Popular Mechanics (South Africa)
HOME START HOME
Our selection of the best gadgets, gizmos and gear to power up your kitchen.
IT’S EASY TO imagine what a kitchen will look like in the future. Smarter appliances are already available, connected and making food prep that much easier. From fridges with built-in AI that let you see inside without opening the door, to apps that tell you exactly which appliances you’ve left on (or even better, apps that allow you to turn appliances on and off) and more, we’re already living like the Jetsons. If anything, it’s never been simpler to get the heart of your home – the kitchen – connected.
INSTANT WHAT?
Imagine if, instead of having to buy a steamer, slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker and yoghurt maker (among other things), you could just get one impressive gadget to do it all. It’s called an Instant Pot, a seven-in-one multicooker that automates the cooking process with a plethora of preset buttons to make your life a lot easier. And unlike your granny’s pressure cooker of the past, an Instant Pot will not explode.
MORE THAN A MICROWAVE
The first microwave was sold way back in 1946 and, although they’ve seen improvements, the tech is more than overdue for enhancements. That’s where the LG NeoChef comes into the picture. With smart inverter technology, it can do so much more than your regular electromagnetic-wave-emitting device – it cooks, steams, proves, grills, bakes and reheats like a dream and, most importantly, it does so evenly, because with a NeoChef you have precise control of the heat source. Even better, instead of that endless, annoying beeping sound that other microwaves make, the NeoChef plays a happy little tune which sounds more like a Nintendo video game.
WANT FRIES WITH THAT?
An air fryer mimics the results of deep-frying using hot air. It’s ideal for chips, chops and everything in-between (yes, you can even hard boil eggs in an air fryer), without using excessive amounts of oil. That means no more hot splattering oil, dabbing off food with a paper towel, and a kitchen that smells like fish for days. An air fryer is one of the slickest and smartest kitchen gadgets you can invest in, and Philips does it best.
BUT DO YOU BLEND?
Who needs a nutritionist? Get a connected blender, sorry, ‘nutrition extractor’, instead. NutriBullet’s high-speed smart blender has Bluetooth technology, which means it pairs with your phone to display nutritional content as you add ingredients to the jug. The built-in smart nutrition sensor visually (in other words, in real time) counts calories, protein, carbs, fat, sugar, and more, based on ingredient volume. If you are using one of the many recipes in the app, it will also tell you how long to blend for. You can use the app to set wellness goals, dietary restrictions and eating styles, too. Go, blend!
THAT’S WHERE THE SOCK IS…
How many times have you started a load of washing and then suddenly realised you needed to add something in? Sorry – too bad, so sad. Game over. Back to the beginning … or not! Samsung’s innovative AddWash Front Loader is perfect for those forgetful homemakers. No longer will you need to start a second cycle, wasting more water and using more electricity. With AddWash, you can simply add to your wash, during the wash. It also works with Samsung’s SmartThings app, which lets you control (and troubleshoot) the machine from your phone.
THE ART OF COFFEE
If you love it when baristas get fancy, then you’ll adore Nespresso’s super high-end Creatista Plus. It’s an innovative and digitally savvy coffee machine (to put it lightly) that gives you the ability to easily create personalised café-style coffee at home. Not only does it heat up in three seconds thanks to the ThermoJet system, but it has eight texture levels (how frothy do you like your froth?) as well as 11 milk-temperature settings. So no matter what kind of coffee drinker you are, you can have an espresso or ristretto or caffe latte or cappuccino or latte macchiato (we could go on!) in a few button presses.
It’s also smart – the Creatista Plus self-cleanses the steam wand after each use and comes with a professional stainlesssteel barista milk jug, the kind with a pour spout designed specifically for latte art.
NO LONGER WILL YOU NEED TO START A SECOND CYCLE, WASTING MORE WATER AND USING MORE ELECTRICITY.
BREW YOUR OWN
Capsule coffee is quick and easy (and okay, as long as you use eco-friendly recyclable capsules), so why not capsule beer? LG’s HomeBrew Beer Machine is just that – a seriously cool craft-beer brewing machine that lets you make a pint of your own, at home. Brewing beer can be a laborious task of getting the right ingredients and equipment together. With the HomeBrew, however, it’s as easy as placing a capsule of malt, yeast, hops oil and other flavourings into the machine and waiting (anywhere from two weeks to two months). Your options are: American IPA, American pale ale, English stout, Belgian-style witbier and Czech Pilsner. The HomeBrew will then automate the complete beer-brewing process, from carbonation and ageing, right through to serving and cleaning. It’s never been easier to get your own home brewery off the ground.