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6 Kitchen Automation Hacks For Busy Families
Posted by Renovator Mate on 27 Feb 2023
I’m sure we can all agree that cooking can be an immensely enjoyable and rewarding process in the best of circumstances. However, for many busy families that are working against the clock on a daily basis, mealtimes can often come with a hefty side of stress, chaos and a lot of cleanup that would drive even the most avid of home chefs to tears. If you find yourself in this predicament night after night, you’ve certainly come to the right place. Thankfully, kitchen automation hacks are plentiful in 2023, thanks to numerous advances in technology that make mealtimes that much simpler.
Kitchen automation effectively involves using technology to control various aspects of your kitchen operations — from cooking, to waste management and everything in between. Today, we share 6 kitchen automation hacks for busy families in a bid to take the stress out of suppertime.
- Smart Faucets Save the Day
Replacing your faucet with a newer, smarter alternative doesn’t have to be a difficult task — if you’re not the biggest fan of DIY, this simple job can likely be done by many of the local plumbers in your area. But what exactly are the benefits of swapping out your outdated manual faucet for a shiny, new smart faucet?
Equipped with temperature gauges and efficiency sensors, these handy faucets activate with a single tap from your hand or elbow. Sound familiar? Yup, the first type of smart faucet you’ve probably experienced is in any modern public bathroom. At-home versions that you can use in your kitchen contain small IR or motion sensors which will turn on the flow of water when it detects movement in the sink, and turn off once movement has ceased.
Smart faucets don’t just allow you to conserve water, but they can also help to stop the spread of germs and bacteria around the home — no need to touch faucet handles after handling raw chicken! Some of the smartest of smart faucets may even operate with mobile phone applications and are compatible with virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Home. - Consider Multifunction Kitchen Appliances
If you’re looking to really upgrade your kitchen for better efficiency and time management, you simply cannot go wrong with multifunction kitchen appliances. So, what exactly is a “multicooker” or “multifunction” kitchen appliance? Just as its name suggests, these are appliances that allow you to easily execute a variety of cooking methods without having to buy 15 different kitchen gadgets. A multi-cooker can replace a wide variety of kitchen appliances. Not only does this free up a ton of cupboard space, but it can also save you a significant amount of money at the same time.
Some of the most popular multifunction kitchen appliances in 2023 include the ever-popular Thermomix, InstaPot and Anova Precision Oven which allows for easy defrosting, dehydrating, and everything in between. At the end of the day, there’s a reason so many people are die-hard fans of these innovative kitchen appliances, so why not dip your toes into the world of multi-cooking sooner rather than later? - Boiling, Chilled and Sparkling Water Taps
Are you sick of waiting for water to boil? Love a glass of sparkling water but don’t love having to pay extra for this little luxury? Don’t have a fridge with a water dispenser? If you answered yes to any one of these questions (or all), boiling, chilled and sparkling water taps are here to save the day.
These types of modern taps are powered by an under-bench unit that gives you the ability to connect CO2 canisters for your sparkling water. They can also be installed to offer immediate access to chilled or boiling water, meaning you’ll never need ice cubes or have to wait for the kettle to boil for a refreshing drink ever again. Moreover, because water is run through a filter, this means your tap water is not just high quality but also tastes and smells better. - Introduction to Induction
If you are a busy parent who appreciates time-saving hacks in the kitchen, look no further than an induction cooktop. Compared to traditional gas or electric, induction cooktops combine the best of both worlds —- they’re easier to clean than electric and provide heat that is as consistent as gas, all in a fraction of the time.
With an induction stove, heat is transferred directly to your cookware, not the surface of the cooktop. As a result, food heats up to 50% faster, allowing you to prepare your favourite meals in half the time. Moreover, an induction stove allows for much more precise cooking and temperature control compared to its gas and electric counterparts, rewarding you with tasty and repeatable results every time.
Top Tip: Don’t want to go through the hassle or costs associated with pulling out your existing gas stove top? Consider purchasing a standalone/portable induction cooktop that you can use both indoors and outdoors for stove-free cooking. - Smarten Your Cooking With A Smart Fridge
You’ve heard of Smart TVs, smart speakers, smart bulbs and more…but have you heard of the smart fridge? If you’re wondering how a smart refrigerator can benefit your family, we’re here to spill the beans.
A smart refrigerator is a refrigerator that goes beyond a chiller and basic ice maker — it is a modern kitchen appliance that connects to the internet to offer a wide variety of features and functions for 21st-century families. Think WiFi connectivity, touch screens, internal cameras, flexible user-controlled cooling options and even speakers to stream your favourite music.
Some manufacturers like Samsung even feature tech that suggests recipes based on the food already in your fridge. Why bother spending hours trying to figure out what to make for dinner when you can let the wonders of AI do the work for you? We’re definitely sold on this one. - Don’t Forget To Stir The Pot!
Last but not least, anyone who loves making jams, jellies, risotto or other dishes that require constant stirring will know just how annoying standing over a hot stove for hours can be. Thankfully, automation is here to save the day and you don’t have to give up all your favourite dishes when you make use of an automatic pot stirrer. This innovative kitchen gadget stirs automatically so you don’t have to, and will provide great relief while cooking risottos, stews, grits, soups and sauces.
Aside from saving you the trouble and arm work of sweating over a hot stove, an automatic pot stirrer is also a fantastic way to free up some much-needed kitchen time. Instead of spending hours stirring, utilise your time in a more productive way by chopping veggies, meal-prepping or cleaning out your fridge. When choosing the best pot stirrer, we recommend opting for a cordless variety that offers different mixing speeds for various dishes and other accessories such as thermometer kits to take the guesswork out of cooking.
And there you have it — 6 modern kitchen automation hacks for busy families in 2023. By implementing some of these tech gadgets and tricks in your kitchen, meal time is guaranteed to be a lot less stressful and time-consuming for both busy parents and kids, or anyone else who’s looking to make preparing meals and snacks a breeze!