Skip to main content

Man turns wife’s criticism of his culinary skills into a robotic cooking machine

Never say that nagging never accomplished anything — apparently, one enterprising wife managed to nag her husband into creating a smart robotic chef. At the sixth annual China International Technology Fair, the CEO of a Shanghai-based catering company unveiled his latest creation (which ironically, could put him out of business). The so-called smart robot cooker was apparently developed after the entrepreneur, named He Qing, grew frustrated with his spouse’s constant admonitions about his cooking ability (or lack thereof). As a result, he invented the new cooking machine, which has apparently successfully freed him from his own cooking responsibilities.

Apparently, ever since he brought the cooker home, he hasn’t received any additional complaints about the availability of meals at home.

According to the team behind the robot, the machine requires just three or four minutes to fully prepare a dish. Best of all, it also comes with an automatic cleaning system, so not only do you not have to worry about making dinner, but you also don’t have to dread doing the dishes, either. And thus far, it seems to have met with pretty positive reviews, at least from folks attending the fair. As one willing tester noted: “The dish is so delicious; the robot cooker has better cooking skills than me.”

From the images alone, it certainly looks like decent Chinese food.

As it stands, the robotic cooking machine is only available for lease, and will set you back 10,000 yuan, or about $1,588. There’s an additional 1 yuan (16 cent) charge for each dish that you prepare, which seems like a pretty good deal (though the upfront price is still quite steep). Of course, we haven’t had the opportunity to try any of the dishes produced by this robotic cooker, so there’s no vouching for exactly how delicious they really are. That said, from the images alone, it certainly looks like decent Chinese food.

But like any interesting new product, the robot cooker has already catalyzed quite a bit of debate among social media users in China. While some seem impressed by the machine’s purported abilities, others are not yet convinced. “The man’s story tells us that laziness is a primary productive force,” Weibo user @chengyuyan commented. Another Weibo user, @mushimuzhao, noted: “The most difficult part of cooking is not stir-frying dishes, but preparing raw materials. It seems that the cooker hasn’t solved the problem of cleaning and cutting the cooking [ingredients].”

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
This EcoFlow portable power station with solar panel is $270 off
An EcoFlow River 2 portable power station sits on a camp table.

There’s some impressive savings to pounce on if you’re in the market for some smart home deals. Some backup power is a good thing to keep around the house, and today it’s a good way to save as well. The EcoFlow River 2 portable power station is seeing a discount at Best Buy, and it’s bundled with a foldable 110-watt solar panel. Together these are marked down to $305, while they would regularly cost $588. This makes for a savings of $283 and free shipping is included.

Why you should buy the EcoFlow River 2 portable power station
Portable power stations like the Jackery Explorer 1000 and the Bluetti AC180 are the heavy hitters when it comes to name recognition, but the EcoFlow River 2 portable power station knows a thing or two about chipping in around the house. It beats the industry standard for charging speeds, as it’s able to reach a full charge in only 60 minutes. That’s five times faster than other portable power stations, and it’s a huge improvement over previous EcoFlow models. This makes the River 2 an excellent power station if you live in areas that deal with periodic power outages due to weather, or if you’d like some extra power out in the yard.

Read more
How to cancel your Arlo subscription
The Arlo Essential 2nd Gen mounted outside.

Arlo is one of the most popular smart home security brands, offering a variety of cameras and sensors to keep your property safe. But if you're ready to check out other systems (such as Ring or Wyze), you'll want to cancel your Arlo subscription. Unfortunately, this can't be done using the smartphone app – instead, you'll need to head online to the official Arlo website.

Need help with the process? Here's a step-by-step walkthrough on how to cancel your Arlo subscription.

Read more
The best smart lamps of 2023
Philips hue white ambiance lamp installed on coffee table.

Looking for an innovative way to light up your home office, living room, or bedroom? Consider adding a smart lamp to your shopping list. While these products will illuminate a dark space just like a traditional lamp, they're packed with additional features – such as the option to set timers, change colors, or connect to the rest of your smart home.

The best smart lamps come from trusted brands like Philips, Govee, and Amazon, though you'll also find lesser-known companies such as Moonside and Hatch churning out incredible products. If you need help searching for the right one, here's a look at the best smart lamps for all types of rooms.

Read more