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Cooking is an art form that encourages creativity, but it also requires precision and control if you want a meal that is actually fully cooked and tastes good.
Smart kitchen gadgets combine tech with traditional appliances and guide you through the cooking process to help make cooking easier. They also free up your schedule so you’re not spending unnecessary time watching your meal cook – many of the appliances below pair with apps that let you monitor and adjust temperatures, cooking times, and power switches remotely.
Whether you’re a novice who is typically afraid of stepping foot into the kitchen, or a seasoned cook who wants to multitask, the following smart kitchen appliances can help you create the perfect meal.
A meat thermometer
Nutrichef Smart Bluetooth BBQ Grill Thermometer, $32.99, available at Amazon
This smart thermometer has an outdoor wireless range of 200 feet and sends you a notification and alarm when your meat reaches the set temperature. Through the app, you can see real-time temperatures and save cooking presets for your favorite recipes. The thermometer itself has an easy-to-read LCD display.
A cocktail scale
Perfect Drink 2.0 Smart Scale, $19.95, available at Amazon
Become the party's resident mixologist with this scale that will make you the perfect drink every single time. Explore over 400 recipes, or discover new ones based on the ingredients you already have on hand. To use the scale, pour the ingredients into the glass until you hear a "ding." If you overpour, the scale will re-calculate the proportions so your drink still tastes delicious. Shake or stir away, and the built-in timer will tell you when you've reached the optimal dilution and chill.
A fridge
Samsung Family Hub 4-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator, $3,599.99, available at Best Buy
This fridge is more than a food storage appliance. Set expiration notifications so your food never goes bad, plan a meal based on the available ingredients in your fridge, and see the contents of your fridge from anywhere. You can share photos and synced calendars on the screen, plus control smart home devices like lights, thermostats, and doorbells, and stream music, all through voice commands.
A full-sized blender
Vitamix A3500 Ascent Series Smart Blender, Programmable w/Built-in Wireless Connectivity, $540.99, available at Amazon
Make smoothies, dips, desserts, and soups with this versatile, professional-grade blender. Its motor base can detect the container size, then adjust program settings and blending times accordingly, while the programmable, built-in timer turns the blender off automatically when your custom recipe is done blending. The app features 17 blending programs and more than 500 recipes.
A slow cooker
Crock-Pot Wemo Smart Wifi-Enabled Slow Cooker, 6-Quart, $109.59, available at Amazon or from Target for $107.99
Slow cookers are great for creating meals that are ready once you get home, but it's disappointing to lift the lid to an overcooked or under-done dish. This smart version of a classic appliance lets you adjust the cooking time and temperature, and shift to warm or turn off the Crock-Pot through a convenient app, so you can still keep an eye on and control the cooking process wherever you are. The Crock-Pot also features three heat settings, cool-touch handles, and built-in cord storage.
Note: Currently only available through third-party sellers on Amazon
A sous vide
ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide, 1100 Watts, $175.50, available at Amazon
This light, sleek, and powerful sous vide is less than a foot tall, so it won't take up too much room in your kitchen drawer. It's also Alexa-compatible and connects to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The accompanying app is filled with recipes, and has a Visual Doneness feature that shows you exactly how your food will turn out. Reviewers, including Insider Picks' own Brandt Ranj, rave about its ability to produce restaurant-quality results.
A more user-friendly and affordable sous vide
Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker, 900 Watts, $159.99, available at Amazon
Anova's precision cooker is another popular sous vide choice. It's also Bluetooth-, Wi-Fi-, and Alexa-compatible, though it's a little clunkier than the Joule. The Anova must be clipped to the pot, but it wins points for having a readable display and a huge library of more than 1,000 recipes.
A personal blender
NutriBullet Balance Bluetooth Enabled Smart Blender, $99.99, available at Target
This smart blender and corresponding app help you lead a healthier lifestyle by tracking nutritional information and creating customized grocery lists for you. The set includes a 1200-watt power base with a smart nutrition sensor, two colossal cups, one extractor blade, two flip-top to-go lids, and two lip rings. It's the power and convenience of the traditional NutriBullet, with an additional layer of tech to address your specific nutritional needs and goals.
A kitchen scale
Drop Scale, $40.92, available at Amazon or from Bed Bath & Beyond for $79.99
Baking relies on ultra-precise measurements, so if you love baking, get this smart scale. It's easier and faster than using spoons and cups, and can make following even the most complicated recipes less intimidating. It also reduces clean-up time since you can just place all your ingredients in one bowl.
