GIZMO HELPS PLAN
Of those who cook at home, 53 per cent would like to plan meals more often to save money, eat healthy and waste less food.
This cleverly designed voice-operated device aims to take the hassle out of home cooking, especially when you have a busy schedule. Simply place Hello Egg on your kitchen counter and start talking to it. Its playful animated eye mimics facial expressions by blinking. The virtual assistant will help plan weekly meals according to dietary preferences, organize shopping lists, order grocery delivery, provide recipe videos and back you up with a 24/7 cooking experts team. (helloegg.net: basic version US$120; premium US$350)
ALCHEMA
Make your own craft cider at home with this cool countertop brewing machine that turns fresh fruit into alcohol and creates hard cider, mead or wine. Simply choose a recipe on the app, add fruit, sugar, water and a yeast packet.
The app weighs ingredients and notifies you when fermentation is complete and the batch is ready. Cider typically takes up to two weeks to make, depending on the fruit and recipes.
Mead, also known as honey wine, takes less than a week. Notifications will appear on your smartphone with suggestions on what to do when the fermentation is finished, your Wi-Fi disconnects or temperature or pressure is abnormal.
Three types of yeast are available in a standard three-pack for sparkling cider, fruitier concoctions and recipes with a stronger alcohol content. (alchema.com: $683.75)
HESTAN CUE
This connected cookware system controls time and temperature so you can always count on a cooking experience that’s just right.
Using Bluetooth technology and embedded sensors, the smart sauté pan, induction burner and recipe app work in unison to assist you in every phase of the cooking process, all with the satisfaction of knowing the products will never burn your food.
Cue walks you through each step of a recipe with video guidance, from ingredient preparation to cooking technique and final touches, automatically controlling the pan and burner temperature during each phase. When it comes time to present your gourmet meal, no one will ever know you had a virtual sidekick. (hestan.com: US$649.95; early-bird special US$549.95; shipping to take place in spring 2018)
PANTRY CHIC
Foodies of every skill level will probably appreciate this alternative to traditional storage canisters, measuring utensils and scales. The PantryChic Store & Dispense System simplifies recipe preparation by automatically dispensing the precise amount of each ingredient from canisters with the push of a button.
The system comes with three dishwasher-safe, BPA-free canisters in small, medium and large. They are rectangular and stackable to maximize storage space. The recipe app instructs users when to place each canister on the system so it can automatically dispense the right amount.
Wet ingredients are manually poured into the bowl on the base unit’s scale, and an indicator on the app prompts you when to stop. A built-in scale measures and converts volume to weight, allowing you to choose from five measuring units. The system can be used alone or with the app, which allows you to prepare recipes from your smart device, track your pantry supply and order ingredients.
The app also enables you to share recipes on social media and gives you recommendations based on your preferences. (pantrychic.com: US$299.95)
GENICAN
Of all the mundane things to do in the kitchen, keeping a grocery shopping list is probably one of them. But in the world of smart technology, that’s the inspiration for GeniCan, a device that almost makes throwing away trash fun.
Attach the scanner to your garbage can or recycling bin. It keeps a log on items as you toss them out so you can update your grocery list. When the app is synced with an Amazon account, GeniCan orders items such as paper towels and snacks once they have been thrown away or recycled.
An item without a bar code can be added to your shopping list by holding it in front of GeniCan for a couple of seconds and using voice-recognition technology to instruct the device. (genican.com: US$149)
SOMABAR
Impress guests with this app-controlled robotic bartending appliance created for the home kitchen. Mix cocktails and infuse bitters to make a cocktail in seconds simply by pressing a button. The app is stocked with more than 300 cocktail recipes.
The ordering system presents a menu based on ingredients you have or suggests what ingredients you need. Scroll through the menu and select a drink, then customize ingredients and alcohol content.
Six refill pods, which hold liquor and mixers, are removable and dishwasher-safe. (somabar.com: US$499)