Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your own personal assistant in the kitchen? For homes that are lucky enough to have an Amazon Echo, they’re now able to get loads of help from Alexa while they’re cooking or preparing food, and it’s now totally realistic for your home to have one as well.
So, what can Alexa do and is it really worthwhile getting one? Having an Amazon Echo kitchen is the way of the future and so many homes are experiencing just how helpful it can be with your appliances.
If you’ve been wondering about things you can do with Alexa that will make a difference in the kitchen, we’ve found some handy ways that she can help you out.
#10: Make Conversions
We’ve all experienced this before: you’re busy reading a recipe and adding all of the ingredients when suddenly you realize they’re in the wrong system.
Whether you need to know the US or metric amount for the ingredient you’re looking for, you can just ask Alexa and she’ll respond instantly. There’s no need to type it into google or try to figure it out for yourself, thanks to your personal assistant.
#9: Figure Out Calories
We’re all pretty conscious these days of what we’re eating and how much we’re putting into our bodies. Although we know it’s important to eat the right amount of calories, actually figuring this out could take hours each day.
Alexa will be able to help you do this though, whether it’s reading it from one recipe or answering your question about what a specific ingredient has. This is a great tool for people looking to lose weight or stay on top of their consumption.
#8: Write A Grocery List
If you’re like most people, you probably have a few different grocery lists going at a time. There’s one in the notes section on your phone, another on a piece of paper, and the one you’re keeping in your head.
You can scrap all of these and make life easier by telling your Amazon Echo what you want to be added or removed from the list, and it will send it straight to your smartphone.
#7: Get The Perfect Cooking Time
Cooking things in the oven can be hard to do unless you’ve had plenty of experience with it before thankfully, Alexa has and so if you’re wondering the ideal time and temperature to cook the Thanksgiving turkey for or want to know how to roast a potato so it’s crispy and golden, you just ask Alexa for help and she’ll be like your own personal chef’s assistant in the kitchen.
#6: Make Your Morning Coffee
The day where we could make up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee waiting for us in the kitchen has finally arrived, thanks to the Amazon Echo and the right smart appliances.
Although it’s still early days, you can program your smart hub to work with your coffee machine so that as soon as you wake up it’s making your favorite morning drink. Better yet, you can program it with your alarm so that you’ll never have to be without hot coffee ever again.
#5: Stay Entertained
Sometimes you can spend hours in the kitchen preparing a feast, and although you’re meant to be focused on the task at hand it is nice to get a distraction. Using your Amazon Echo, you can ask Alexa to do things that will keep you entertained.
For example, you might have her read out the daily news or put on your favorite song to get you motivated. These little things make it even more enjoyable to be in the kitchen.
#4: Control Smart Appliances
The market for smart home appliances is opening up and there are now some seriously cool big and small ones that work with your Amazon Echo. You can control them all with your Amazon Echo which acts as a central hub to do it all.
There are smart fridges that compile their own shopping lists, smart ovens that can turn themselves on and preheat without you having to be there, and even a smart slow cooker that will take control of the whole process for you.
#3: Give You Food Inspiration
Sometimes we can’t be bothered coming up with an idea for dinner, and wish there was someone who’d just do it for us. If you find yourself struggling for recipe inspiration, you could use Alexa’s help.
Although asking her straight out might not do it, you can search in the ‘Skills’ section for a whole range of options. Some let you tell Alexa what you have in the fridge or pantry, and she’ll come up with a recipe that you can use with just those ingredients.
#2: Suggest Cocktails And Wines
If you don’t consider yourself a wine connoisseur, you don’t have to worry any longer. Alexa can tell you what wines would pair with the food you’re cooking so you can wow your guests.
Better yet, she’ll be able to suggest cocktail recipes if you’re looking to try something new for your next party. Just make sure to eat the food you cook before you start the drinking, otherwise, you might not get around to it.
#1: Order Takeout
When all else fails in the kitchen, sometimes we need to call for reinforcement. Using Alexa, you can call your favorite takeout and have it delivered straight to your door. Order some pizzas, a few dishes of Chinese, or some spicy Mexican, and you never have to pick up your phone to get the job done.