You don’t have to be a good cook to get a meal — and no, we’re not talking about takeout. With smart pans, smart scales, smart ovens, and precision cookers, there’s no reason to have a bad meal at home. Here are some smart gadgets to take your cooking to the next level.
Pantelligent Smart Pan ($99)
How many times has your kitchen filled with smoke instead of the sweet aroma of a well-cooked meal? Pantelligent takes the guesswork out of cooking. This smart pan has a heat sensor that keeps you constantly aware of its temperature. That might not sound all that useful, but with the connected app and Pantelligent’s recipes, this pan practically automates the cooking process. The Pantelligent app will notify you when the pan is hot enough to add your ingredients. It will tell you precisely when your meat needs to be flipped or your vegetables need to be stirred. This pan will even tell you if it’s getting too hot or if it isn’t hot enough. Read more here.
Drop scale ($80)
Wait… was it tablespoons or teaspoons? Did you already add the sugar? The recipe is for eight people but you’re only cooking for three which means… ? If you’re a little afraid of baking (or math), you might want to check out the Drop scale. This little kitchen gadget makes sure that all of your ingredients are measured accurately.
The Drop scale’s app has a bunch of different recipes you can choose from. While baking may be the device’s forte, you can also get burger recipes and even cocktail instructions. One of the most useful features of the app is its ability to adjust recipes based on the amount of people you’re serving or the ingredients you have on hand. If you only have four eggs but the recipe calls for six, for instance, the app will automatically adjust the measurements for the rest of the recipe. And with the connected scale, well, you’ll know that your ingredients are perfect before you throw your scones, bread, cobbler, or doughnuts into the oven. Read our full review here.
Anova Precision Cooker with WiFi ($199)
What’s your favorite way to cook a steak? On the grill? The frying pan? In the oven? How about sealed in a bag and cooked in a water bath? The thought of cooking a nice piece of steak in water may not sound very appetizing, but sous vide cooking is a hassle-free way to cook great food at home. If you’re interested in sous vide, the Anova Culinary Precision Cooker is certainly worth checking out.
The gadget connects to just about any pot you have on hand and can heat water to your precise cooking temperature. Simply prep your meal, place it in the resealable bag, and drop it into your pot. Then, sit back, relax, and wait for the device’s accompanying app to alert you when your meal is ready. The biggest drawback to cooking a steak sous vide is that you don’t get a nice sear on your meat. However, you can always throw it in the pan or grab a blowtorch to finish it off. Read our full review here.
Palate Home Cinder Precision Cooker ($500)
If you like the idea of sous vide cooking but the aforementioned Anova Precision Cooker doesn’t match your aesthetic ideals, the Cinder Precision Cooker might be what you’re looking for. This kitchen gadget comes with many of the same benefits inherent in sous vide devices, but it has a more traditional kitchen appearance.
This counter grill is reminiscent of George Foreman’s grill — or Tracy Jordan’s Meat Machine from 30 Rock — but offers the same temperature control as sous vide devices. The connected app allows you to adjust things such as the temperature and cook time, and when your food is ready, you can crank up the heat to give your food a nice sear (a feature missing on sous vide devices). Read more here.
GE Paragon Induction Cooktop ($299)
Another smart kitchen device that has repackaged the sous vide style is the Paragon Induction Cooktop. This handy appliance offers the accuracy afforded by a precision cooker, but it’s a little more versatile. The Paragon Induction Cooktop can also heat your pots to a precise temperature, allowing you to cook sous vide. And since this device is a cooktop instead of a grill, it can also be used in conjunction with a frying pan, giving you the ability to sear steaks as well. Read our full review here.
Crock-Pot smart slow cooker with WeMo ($130)
OK, enough sous vide. Let’s get back to a more traditional way of cooking — the slow cooker. The slow cooker is known as a “dumb” way of cooking since it requires very little effort. You simply set it and forget it. Well, Crock-Pot has added a few smart features to this “dumb” device. The Crock-Pot smart slow cooker with WeMo can be controlled directly from your smartphone, allowing you to set the time, temperature, or even pause the cooking process if you get delayed at work or stuck in traffic. This slow cooker can even be connected to IFTTT (If This Then That), which opens up a host of futuristic options. Why ring the dinner bell when your slow cooker can email your family that food is ready? Read more here.
Hapilabs Hapifork ($69)
The smart appliances listed above will help you create fantastic meals in your home, sure, but the Hapi Fork will make sure that you don’t eat them too fast. Most people who have tried to lose weight are familiar with counting calories. This fork does something similar. The device counts how many bites you take during a meal and how fast you take them. If you’re eating too fast, the fork will vibrate, reminding you to slow down. If you’re focus is on eating more healthfully, you might want to incorporate this into your meals. Read more here.
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