From our homes and workplaces to the public spaces we share and the vehicles we use to get around, technology has spread into every facet of modern life, automating, optimizing, and simplifying.
While we may not yet have robot chefs, there are plenty of ways smart technology is making our kitchens safer and more efficient than ever before.
Induction cooking
With an induction stovetop and a set of quality induction frypans, you can cook up a storm without producing a lick of residual heat. Induction cooking uses magnets to create heat within the pan instead of in the stovetop itself. This allows for beautifully even and rapid heat production that’s far safer as it’s only the contents of the pan being heated. Should a tea towel or tiny hand come in contact with the stove, there’s no risk of harm being done.
Urban gardens
Living in an apartment once meant that you could only grow a limited number of herbs and small plants on your balcony and in window planters. Nowadays, hydroponic gardening has come a long way, allowing urban gardeners to grow their own food in smart cultivators that’ll tell you precisely when to water and fertilize your plants.
As this technology becomes more advanced, we can look forward to taking food cultivation into our own hands. Of course, you won’t be able to grow a full week’s worth of groceries in your apartment, but one day soon, you may be able to grow your own ethical meat at home.
Smart refrigerators
If you’ve got money to spare, the latest smart refrigerators can be a fun addition to your kitchen. Some models come with touchscreens and the ability to connect to your smartphone and other devices, making them a central part of the Internet of Things (IoT) in your home. Smart climate control means you can drastically cut down on food wastage. Meanwhile, internal cameras allow you to grocery shop on the fly without having to write a list. All you need to do is check the cameras on your phone and you’ll know exactly what needs to be stocked up.
Brilliant blenders
The best modern blenders are now the closest thing you can get to an affordable robot chef. In addition to blending and pureeing, they can chop, whisk, cook, steam, boil, knead, grind, grate, and so much more. Intelligent blenders also have IoT connectivity, with touchscreens and apps loaded with recipes, meal planning capabilities, and other features.
In the future, your fridge and blender will be able to “talk,” figuring out whether you have what you need for tonight’s dinner. If you’re missing any key ingredients, they’ll let you know via your smartphone or watch what to pick up on your way home.
Clever oven hoods
Oven hoods were once designed to provide light and suck up the heat, steam, and smells of your cooking. In the future, they will form part of your connected kitchen. There are already oven hoods on the market that offer touchscreens and connectivity along with their usual ventilation and lighting features.
With a smart oven hood, you can watch shows or listen to music as you cook. You can also have your recipe right there on the screen, and with inbuilt cameras and microphones, you can even take calls without pausing your meal prep.
These five inventions are only the beginning. As the years progress, we can look forward to more and more smart features in our kitchens. The question is, are you excited or apprehensive about the rise of intelligent technology?
