Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

GE’s scan-to-cook microwave comes with a bonus Amazon Dot for a limited time

By Bruce Brown Published July 17, 2018

Amazon Prime Day may be winding down, but GE Appliances is keeping the party going. On Wednesday, July 18, GE will begin selling an Alexa-aware countertop microwave with scan-to-cook technology. To sweeten the deal, for a limited time the company is bundling an Amazon Echo Dot with the GE Smart Countertop Microwave.

According to GE, the scan-to-cook feature will help vast numbers of consumers who never use their microwave ovens’ presets, defrost, or power settings. Owners will simply use their smartphone camera to scan food packaging barcode from the GE Appliances Kitchen app. If the app recognizes the food item, it will send the correct cooking instructions to the microwave. At launch, the app will be preprogrammed with settings for more than 3,000 frozen, refrigerated, and shelf food items, with more items added over time.

Recommended Videos

More about microwave ovens

“GE Appliances’ research shows consumers don’t use the full capabilities of their microwaves and stick to a few buttons and time cook,” Shawn Stover, vice president of GE Appliances’ SmartHome Solutions, said in a statement. “With our new GE microwave scan-to-cook technology, your son or daughter can head off to college and cook food with the help of their phone instead of relying on mom.”

1 of 4

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 03 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 04 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 02 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 01 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 900-watt, stainless-steel GE Smart Countertop Microwave, model JES1097SMSS has a 0.9 cubic foot capacity. The compact unit measures 11.5-inches high, 19-inches wide, and 14.25 inches deep.

The microwave’s onboard Wi-Fi will enable Amazon Alexa connectivity. Whether you’re in another room or have both hands full, you’ll be able to control the microwave settings with voice commands after enabling the Alexa skill.

1 of 4

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 08 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 07 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 06 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

ge smart countertop microwave scan to cook technology with 05 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“We’re excited to work with GE Appliances to continue extending the convenience of Alexa to the kitchen,” said Christian Taubman, Amazon Smart Home Devices director. “We think customers will love the simplicity of hands-free voice control whether popping popcorn or preparing the perfect meal.”

The GE microwave is $139, but at launch you’ll be able to buy the device and an Amazon Echo Dot for $155 for a limited time.

Topics

Contributing Editor

Bruce Brown Contributing Editor As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…

Smart Home

Dreo reveals new smart home devices to help you beat the summer heat

A fan from the Dreo Summer 2025 lineup.

Summer is just around the corner, and Dreo is gearing up for its arrival by launching several new smart devices. Some products are available now, while others will arrive within the next few months, though all are specifically designed to help you stay cool and improve your indoor air quality.

The Dreo Summer 2025 lineup includes fans, portable air conditioners, air purifiers, and humidifiers, most of which are bundled with useful smart features to improve their performance and give you easy ways to control their settings. The most premium of the bunch is the Dreo Portable Air Conditioner 319S -- its 10,000 BTU system is powerful, quiet, and drainage-free, making it an excellent way to cool your home. It also works with both Google and Alexa, and voice controls are supported for ease of use.

Smart Home

This smart display alternative just added a powerful new feature to help track your chores

A person using the Skylight.

Skylight is responsible for a variety of smart display alternatives with a focus on organization and schedule planning. Last summer, it launched the premium Cal Max -- a 27-inch smart calendar that we called a “streamlined smart display alternative.” Since its arrival, Skylight has continued to roll out new features to the device, and now you’ll find a powerful feature called Routines available across the Skylight Calendar lineup. Designed to simplify chores and build good habits for the entire family, it’s a unique new feature that changes how you interact with the display.

The idea behind Routines is simple -- offer visual feedback and an easy-to-use interface to make it easier than ever to keep track of (and complete) all your chores. These can be set up on a recurring schedule, allowing you to program in everything from a quick 15 minutes of reading before bedtime or a few minutes each morning for your kids to brush their teeth. Routines can be customized with various emojis and color-coding to help keep track of them, and a fun confetti animation is triggered once they’re complete.

Smart Home

Yale Assure Lock 2 vs. Lockly Vision Elite: which is the better smart lock?

A person opening the Yale Assure Lock 2 with their Apple Watch.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 and Lockly Vision Elite are among the best smart locks on the market. One offers a streamlined design and multiple formats, while the other is packed with features that make it an all-in-one powerhouse. Rest assured -- you can’t go wrong choosing either product. But there are some big differences between the two, and one is likely a better fit for your preferences than the other.

With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the Yale Assure Lock 2 vs. Lockly Vision Elite. From pricing and design to installation and notable features, we’ll cover everything you need to know before making a purchase.