My sister called me last Tuesday, breathless with excitement. “I threw out my slow cooker, my toaster, and I’m thinking about ditching my oven too,” she said. I thought she’d lost her mind until she explained: she’d bought this sleek black box that sits on her counter and promises to replace half her kitchen appliances.
Within a week, she was making everything from crispy bacon to perfect steamed vegetables in the same machine. “I haven’t touched a frying pan in days,” she admitted, sounding almost guilty about it.
That conversation made me realize something big is happening in kitchens across the country. This isn’t just another gadget fad—it’s a fundamental shift in how we think about cooking.
The New Kitchen Gadget That’s Making Air Fryers Look Old-Fashioned
While air fryers revolutionized weeknight dinners with their promise of crispy food without oil, this new generation of kitchen gadgets takes things much further. These all-in-one machines don’t just circulate hot air—they can steam, slow cook, dehydrate, grill, bake, toast, sauté, reheat, and yes, air fry too.
The most popular models pack nine different cooking methods into a single countertop device. They look like something from a sci-fi movie, with touchscreens that display cooking progress and built-in sensors that monitor food temperature.
“I’ve seen people replace their entire cooking setup with one machine,” says kitchen designer Maria Santos. “It’s not just convenient—for many people, it’s actually producing better results than their traditional methods.”
These smart multicookers represent a complete rethink of kitchen design. Instead of multiple appliances taking up counter space, one device handles everything from your morning toast to Sunday dinner.
What This New Kitchen Gadget Can Actually Do
The capabilities of these machines go far beyond what most people expect from a countertop appliance. Here’s what the leading models offer:
| Cooking Method | What It Replaces | Typical Time Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Air Fry | Deep fryer, oil frying | 30% faster |
| Steam | Steamer baskets, stovetop steaming | 40% faster |
| Slow Cook | Slow cooker/crockpot | Same time, less prep |
| Dehydrate | Food dehydrator | 25% faster |
| Bake | Full-size oven | 20% faster heating |
| Grill | Indoor grill, griddle pan | No preheating needed |
| Toast | Toaster, toaster oven | Similar speed |
| Sauté | Stovetop pan | Consistent heat control |
| Reheat | Microwave | Better texture retention |
The real game-changer is the smart technology. Many models connect to smartphone apps with thousands of recipes, automatically adjusting time and temperature. Some even have built-in scales that weigh ingredients and internal cameras that let you monitor cooking progress remotely.
Key features that set these apart from traditional appliances:
- Precise temperature control within 1-2 degrees
- Multiple cooking zones for different foods
- Automatic shut-off when food reaches target temperature
- Easy-clean non-stick surfaces
- Compact design that fits most countertops
- Energy efficiency compared to full-size ovens
“The precision is incredible,” explains chef Tom Richardson. “I can set it to cook chicken breast to exactly 165°F and walk away. It stops cooking at that exact temperature, so there’s no guesswork.”
Why Experts Are Worried About the Death of Real Cooking
Not everyone is celebrating this kitchen revolution. Health experts and professional chefs are raising concerns about what we might be losing in our rush toward automated cooking.
Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a nutrition researcher, worries about the long-term effects. “When everything is pre-programmed, people stop learning fundamental cooking skills. They don’t understand how heat affects food, or how to adjust recipes based on ingredient quality.”
Professional chefs are even more blunt in their criticism. “Cooking is about intuition, timing, and understanding your ingredients,” says James Morton, head chef at a London restaurant. “These machines turn it into data input. You lose the soul of cooking.”
The concerns extend beyond skill development:
- Loss of creativity: Pre-programmed settings discourage experimentation
- Dependency issues: People may struggle to cook without the machine
- Limited food education: Less understanding of how cooking actually works
- Texture limitations: Some cooking methods can’t be fully replicated
Health experts also point out that while these machines often promote “healthy” cooking, the ease of use might actually lead to more processed food consumption. “Just because it’s cooked in an air fryer doesn’t make frozen nuggets healthy,” notes dietitian Emma Walsh.
There’s also the environmental question. These new kitchen gadgets require significant manufacturing resources and may encourage people to discard perfectly functional appliances.
However, supporters argue that convenience cooking is better than no cooking at all. “If the choice is between takeaway pizza and a home-cooked meal made in a smart oven, I’ll take the smart oven every time,” says home economics teacher Rachel Stevens.
The debate reflects a broader tension between technological convenience and traditional skills. As these gadgets become more sophisticated and affordable, more families will face the choice between embracing automated cooking or maintaining traditional kitchen skills.
Whether this represents progress or the death of real cooking might depend on how we choose to use these powerful new tools. The machine can do the work, but the human still chooses what goes into it.
FAQs
Are these all-in-one cooking machines worth the cost?
For busy households that cook frequently, the time savings and versatility often justify the £200-400 investment, especially if they replace multiple appliances.
Can these gadgets really replace a full kitchen setup?
They handle most daily cooking tasks well, but you’ll still need stovetop capability for large meals, pasta cooking, and some baking projects.
Do foods cooked in these machines taste the same as traditionally cooked meals?
Results are generally very good, though some cooking methods like grilling or searing may not achieve identical flavors to traditional methods.
Are these new kitchen gadgets difficult to learn how to use?
Most are designed to be intuitive with preset programs, though mastering all nine cooking methods takes some experimentation.
How much counter space do these machines require?
Most models are roughly the size of a large microwave, typically requiring about 18 inches of counter space.
Should I get rid of my air fryer if I buy one of these?
These machines typically air fry just as well as dedicated air fryers, so most people find they no longer need their separate air fryer.
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