There are all sorts of new gizmos for people whose relationship with food comes in all forms. Here are four of our favorite new devices for the cook and the kitchen.
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Amazon Dash Wand
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-dash-wand-with-alexa-2017/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Dash Wand is easy to set up and easy to use, and Alexa makes it extra convenient. Access to Alexa’s third-party skills and smart home controls are both especially nice touches.
The bad: With the Dash Wand, Alexa can’t stream music, schedule reminders or set kitchen timers. She also wasn’t able to add more than one item to our shopping cart at a time.
The cost: $20.00
The bottom line: The Dash Wand is a dirt-cheap Alexa device that pays for itself if you already shop on Amazon.
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Bonavita Immersion Dripper
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/bonavita-immersion-dripper/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The Bonavita Immersion Dripper makes rich, intensely delicious cups of coffee. It’s one single unit that’s easy to clean by hand and dishwasher safe. Its filter cone is constructed from porcelain that feels more luxurious than plastic. It has a physical lever to turn the flow of coffee on and off.
The bad: It takes some practice to use this coffee maker properly. For the best and most consistent results you’ll need to use it with a quality coffee grinder, accurate scale and electric kettle with variable temperature settings. It’s more expensive than other single-cup pour over brewers.
The cost: $30.84 to $39.99
The bottom line: Buy the Bonavita Immersion Dripper for single cups of excellent coffee but stay away if you’re unwilling to work a little.
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KitchenAid Pro Line Series Blender
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/kitchenaid-pro-line-series-blender/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The KitchenAid Pro Line Series Blender has plenty of power to chop and mix solid food into smoothies, soups, sauces, butters, and batters. It’s constructed from sturdy metal, plastic and silicone parts. It has just a few components that are a snap to clean. It features two speeds to pulse its blades.
The bad: It’s expensive and comes with only a few automatic blending modes. You’ll often need to use its tamper to make sure all ingredients are blended together properly.
The cost: $399.96 to $399.99
The bottom line: The pricey KitchenAid Pro Series blender has lots of power to mince, chop and mix food, but for best results, you’ll have to make regular use of its tamper.
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iGuardStove Intelligent
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/iguardstove-intelligent/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)
The good: The iGuardStove Intelligent automatically shuts off your stove if you step away for too long, which could help keep kitchens safe for families, kids and older adults. And built-in Wi-Fi lets the iGuardStove send you email alerts if five or more auto-shut-offs happen within 24 hours.
The bad: The iGuardStove is expensive, and a few features didn’t make it to the launch date, including a mobile app that would make it easier to access and change the device’s settings.
The cost: $545.00
The bottom line: The iGuardStove Intelligent is a good product if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one leaving a stove unattended.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Editor Brian Bennett, Senior Associate Editor Ry Crist, Associate Editor Ashlee Clark Thompson and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
