The Best Gadgets That Will Turn Your Ordinary Kitchen Into a Smart One
If you’re interested in home automation and smart technology, you may have looked into using smart appliances in the kitchen, but smart appliances can be expensive, and you may be hesitant to replace a perfectly good stove or refrigerator if there’s nothing wrong with it. except for the lack of smart technology.
Luckily, there are several DIY upgrades that can make your kitchen more attractive at little cost.
Make your refrigerator and freezer smarter
While you can spend over $15,000 on a smart refrigerator if you buy one with all the bells and whistles, there are a few DIY upgrades that can make your regular refrigerator a lot smarter.
Install a tablet for a smart refrigerator workaround
Install the mount on your refrigerator to easily check grocery availability, create a grocery list, and track coupons. A magnetic mount will work for metal refrigerators, but choose one that has a good warranty, such as the Mippko magnetic mount, which comes with a five-year warranty. You can get a decent quality tablet mount for $25-$60 .
Add smart sensors to your refrigerator and freezer
While most refrigerators, smart or not, are designed to monitor internal temperature and humidity fairly well, if you want to keep an eye on what’s going on inside, you can purchase sensors that will relay that information to your smartphone. Keeping vegetables fresh longer or making sure a cold drink is brewed at the right temperature is easier with sensors, and they’ll also alert you if the door is left ajar. You can add them for about $50 .
Add a camera to the refrigerator
If you tend to forget what’s left in the refrigerator between the door and the grocery store, or if you want to double-check your dinner ingredients to see if you need to stop on the way home, a refrigerator camera is a good solution. . You can get one for $150-$200 , and while it’s a little pricey for a remote camera, it’s much cheaper than a new refrigerator and will last longer than a cheaper one that’s not designed for use inside the refrigerator.
Devices that will make your oven smarter
A smart stove can cost more than $3,000, depending on size and features. But you can use some upgrades to make your oven smarter without having to replace it.
Use a smart meat thermometer
The Chef IQ Smart Meat Thermometer will give you real-time updates on your cooking food, sent straight to your smartphone, starting at $100 . In addition to monitoring, you can set up cooking temperature alerts so you know when the food is ready according to the recipe you’re using.
Use your smart speaker for recipes and transformations
A smart speaker like an Echo Dot that can read recipes out loud, help you convert, or answer kitchen-related questions is a good option for making recipes easier. You can get the basic version for around $50, or much less if you wait for a sale.
Use a hands-free timer
You can use a voice-controlled timer to set your oven cooking time and an alarm to alert you when your food is ready. Instead of touching knobs and buttons with your kitchen fingers, a voice-activated timer allows you to set cooking times without touching the appliances.
Make your sink smarter
Touchless faucets and water apps are gaining popularity due to their convenience and potential savings on your water bill, but smart faucets cost between $350 and $700, depending on the brand and features. Here are some ways to spruce up your sink without breaking the bank.
Add a touchless faucet adapter
As a cheaper alternative to a smart faucet, you can add an adapter to your existing faucet to make it touchless. To make this device practical, you’ll need a freestanding faucet without a removable attachment, but adding one only costs about $30 .
Add smart leak detection
You can install a smart leak detector that will send an alert to your smartphone if it detects moisture. A leak detector kit can cover your entire home, including your dishwasher and kitchen sink, so you’ll know right away if there’s water where there shouldn’t be water. Expect to pay between $30 and $75.
Use smart plugs for small appliances
Instead of buying a new slow cooker, coffee pot, or electric kettle that can be programmed or activated from your phone, you can connect these appliances to a smart plug. This will allow you to control many of their functions without the need for built-in smart technology.
A set of smart plugs costs about $30, and if you use a smart speaker with Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa, you won’t need a hub (though you can install a smart home hub for about $130). You can use smart plugs to control the lighting in your kitchen: program a specific schedule or turn on the lights from your phone or tablet when you get up for a midnight snack. Most smart plugs are also voice-activated, like this two-pack from GE, allowing you to turn appliances on and off when your hands are full or covered in dough.