LAS VEGAS — Chef-like robots, artificial intelligence-powered appliances and other high-tech kitchen gadgets promise that humans won’t need to cook food — or mix drinks — for themselves anymore.
There was a lot new in the food and beverage world at CES 2024, the multi-day trade event organized by the Consumer Technology Association. Demonstrations included Keurig-like cocktail mixing and ice cream-making machines, and a barista robot whose movements are intended to mimic a human making a vanilla latte.
Here are some of the latest technologies that are changing the way meals are prepared, cooked and delivered:
“No smoking” indoor smoker
GE Appliances is looking to change the way you smoke food with its new $1,000 indoor smoker.
About the size of a toaster oven or microwave, the GE Profile Smart Indoor Smoker can hold a full brisket halved, 40 chicken wings or three racks of ribs. Whitney Welsh, a spokeswoman for GE Appliances, said it still uses wood pellets to achieve the smoke flavor, but its technology traps the smoke inside, making it “ideal for people who live in urban environments,” such as high-rise apartments.
Grill smarter, not harder
Using generative AI technology, Brisk It’s new smart grill, NeoSear, aims to make the art of grilling foolproof.
You can ask all kinds of questions to the grill to create the perfect recipe: What spices should I add to make my chicken skewers spicy? How do I brown a medium rare steak?
Once the recipe is finished and the food is prepared, Brisk It’s InnoGrill AI 2.0 technology will command the grill to cook it.
“It’s the smart grill for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a skilled enthusiast, or if you’re busy, young or old,” said CEO Christopher Huang.
The grill isn’t available yet but will cost about $2,000, Huang said.
DIY ice cream in a (cold) snap.
Freezing your own ice cream at home takes hours, but with the Fluffy Ice Cream Machine from tech startup ColdSnap, your frozen dessert is ready in two minutes.
Think of it as a Keurig for ice cream: Choose from flavors like salted caramel and coffee, pop the pod into the machine and it will dispense your cold treat in minutes after scanning the pod’s QR code.
ColdSnap can also prepare frozen lattes, drunk ice cream, and protein shakes.
One touch is all it takes
Tech startup Chef AI is unveiling what it calls a “true one-touch” air fryer.
Unlike the air fryer you may have on your kitchen counter right now, Chef AI’s iteration of the popular device requires no settings adjustments. Simply place food in the air fryer, press the “Start” button, and it will use artificial intelligence to detect what type of food is being cooked, says the company’s CEO, Dean Khormay.
He said the air fryer will turn even the worst cooks into master chefs.
Chef AI will be available in the US in September for $250.
Your personal waiter
What’s the secret to the perfect dirty martini? Don’t worry about it – the Bartesian Cocktail Mixer takes the guesswork out of bartenders.
Bartesian’s newest version, the Premier, can hold up to four different types of spirits. It retails for $369 and will be available later this year.
Use the small touchscreen on the device to choose from 60 recipes, drop a cocktail capsule into the device, and in seconds you’ll have a perfect cocktail over ice.
If you prefer homemade beer instead, iGulu’s new automated brewing machine lets you make your own beer – pale ale, amber beer, or wheat beer. Simply pour a pre-mixed recipe into the barrel of the machine, add water and scan the label that comes with your beer mix. Within nine to 13 days, you’ll have a gallon of beer that you make yourself.
The barista robot moves like you move
Artly Coffee’s barista robot mimics the way a human behind the counter at your favorite coffee shop might prepare your typical order.
“What we’re really trying to do is preserve the craft of fine coffee,” said Alec Roig, a hardware developer for the Seattle tech startup that now operates 10 locations across the Pacific Northwest and in New York City.
The company’s resident barista, who is behind all of Artly’s coffee recipes, is connected to motion sensors that record his movements as he prepares each recipe, from loading ground coffee into the filter to frothing milk and pouring latte art, Roig said.