Smart technology seems unstoppable and it is now finding its way into the kitchens, thanks to the rise of Internet of Things (IoT). With IoT almost everything has gone ‘smart’, including how we cook and what we use to cook in the kitchens.
And the common saying, ‘Work smarter not harder’ certainly applies when it comes to doing routine chores in the kitchen. From smart fridges that help our women with their dinner preparation to voice-activated kitchen faucets that can fill that baby bottle at the right temperature, the connected kitchen is one that saves time by lending a helping hand to our women – and men who cook.
Kitchen has always been a space that is filled with all kinds of gadgets and devices, and kitchen appliances like fridges and ovens have been some of the most technologically advanced contraptions in many homes. But with the entrance of the IoT into your kitchen, many more gadgets have become ‘smart’.
However, smart kitchen devices aren’t just smart because they’re connected to the IoT; they’re smart because they are genuinely helpful and because they use smart technology to take some of the efforts out of your cooking chores.
What are smart kitchen appliances?
According to a technology company, Nanowerk, Smart kitchen appliances are designed to make them easier to use and remove tedious routine work. Like other smart technologies, Nanowerk says, these appliances are integrated with sensor technology, a certain amount of computing power, one or more actuators, and communication capabilities such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, advanced user interface, even artificial intelligence (AI), for enhanced functionality and a more interactive experience.
Some of the most innovative IoT kitchen devices
Smart kitchen faucet
The kitchen faucet is one of the most used, if not the most used, appliances in the kitchen. No surprise then that several manufacturers have made many innovative solutions.
In some of the faucets, precise water measurements allow you to dispense water at the desired temperature, up to 120 degrees F (49 °C), and volume as little as one teaspoon or as much as 15 gallons (68 litres).
Also in many, specific voice commands allow you to combine specific temperature and specific measurement or mix generic commands, for example, “Alexa/Hey Google, ask Moen to dispense 1 cup of hot water”; Create your own personalized presets in the app to facilitate quick delivery of common tasks, for example, “Alexa/Hey Google, tell Moen to fill the baby bottle”.
Drip coffee machine
Today’s cutting edge smart coffee machines are operated via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and enable you to start the brewing process from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet. Smart coffee makers allow you to start brews and adjust settings on your smartphone to craft your perfect cup of coffee. You can also set schedules. For example, you can add grinds before you go to bed, and have your coffee maker ready to brew a hot cup of Joe right when you wake up.
Smarter Coffee even knows when you step through the front door, prompting you to start brewing a pot with Home mode. You can also connect Smarter Coffee to your favourite smart home devices, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and more.
Smart all-in-one kitchen machine
Definitely not cheap, but the Thermomix TM6 is the second pair of hands in the kitchen that will speed up your meal preparation and do the cooking for you. It replaces over 20 appliances in one, you can chop, blend, whip, weigh, mill, knead, mince, sear, sous-vide and much more, all at the touch of a button. You can use it to whip up everything from banana bread and scones to butter chicken, pumpkin soup, pizza dough or mashed potato – the recipe possibilities run into the many thousands.
Smart Instant Pot
“What is an Instant Pot, and why is everyone obsessed with it,” you ask? Imagine having a slow cooker that also functions as a pressure cooker, a rice cooker, a steamer, and a yogurt maker. That’s the Instant Pot. This multi-tasking 8-in-1 cooker is simply an electric pot that lets you cook fast (with the pressure-cooking function) or slow. People love it because it’s a convenient, time-saving device that lets you quickly cook dinner without keeping an eye on the stove.
Smart microwave
This features hands-free operation through its integration with Alexa. Using an echo device you can control it by voice command or app. A built-in humidity sensor automatically adjusts cooking power to achieve optimum heating for whatever you are making. It also features a preset timing menu with 23 options for everything from pizza to vegetables.
Smart thermometer
The MEATER+ is a wireless smart meat thermometer for the oven, grill, kitchen, BBQ, smoker, or rotisserie with Bluetooth and WiFi digital connectivity. This premium product is aimed at both amateur and more experienced BBQers, and it is much more than just a digital reader with Bluetooth.
A guided cook system walks you through every step of the cooking process to guarantee perfect and consistent results. You can also set up custom alerts and notifications based on temperature and/or time.
Smart air fryer
Can your air fryer be monitored and controlled through your smartphone or tablet – from anywhere? How about sending you a text once the cooking is done? This marvelous air fryer can do it.
Whether you’re controlling your air fryer directly from the display, remotely through the app, or just with the sound of your voice using Alexa or Google Assistant, cooking is always a breeze.
Bendall Innovation, Fuller Yield Venture unveil digital yam pounder in Nigeria
Meanwhile, a United States-based firm, Bendall Innovation, and a Nigerian firm, Fuller Yield Ventures, have unveiled Omnismart Yam Pounder Plus, a digital yam pounding machine, also capable of preparing other local ‘’swallows’’, like Tuwo shinkafa, effortlessly.
The machine, which is fully-automated, according to the innovators, is designed to ease the stress associated with preparing local dishes, in Nigeria and other African countries.
Speaking at the unveiling, witnessed by the companies’ distributors, and a select media, the Chief Executive Officer of Bendall Innovations, Dr. Gregson Oghafua, described the product as a way of further strengthening family bonds, by removing the stress pounding yam, manually, could cause in the family.
According to Dr Oghafua, one of the unique features of the machine is that besides being fully-automated, it can also prepare other local delicacies such as Semovita, Yam Flour, Eba, and rice, Tuwo shinkafa among others.
The Texas-based surgeon expressed the hope that the machine, developed over a period of 15 years, would go a long way in boosting the nation’s economy by providing jobs for many Nigerians, desirous of marketing the products.
“Besides being an instrument to further deepen family bonds, the unveiling of the smart Yam Pounder Plus, also provides us the opportunity to make our own contribution to the growth of the nation’s economy,” he stated.
He however disclosed the company’s plans to set up a plant in Nigeria, in 2024, where the product, and other appliances would be manufactured.
Also speaking at the unveiling, the Chief Executive Officer of Fuller Yield Venture, the sole distributor of the product in Nigeria, Mr. Steve Olayinka, assured trade partners of the readiness of the company to support them in the sales and marketing processes of the new offering.
He also disclosed plans by the company to offer an attractive 15% discount per unit sales to every of its trade partners, as part of the incentives.
Olayinka also disclosed that the team had also secured a partnership with one of the nation’s frontline financial institutions, Zenith Bank International, that would provide financial guidance, and loan facilities to SMEs, desirous of marketing the product.
He expressed the optimism that the new invention would become a big hit in the market since it is coming to fill a yawning gap in the market.
“Many Nigerians love to eat swallows, especially pounded yam, but are usually discouraged when they see the rigours that go with such. This new machine has come to give such people a new cooking experience,” he stated.
Head, Retail Banking, Zenith Bank, Mr. Godson Nwakpa, explained that the decision to partner with the team to market the product was in tune with the bank’s mission of partnering with the nation’s SMEs to grow her economy.
Besides giving out loan facilities to SMEs, desirous of marketing the product, but without the required financial capabilities, the bank, he added would also provide the SMEs the business tools and support services.
