Plenty has changed in home design over the last few decades, but one thing remains constant: the kitchen is still the hub and heart of the home for most families. If you’re like many moms you spend a lot of time there, and today’s tech-savvy innovators are trying to make that time as easy and efficient as possible. Hi-tech designs are revolutionizing every aspect of the modern kitchen and taking the drudgery out of everyday cooking—which means more fun, less work! While we can’t guarantee any of these inventions will turn you into Julia Child, they will certainly get you one step closer. Here are our picks for the 10 innovative items every modern mom should have in her kitchen.
The Computerized Cook
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Apple iPad
Smart tablets are quickly becoming the latest gotta-have kitchen accessory, providing easy, touchscreen access to recipes, food blogs, yummy Pinterest boards, YouTube tutorials, cooking shows, conversion charts, and more. In the consumer electronics world, it doesn’t get more advanced than the Apple iPad: slim, lightweight, good-looking, and always on the cutting edge of design and technology. Get one and load it with your favorite cooking apps: Green Kitchen, Caveman Feast, Food Network in the Kitchen, and Paprika are just a few of ours. The second you add an iPad to the mix, food prep gets more interactive, more creative, and more fun—now you’re cookin’!
Cost: $399 and up
Learn more here. -
Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
If you are among the growing legions of tea connoisseurs, you know there are many different types of tea and that they require different steeping times and temperatures in order to get the perfect pot. The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker automatically brews at five different temperatures and three different strength settings. Brew your favorites, green tea, white tea, herbal tea, Oolong tea or black tea, using a preset menu. Based on your selection, this smart machine does the work for you, adjusting water temperature and time for optimal steeping. The glass kettle is equipped with a removable basket that automatically lowers and lifts in and out of the water so you never oversteep. There are also additional settings for Delay Start, Keep Warm and Agitate (which loosens tea leaves for improved infusion). Suddenly, having your afternoon sip just got a whole lot tastier . . .
Cost: $249.95
Learn more here. -
QOOQ Culinary Tablet
This new touch-screen tablet (made in France) is designed specifically for the kitchen. Targeted at gourmands, wannabe Martha Stewarts, and chefs of all abilities, the QOOQ is made to stand up to mess. Outfitted with a splash-proof screen and waterproof keys, it remains unscathed even if you go at it with flour-smothered hands or greasy fingers. What makes it different from other tablets is what it does ... the QOOQ (pronounced “Cook”) helps moms be inspired, organized, and plugged in while whipping up family dinners. It offers access to nearly 4000 interactive recipes (with video tutorials), helps you plan meals for the week, adapts to your tastes or food allergies, and even generates grocery lists. Browse through recipes (search by dish, season, ingredients, or prep time) and assign them to a meal or day. Punch in the number of guests and QOOQ adjusts ingredient amounts for you. Last but not least, the system creates a shopping list organized by supermarket aisles that you can email, print or view on your phone. Just about the only thing the QOOQ cannot do is get your kids to eat their greens!
Cost: $399
Learn more here. -
Belkin Chef Stand + Stylus
More and more moms are using their smart tablets in the kitchen and if you’re one of them, the Belkin Chef Stand is an indispensible tool. It is essentially a tablet stand specifically designed for use in the kitchen. The Chef Stand fits on the countertop, has a non-slip rubber base, and adjusts to different angles (low/flat or high/vertical) to facilitate viewing as you move around. It comes with a magnetic-tipped stylus that lets you tap the screen without ever laying a messy or mucky hand on it. The stand fits a wide range of tablet sizes, even those encased in protective sleeves or skins. All in all, it’s a low-cost investment that will make using your tablet in the kitchen much safer and easier.
Cost: $17
Learn more here. -
SmartShopper SS-301 Voice-Recognition Grocery-List Organizer
You know that battered old notepad you keep on the kitchen counter for jotting down grocery lists? Well, it might be time to give it a little tech update. The SmartShopper is a voice-recognition grocery list organizer and printer. Push a button, say the name of the item you want to add to your list, and SmartShopper does the rest. There are over 2,500 items in its library (food, beverages, health and beauty, cleaning products and more) – plus, it automatically organizes them into categories so supermarket excursions are quicker and easier. The idea of speaking your grocery list to a machine may sound a bit Jetsons, but the idea of saving time and money is downright delicious!
Cost: $149.95
Learn more here. -
Samsung LED Refrigerator
Before you choke at the price tag, get a load of everything this new-age appliance does. The Samsung LED Refrigerator is hi-tech in every sense of the word, from its in-door LED panel to apps that keep track of expiration dates, grocery lists, and much more. Here is just a taste of what this powerhouse can do: access recipes from Epicurious.com, get the latest weather and news, sync with Google Calendar, and leave notes for your family members all via a WiFi-enabled 8" LCD screen. Oh, and did we mention it plays music and sends text messages? We aren’t quite sure if we need our fridge to send texts, but it’s cool all the same.
Cost: $3699
Learn more here. -
OXO Digital Food Scale
For those who do serious cooking and baking, or frequently adapt recipes to suit larger groups, a food scale is a must. This digital model from OXO is user-friendly and easy on the eyes (we love the sleek, stainless-steel design). One unique feature is its display panel, which pulls away from the base so you can easily read it even when the item you’re weighing overhangs the platform (e.g. ye old Thanksgiving turkey). Another cool extra: as you add different ingredients, you can press a button to reset the scale to zero and view the updated reading. If you’re a fan of foreign food blogs like us, the OXO digital scale measures in ounces/pounds or grams/kilograms so adapting European recipes is as easy as pie.
Cost: $49.95
Learn more here. -
Polder Original Cooking All-in-One Thermometer
Every mom should have a reliable thermometer in her kitchen, and while you could go with an old-school dial model, we recommend digital all the way. Here’s why… a digital model like the Polder All-in-One comes with super-convenient extras like pre-settable alarms that go off when your food reaches a certain temperature or a certain amount of time has elapsed. On this thermometer, the alarm is a loud 5-minute signal so there is little chance of not hearing it. It also has a extra-long probe measuring 40+ inches, a slide switch that allows Fahrenheit or Celsius readings, and a memory function to retain frequently used settings. The designers even included two magnets on the back so it can be attached to any metal surface for storage. Small-but-smart, this device is one you’ll find yourself using again and again.
Cost: $14
Learn more here.
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Hamilton Beach Voice-Activated Coffee Maker
The future of home technology lies in voice-activation. We are already seeing it in cars and computers—and now, it’s coming to your morning coffee. For those who find the idea of programming a coffee machine using buttons way too complicated (which would be most of us), Hamilton Beach has developed a one that you program with your voice. Press a button, listen to the prompts, tell it what time and brew settings you want, and let the machine do the rest. Say goodbye to your daily trek to Starbucks—this is like having your own barista right at home.
Cost: $35.96
Learn more here. -
iDevice iGrill
There’s nothing like throwing some juicy steaks on the grill, only to char them to blackness because you got distracted chatting with a guest or dealing with the kids. Well, meet the iGrill, a handy little gadget that helps you avoid such disasters. The iGrill allows you to step away from your barbecue and hang with friends while ensuring that your grilled goodies are cooked to perfection. To use it, you must purchase the device and download the free app. The iGrill works by means of a probe that you insert into the meat. It keeps an eye on things and sends you an alert via iPhone, iPod, or iPad when your food is ready. From up to 200 feet away, you can monitor the food’s temperature and progress—which is great news for all grillmasters. Dads, you are finally free to move about the party.
Cost: $79.95
Learn more here.
