Why You Should Use Alexa in the Kitchen

The list of things that Amazon’s Echo devices can do needs no introduction. Needless to say, they can do quite a bit, especially in the kitchen. The kitchen you say? Yes, the kitchen. There is so much more to Amazon Alexa than just asking for the weather or searching for the latest movie times. Capable of assisting with keeping food fresh, hunting for recipes or even brewing coffee, Alexa is an amazing kitchen counterpart. Let us take a look at some of the best ways you can make use of Alexa right from the room that is the soul of any house.

Maintain a Grocery List

This one feels obvious, but there is a strong likelihood that most people who have Echo devices in their home ignore this capability. What could be more simple than saying “Alexa, add milk.” Because milk is a noun, Alexa recognizes that this is an item and adds it to your shopping list. Alternatively, you can also say “Alexa, add milk to my shopping list” with the same result. Checking the list is as easy as downloading the Alexa app on iOS or Android and viewing the items you have added.

Also read:6 Best Alexa Routines You Have to Try

Setting a Timer

It is a basic use, but asking Alexa to set a timer while your hands are in the midst of baking can be a real lifesaver. Just say “Alexa, set a timer for 5 minutes” and your kitchen life will forever be changed. In fact, you can set up to six timers if necessary. That can come in handy during the holidays when you have multiple hands in the kitchen all making their own secret recipes.

Converting Units

Speaking from experience, converting units can be a real challenge for some. Alexa to the rescue. Ask Alexa to help convert tablespoons to teaspoons or cups to ounces and leave the mental math to the AI machines. You can thank us for this one every time. It is a real lifesaver.

Pairing Wine with Food

While there are plenty of people out there who can perfectly pair wine with a meal, not everyone has the same knowledge. Alexa Skills, or apps that give Alexa even more abilities, are a great way to find the answer. Download the MySomm or Wine Enthusiast skill and ask either one “Alexa, which wine goes best with filet mignon?” While these skills are not perfect, they are very good at pairing wines with a diverse array of dishes. Keep the requests basic, and you should be well on your way to a properly paired dinner.

Brewing Coffee

This is when having Alexa in your kitchen truly gets fun. If you have a smart coffee brewer in your kitchen, you no longer need to enter the kitchen to get things brewing. Alexa is ready and waiting for you to instruct, “Alexa, start the coffee machine.” What if you do not have a smart coffee machine? An Amazon Smart Plug is capable of controlling any outlet in the kitchen. Simply plug it in, open the Alexa app and start using your voice to get the coffee going in the morning. After trying this Alexa feature once or twice, you will never understand how you went without it.

Keep Track of Calories

It is always a good thing to keep track of your health. With Alexa, you can do exactly that, hands-free. Download an Alexa skill like Track by Nutritionix, and you can easily monitor your caloric intake. Do you want to know how many calories are in your favorite ice cream (or maybe you do not!)? How about how many calories are in that morning bowl of cereal? Just ask Alexa and steel your nerves for the answer. We cannot promise you will like every response, but you will get a response all the same.

Find Alternate Ingredients

We have all been there. You start to make a recipe and all of a sudden you realize you are short one egg. Fortunately, Alexa Skills comes to the rescue. Forget running to the grocery store. Instead, download the Ingredient Sub skill and ask Alexa what alternatives you can use. With more than 100 common ingredient substitutions, Alexa can be a real dinner saver. The skill will even tell you exactly what quantities you need to make sure everything tastes just right.

Conclusion

When it comes to incorporating technology into the kitchen, few products are more valuable than Alexa. These skills and capabilities only scratch the surface of what Alexa can do. There is almost no limit to what Alexa can do. The sky is really the limit. What is your favorite use of Alexa in the kitchen?