Last year, we remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets and appliances that were 30 years old.
Nearly a year later, I still have moments of amazement that I can see the backyard through the window over the sink (previously the sink faced a wall); I can load and unload the dishwasher directly from the sink and into the cabinets (previously the dishwasher was a portable version housed in the laundry room); I have seasonings at my fingertips when cooking as the spice cabinet is installed by the cooktop; I can see into the dining room instead of staring at yet another wall; I have enough counter space to actually prepare two food items at once; and I can store the cookware and bakeware I own in cabinets without relying on basement space and laundry room shelves.
But one of the greatest sources of amazement is the brains of appliances bought in 2007 compared to 1976. My microwave/convection oven is smarter than I am, and the cooktop is no slouch either.
The microwave knows the difference between a canned and frozen vegetable, and the convection oven can keep track of time left to bake even while a separate timer is counting down minutes for a boiling pot of pasta.
I am particularly fond of the "editor" that apparently lives inside the cooktop. It flashes a capital H to signal that the burner remains really hot, then changes it to lowercase h when it starts to cool down.
According to a recent press release I received, appliances with brains are the wave of the future.
"In Italy your dishwasher may call you at work to let you know that it has sprang a leak…but not to worry, it has already informed the service company and they will be out between 9 and 12 on Tuesday.
"In Norway you are caught behind a slow moving elk herd and will be 30 minutes late…so you call your oven to recalibrate the cooking time on your roast to be done at 8:30.
"In Korea…the refrigerator has taken inventory and has placed an order for all pre-programmed items to be replenished automatically with an online grocery service. It has also ordered a few additional items that will be needed for tonight’s dinner party.
"In Germany…the fully automated coffee machine can make your favorite cappuccino to your specific taste as well as all the other members of the family.
"And in the US…cooking is as simple as 1..2..3 with your pre-programmed oven…you simply choose from the menu, fish, beef or fowl…punch in the weight, as well as the time you would like to serve and then just press “OK”…you are now a gourmet chef all with the single touch of your finger."
This release titled "15 Minutes into the Future" by Kevin Henry reminded me that in just a few years, high-tech appliances will put my current kitchen to shame.
Henry went on to say that the next wave of microwaves will have a scanner to read the package of chili or popcorn and then preset itself for operation. "The family calendar on the refrigerator will update everyone’s calendar, from Mom's computer at work to sis’s cell phone to Dad’s PDA with all of today’s events, including soccer practice and dental appointments…It will remind Grandma to take her pills and Grandpa that he has a 6:30 Tee-Time.
"Shortly your kitchen will read your personal electro-magnetic field when you enter the kitchen and begin to brew your favorite beverage and update your portfolio, all while you wait for your bagel to be toasted.
"Whether this kitchen comes to pass, the modern kitchen will continue to be the heart, if not the hub, of the modern home, an essential element in our daily lives that touches and affects us both physically and emotionally, a place where we seek communion, rejuvenation, and sanctuary."
Some things will not change. In this high-tech future, the best part of the kitchen will still be the window with a view and the counter stools for conversation.
Even the smartest appliances can't take the place of friends and family.