The State of the Smart Kitchen
Uncanny Valley | WIRED
WIRED
4.1 • 570 Ratings
🗓️ 24 November 2022
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Companies love sticking chips in everything. That's how you get a feast of connected kitchen tech: app-controlled Instant Pots, $400 touchscreen toasters, and Wi-Fi enabled fridges that let you check Twitter while you wait for some crushed ice. It's all very high tech and modern, but does any of it actually help you cook—or live—any better?
This week on Gadget Lab, WIRED contributor and food writer Joe Ray joins us to talk about how to navigate the smart kitchen and whether any of these connected gadgets will really improve your cuisine or bring you happiness.
This episode originally ran on September 29, 2022. Read the transcript.
Show Notes
Read Joe Ray’s many reviews of smart kitchen tech.
Recommendations
Joe recommends the cookbook I Dream of Dinner (so You Don't Have To) by Ali Slagle. Lauren recommends pasta e ceci. Mike recommends the Oxo Brew Precision Scale With Timer.
Joe Ray can be found on Twitter @joe_diner. Lauren Goode is @LaurenGoode. Michael Calore is @snackfight. Bling the main hotline at @GadgetLab. The show is produced by Boone Ashworth (@booneashworth). Our theme music is by Solar Keys.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Mike. |
| 0:00.9 | Lauren. |
| 0:01.7 | Mike, should we sandwich this intro? |
| 0:06.6 | All right. |
| 0:07.4 | Hi, everyone. |
| 0:08.5 | Lauren here. |
| 0:09.4 | You may know us from the podcast that you're about to listen to. |
| 0:12.1 | And thanks in advance for tuning in. |
| 0:14.1 | Both Mike and I are off for most of this week because of the holiday we like to call sidesgiving. |
| 0:19.3 | Hmm, sides giving. |
| 0:20.8 | While we're gone, we decided to bring back one of our favorite episodes that ran earlier this year. |
| 0:25.2 | It's all about the kitchen, which is probably appropriate for this week. |
| 0:28.6 | We talked with Wired Food Writer Joe Ray about smart kitchen devices, |
| 0:33.3 | whether all the flashy tech actually makes a difference in how you cook. |
| 0:37.8 | You know, one of my favorite parts of this episode was that Joe pretty much determined for us |
| 0:41.1 | that it doesn't make a difference. I mean, I don't want to spoil it. No pun intended. You know, |
| 0:45.8 | spoiled food, but he talks a lot about what it takes to be a great cook. Yeah, and it's not buttons |
| 0:51.2 | or apps. Or Bluetooth. So enjoy the show and thanks for listening. |
| 0:56.1 | We hope you have a great holiday. |
| 0:57.4 | We'll be back next week with a brand new episode of Gadget Lab. |
| 1:06.5 | Lauren. |
| 1:07.3 | Mike. |
... |
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