We live in the age of the smart appliance. Enter an appliance store and you’ll see many different items with the word “Smart” in front of them. But do you really need a smart toaster? Probably not.
In this guide, we’re running down some of the smart appliances that you can buy which actually make the kitchen a better place, and have specific benefits for you rather than you just being able to say you’ve got the latest gadget.
Photo: coffeefriend.co.uk
What is a Smart Appliance?
An appliance that is defined as “smart” is one that has its own control surface or connects to your smartphone or tablet to allow you more control and even let you make changes remotely.
Smart appliances can be genuinely useful, or they can be a gimmick. Let’s dive into some of the options that can actually help your day-to-day life.
Coffee Machines
A coffee machine in your kitchen can be your first port of call in the mornings, and having smart controls can be genuinely helpful.
Many of the best bean to cup coffee machine options actually give you barista-style drinks without you having to do any of the preparation yourself. Simply insert the ingredients, such as coffee beans, milk, and water, and a bean to cup coffee machine will do everything for you.
Many of these machines now come with app control. It means when you roll over in bed in the morning, you can potentially even start your coffee brewing before you have fully woken up.
Smart functions of coffee machines also allow you to alter the settings, check when it needs refilling with ingredients, and even set a timer. For the coffee lover, this is a smart appliance that can change your life!
Smart Cookers
It’s great to have as much control as you possibly can when it comes to your cooker, and a smart cooker can allow you to do exactly that. You can set it to pre-heat before you are getting home, or even alter the settings. If you have a recipe that needs to change temperature at a certain point in the cook, this is simple with a smart cooker.
Smart multicookers are also an option for your kitchen. They are a device that can be controlled remotely from your phone, but they can perform the tasks of many different cooking devices. Some can do everything from cooking rice through to pressure cooking and working as a crock pot for your slow-cooked recipes.
It’s great to be able to monitor your cooking from afar or make tweaks when you’re not in the kitchen. Some even have features such as “scan to cook” meaning you can buy food from the supermarket, scan the barcode, and the cooker will recognize what it is and how long it needs to be cooked for. This is a little gimmicky, but it shows the power of the smart kitchen.
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Smart Dishwasher
A smart dishwasher may sound like laziness to some, but it is actually more efficient. A lot of modern dishwashers with smart technology don’t just have great safety and convenience features, they can save you energy. For once, they can be scheduled to operate when the energy rates are at their lowest. Also, some dishwashers have the ability to scan what is inside, weigh it, and only use the correct level of cleaning products and water for what is required, reducing wastage.
Dishwashers with smart functionality can be monitored from afar and you can also analyze things like clogging within the system, changing the function to make sure it works effectively next time. There’s also the potential for your phone or tablet to alert you if there is a leak or a malfunction in the unit.
Smart Washing Machine
Similarly to your dishwasher, a smart washing machine may also be a way to make your life more convenient but also to save on energy. You can also use smart technology to set your machine to come on at economical times.
A lot of machines can also do “auto-dosing” so they weigh the load and change the detergent levels that are required, so that you aren’t wasting anything. The apps can allow you to troubleshoot, and they will detect any problems or maintenance that is needed. Some of them also give you the option to download extra programs such as cleaning programs for your washing machine.
Summary – Which Smart Appliances Are For You?
Of course, it all depends on what kind of lifestyle you lead. For a lot of people, smart appliances are all about convenience and making life more straightforward. If you’re a coffee lover then a bean to cup coffee machine will be high on your list, but items like smart washing machines and dishwashers can benefit us all, and may even help you to run your kitchen in a more eco-friendly way.
Article written by Rimgaile Vosylyte
