchen technology. Kitchen gadgets have always been a hot item, and adding smart technology to many existing products has made them easier, faster, safer, and more precise. Here are just a few you’ll find when you start browsing the smart kitchen device section of the store.
Smart Stirrer: Making a roux or something that calls for constant stirring? Free up your hands and let these little helpers stir the pot automatically.
Smart Meat Thermometer: With it, you can now easily monitor the temperature of your meat or grill from your phone.
Smart Instant Pot: Instant pots and pressure cookers have become popular for their versatility and ease of use. Smart models can be controlled with your phone and even programmed to cook in accordance with online recipes.
Smart Sous Vide: Cook your food with precision and monitor it from your phone.
Smart Coffee Maker: Say the word, and it’ll make your coffee how you like it right down to your preferred temperature. Get a model with mugs included, and it’ll even pour the coffee for you.
Smart Water Bottle: Staying hydrated throughout the day is important, but it’s easy to forget. Not with a smart water bottle — it tracks your water intake and reminds you to take a drink.
Smart Faucet: Let’s say your recipe calls for three cups of water. You can tell a smart faucet, and it’ll provide only that measured amount.
Smart Kitchen Scale: Measure ingredients with ease and even get calorie counts and ingredient substitution options.
Smart Ice Maker: Ensure that you always have fresh ice on demand with a smart ice maker that monitors ice levels and produces accordingly.
Other Smart Home Upgrades That You’ll Notice In the Kitchen
As you’ll find out in the upcoming sequels to this article, smart home technology can be integrated into all areas of your home. Below are a few of our favorite house-wide smart home tech that isn’t specific to the kitchen, but the benefits will definitely be noticed there.
Robot Vacuum: Cleaning up your kitchen after your meal can be a breeze with robot vacuums that memorize your floor plan and clean automatically.
Smart Thermostat: While not exclusive to the kitchen, a smart thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your kitchen (and anywhere else in your house) remotely so the temperature is always right. Smart thermostats can also help you save money on your energy bills by learning your habits and adjusting the temperature accordingly.
Smart Lighting: Control the lighting in your kitchen from your phone or tablet, and set the perfect ambiance for any occasion. You can also schedule your lights to turn on and off automatically, even when you’re away and not home.
Bring It All Together With Smart Assistants
Voice controlled virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Home can bring all your smart kitchen apps together. They’re also super handy for answering common questions when cooking. How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon? How many cups of flour are in 500 grams? How long should you broil the vegetables? Just ask your smart assistant and get answers to your questions immediately. A smart assistant can also be like having another pair of hands. Imagine that you’re chopping vegetables but need to turn on the range fan. With smart devices, you can tell them to do it. The same goes for turning on the lights, turning off the oven, drawing the blinds, grinding the coffee, and just about any other convenience you can think of.
Where to Find Smart Kitchen Technology
Smart kitchen technology is readily available at all home stores and online. Shopping online and double-checking (actual) product reviews on YouTube is a great way to get insight from real users who have already purchased any device you’re considering. It can be a great way to determine if an item in question is worth your money.
Power Your Smart Kitchen With 100% Renewable Electricity From Energy Texas
Smart devices in the kitchen can make your kitchen more convenient, efficient, and stylish. With the wide range of smart device options available, it’s easy to find the perfect devices for your lifestyle. Even if you don’t have a smart device in your kitchen, you can still save energy while cooking.
When it comes to the electricity you use to power your smart kitchen, Energy Texas is here to serve our neighbors with best-in-class electricity service, customer service, and benefits! Whether you want to go green or just need a fair electric rate, we’ve got a plan for you that is simple, affordable and backed by Tex-cellent customer service. Learn more about our rewards and opportunities to save money every month with Energy Texas.