<\/span>Smart kitchen appliances \u2013 which ones do you really need?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nSetting up a smart kitchen doesn\u2019t mean you need to buy every gadget out there \u2013 they can be quite expensive. You need to determine which ones you should get, depending on how you\u2019re using your kitchen<\/a>, how much and how often you cook. Here are some of the most popular smart kitchen accessories \u2013 so pick the ones that your kitchen really needs:<\/p>\n\n- Smart fridge<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Smart refrigerators do all sorts of cool things like allowing you to check what\u2019s inside the fridge on your smartphone, keep track of expiration dates and send you reminders to eat your food before it goes bad, and send grocery lists to other devices. Most models have touchscreens and popular grocery apps installed \u2013 you can order the groceries and have them delivered in a couple of hours. Or you could look up \u00a0recipes and have your fridge read the instructions to you \u2013 that really comes in handy when cooking.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2021\/07\/smart-fridge.jpg?w=770\")
Some models will help you coordinate your family\u2019s schedule, create individual profiles for each family member and send them to do lists or other notes.<\/p>\n
Smart fridges have become more affordable in the past few years \u2013 but they\u2019ll still a lot more expensive than a regular fridge. However, if you have a busy schedule and want to be able to easily coordinate shopping lists and dinner plans with all your family, this type of appliance could be a good idea.<\/p>\n
\n- Smart coffee maker<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It can be an espresso machine or even a coffee filter \u2013 what makes them smart is that they are wi-fi or Bluetooth enabled. You can access them through Alexa, Google Home Assistant, another virtual assistant or their own app. They have a lot of options \u2013 you can program them to make coffee at a certain time of the day so that you can wake up each morning to freshly brewed coffee. Most smart coffee makers allow you to select parameters such as water temperature or pressure, enabling you to experiment until you create the perfect cup. After using one for a few days, the virtual assistant learns your preferences, and you\u2019ll always get your coffee just as you like it. You can also choose between preset coffee-based drinks recipes or create your own signature recipe. There are even models featuring geolocation capabilities \u2013 your smart coffee maker knows that you\u2019re heading home so it will start preparing your coffee.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2021\/07\/smart-coffee-maker.jpg?w=770\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Smart instant pot<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Instant pots are already great in terms of time and effort saved while cooking \u2013 so what can a wi-fi enabled instant pot do? Well, you can control it via its app or through voice assistants, check the progress of your food as it cooks and receive alerts. It also gives you access to hundreds of pre-programed recipes. It\u2019s not much more expensive than the non-smart one, so it could be a great investment if you love home-cooked meals but hate wasting hours in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\n- Smart air fryer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Air fryers are all the rage right now, and for good reasons \u2013 you can enjoy the crispiness and the amazing taste of fried foods without the hassle of frying them in hot oil and without all those calories. You can take things one step further and get a smart air fryer: you can control it from a distance via apps of voice assistants, you can check how your meal progresses, and you can program it to start cooking at a certain time. Most models also have a library of recipes to choose from.<\/p>\n
\n- Smart indoor planter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Fresh herbs will take your dishes to the next level \u2013 but tending to the plants takes time, and if you\u2019re not the green fingered type of person, you risk killing them before having the chance to garnish your food. Smart indoor gardens are devices that ensure your plants have everything they need to grow \u2013 the right amount of water, sufficient light, and nutrients. You simply plug it in al let it do its job \u2013 then, you can start harvesting herbs and other greens for your kitchen.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2021\/07\/smart-appliances.jpg?w=770\")
<\/p>\n
\n- Smart faucet<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most smart faucets come with voice activated software that helps you adjust water temperature, measure a precise amount of water or turn it on and off through voice commands. Such features are very useful when cooking, as your hands are usually busy or caked in food ingredients. Some models have more sophisticated features like freeze protection \u2013 if you leave home during the winter, you can activate the function, and the water will flow just enough to keep it from freezing.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Other ways to smarten up your kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nDon\u2019t rely exclusively on high tech for a smart kitchen. Here are some smart tips and tricks that will turn your kitchen into a space that makes cooking and the subsequent cleaning up faster and easier.<\/p>\n
\n- Comb through your cabinets to reduce clutter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can\u2019t really cook efficiently \u2013 and enjoy your smart kitchen appliances \u2013 if your cabinets, drawers and counter are cluttered with a variety of utensils you rarely, if ever, use. Go through all your possessions and decide which ones should stay and which should go. If you have large utensils and other items that you use only a few times per year \u2013 like a large roasting tray for the Thanksgiving dinner, or a set of fancy China plates you save for Christmas \u2013 you could put that in self storage<\/a>. A 5×5 storage unit<\/a> is just the right size to hold a few appliances and some boxes with extra kitchen items.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.storagecafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/44\/2021\/07\/tidy-kitchen.jpg?w=770\")
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Smart fridge<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Smart refrigerators do all sorts of cool things like allowing you to check what\u2019s inside the fridge on your smartphone, keep track of expiration dates and send you reminders to eat your food before it goes bad, and send grocery lists to other devices. Most models have touchscreens and popular grocery apps installed \u2013 you can order the groceries and have them delivered in a couple of hours. Or you could look up \u00a0recipes and have your fridge read the instructions to you \u2013 that really comes in handy when cooking.<\/p>\n
Some models will help you coordinate your family\u2019s schedule, create individual profiles for each family member and send them to do lists or other notes.<\/p>\nSmart fridges have become more affordable in the past few years \u2013 but they\u2019ll still a lot more expensive than a regular fridge. However, if you have a busy schedule and want to be able to easily coordinate shopping lists and dinner plans with all your family, this type of appliance could be a good idea.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Smart coffee maker<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It can be an espresso machine or even a coffee filter \u2013 what makes them smart is that they are wi-fi or Bluetooth enabled. You can access them through Alexa, Google Home Assistant, another virtual assistant or their own app. They have a lot of options \u2013 you can program them to make coffee at a certain time of the day so that you can wake up each morning to freshly brewed coffee. Most smart coffee makers allow you to select parameters such as water temperature or pressure, enabling you to experiment until you create the perfect cup. After using one for a few days, the virtual assistant learns your preferences, and you\u2019ll always get your coffee just as you like it. You can also choose between preset coffee-based drinks recipes or create your own signature recipe. There are even models featuring geolocation capabilities \u2013 your smart coffee maker knows that you\u2019re heading home so it will start preparing your coffee.<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n- \n
- Smart instant pot<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Instant pots are already great in terms of time and effort saved while cooking \u2013 so what can a wi-fi enabled instant pot do? Well, you can control it via its app or through voice assistants, check the progress of your food as it cooks and receive alerts. It also gives you access to hundreds of pre-programed recipes. It\u2019s not much more expensive than the non-smart one, so it could be a great investment if you love home-cooked meals but hate wasting hours in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Smart air fryer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Air fryers are all the rage right now, and for good reasons \u2013 you can enjoy the crispiness and the amazing taste of fried foods without the hassle of frying them in hot oil and without all those calories. You can take things one step further and get a smart air fryer: you can control it from a distance via apps of voice assistants, you can check how your meal progresses, and you can program it to start cooking at a certain time. Most models also have a library of recipes to choose from.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Smart indoor planter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Fresh herbs will take your dishes to the next level \u2013 but tending to the plants takes time, and if you\u2019re not the green fingered type of person, you risk killing them before having the chance to garnish your food. Smart indoor gardens are devices that ensure your plants have everything they need to grow \u2013 the right amount of water, sufficient light, and nutrients. You simply plug it in al let it do its job \u2013 then, you can start harvesting herbs and other greens for your kitchen.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n- \n
- Smart faucet<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most smart faucets come with voice activated software that helps you adjust water temperature, measure a precise amount of water or turn it on and off through voice commands. Such features are very useful when cooking, as your hands are usually busy or caked in food ingredients. Some models have more sophisticated features like freeze protection \u2013 if you leave home during the winter, you can activate the function, and the water will flow just enough to keep it from freezing.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Other ways to smarten up your kitchen<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t rely exclusively on high tech for a smart kitchen. Here are some smart tips and tricks that will turn your kitchen into a space that makes cooking and the subsequent cleaning up faster and easier.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Comb through your cabinets to reduce clutter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
You can\u2019t really cook efficiently \u2013 and enjoy your smart kitchen appliances \u2013 if your cabinets, drawers and counter are cluttered with a variety of utensils you rarely, if ever, use. Go through all your possessions and decide which ones should stay and which should go. If you have large utensils and other items that you use only a few times per year \u2013 like a large roasting tray for the Thanksgiving dinner, or a set of fancy China plates you save for Christmas \u2013 you could put that in self storage<\/a>. A 5×5 storage unit<\/a> is just the right size to hold a few appliances and some boxes with extra kitchen items.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
- Comb through your cabinets to reduce clutter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Smart faucet<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Smart indoor planter<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Smart air fryer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Smart instant pot<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Smart coffee maker<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n