Technology comes into the kitchen

Smart technology is revolutionizing appliances and the way they are used. Consumers are making the leap, increasingly using their phones, whether to turn on their oven remotely, to program a cooking mode or to check the contents of their refrigerator when they are at the grocery store. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Danielle Bonneau
The Press

Ovens and cookers are particularly benefiting from technological advances, says Bob Park, brand director at GE Appliances (which includes Monogram, GE Profile, GE Café).

“The appearance of these products has changed over the past decades, but their functionality has remained the same,” he says. For the first time in 50 years, technology is changing. There have been advances in certain types of cooktops, but the last big innovation dates back to microwave ovens. »

Thanks to Bluetooth technology, integrated for example in GE Café induction hobs, the water is kept at the same temperature, he points out. “This is important when cooking a sous vide dish. The temperature is controlled and adjusts automatically. The camera in some ovens, on the other hand, senses whether a food is cooked based on its color and adjusts accordingly. Technology is getting smarter and smarter,” he adds.

Added value

Technological improvements should support behaviors that already exist and add value, helping consumers do more than one thing at once, says Janice Ryder, senior director, brand experience, at Whirlpool Canada, which manufactures Whirlpool-branded products. , Jenn-Air and KitchenAid.

“The oven can, for example, be started remotely with a telephone, if you are outside the room,” she explains. If you have dirty hands, because you are preparing a meal, you can also perform a voice command to turn on the oven thanks to a partnership with Google. Instructions can be given in French. You can also program the cooking process in the Whirlpool app. If you cook a lasagna, for example, you program so much time for cooking, to gratinate under the grill, then keep warm. We don’t worry about it anymore. »

Smart appliances can also be improved over the course of updates, to adapt to new trends. “Earlier this year, as part of a remote data transfer [over the air update]some Whirlpool ranges and ovens have gained Air Fry cooking mode [Air fryer], she reveals. This cooking mode has been added in the application, allowing to use the existing fan in the convection oven to obtain a crispy result, without using oil. »

Make life easier

Certain devices of the same range, linked by a common application, also communicate with each other. “When you’re cooking and you have greasy hands, it’s handy when the hood talks to the induction hob and adjusts itself automatically, depending on whether you’re boiling water or frying squid,” says the designer Marie-Chantal Villeneuve, regional director, marketing and showrooms, within the BSH Electromenagers Group, which oversees the Bosch, Gaggenau and Thermador brands.

“People are increasingly using the app HomeConnectshe notes, whether it’s to consult recipes, learn tips or lower the temperature of the fridge when guests unexpectedly announce themselves and more drinks need to be refrigerated.

“The Bosch coffee machine can be programmed to prepare coffee in all sorts of ways,” adds Mario Dufresne, main trainer at BSH Électroménagers. But from the outset, the app was created for customer service. If a problem occurs, a technician can remotely diagnose what is wrong and can even sometimes fix it. It saves a lot of time. »

To respond to needs

Consumers are increasingly open to technology in the kitchen, notes Thierry Lopez, director, marketing and corporate affairs in Quebec, at Best Buy Canada. “They’re used to using their smartphone and they see the usefulness of it,” he says. The screen integrated into a refrigerator, which Samsung offers, is no longer considered a gimmick. People perceive that they will benefit from the camera, which is inside, when they go grocery shopping, and that they will synchronize the calendar with other members of their family in the application FamilyHub. This kind of thing affects them much more than before. »

Seeing that the time spent cooking has increased over the past two years, Samsung has come up with the companion app SmartThings Cooking. This recommends recipes (based on taste and dietary needs of users), and sends instructions directly to synchronized cooking appliances.

Cook like chefs

Induction cooking is growing in popularity. The hob looks like a ceramic hob, except that the heat is transmitted directly to the pans using an electromagnetic process. As pans must contain iron (a magnet must be able to adhere to it), preference should be given to stainless steel and cast iron products.

“Security is another important point. The plate never gets super hot. It is the cauldron that heats up on the plate and not the surface itself. A child won’t get burned if he gets his hands on it,” he adds.

Induction is taking more and more space on the market, notes Alain Monarque, showroom manager at Maroline, distributor of Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove products.

“Prices have come down and it has become more accessible,” he says. Gas cooking is still very popular, even in Quebec, but induction is on the rise, due to its speed and cooking uniformity. The temperature is constant, without variation, whether very high or very low. But unlike gas, any overflow is easily cleaned up. »

Ovens are now very versatile, combining several functions, such as steam and convection, he also notes. “Consumers cooked more during the pandemic to satisfy their desire to eat well. With multi-function ovens, they can do just about anything. »

Many consumers have become aware of the importance of their diet and do not want to compromise, adds Louis La Rue, while the options are multiple, in different price ranges. “There are several tools now for those who want to cook like a chef. There are ovens with steam, rapid cooking ovens, there is also induction and sous-vide, which is extraordinary for preserving food and obtaining tasty dishes. »

So, ready for the future?