New Whirlpool smart oven detects type of food being cooked

Over the past decade, the way in which we interact with our home appliances has changed thanks to the advent of smart technology. Our washing machines can be controlled via an app, our dishwashers can sense the amount of dishes and adjust to the correct programme and, now, ovens are getting smart – real smart.

Earlier this year, Whirlpool introduced its new smart oven – the Smart Countertop Oven. It may not be the flashiest of names, but its honest – and this little oven certainly has a lot substance packed into its small size.

While often not considered alongside its larger siblings as a main oven, countertop ovens have grown in popularity in recent years. It can be great for properties that lack space and is an especially important accessibility consideration – particularly for people who live with mobility problems where they struggle to bend down to reach a conventional oven.

But what makes Whirlpool’s latest countertop oven so special is its smart capabilities – particularly its ability to detect what you are cooking. Yes, don’t worry, we’re not in 2040 just yet – but technology like this sure reminds us that the future we imagined is closer than we realise.

The oven, a product of Whirlpool’s innovative WLabs division, comes with technology that can automatically detect and identify food. No, we don’t just mean that it knows when there’s food there – it’s actually able to work out what type of food it is. Initially, this might seem a bit unnerving – but the benefits are very clear.

That’s because, after the oven has detected the food, it can automatically set both the temperature and time required for the most optimal of results. As we said, it’s a smart oven. While cooking purists may be a bit put off by losing control of their dishes, others will find this technology to be very helpful.

The oven is able to switch between 11 different cooking modes to ensure the dish’s texture and taste is the most ideal it can be. Those modes are:

• Air Fry
• Bake
• Broil
• Convection Bake
• Convection Roast
• Dehydrate
• Keep Warm
• Proof
• Reheat
• Slow Cook
• Toast

The smart functionality, however, doesn’t end there. There are many other features that can be accessed via the oven’s smartphone app. With the app on, you’ll be able to set it to receive notifications on your mobile on the status of your food – allowing you to make adjustments to it from anywhere in your home. This is also good for those who like to ‘keep an eye’ on their food! If you’re looking to ensure that your food is cooked all the way through, you’ll also be able to access the thermometer. Additionally, the app comes with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration for voice activation too.

The oven itself actually has a nice look – far nicer than you’d expect a countertop oven to look – and comes with a stainless steel interior, touch-screen interface and its own wooden chopping board that sits atop the oven. It’s the size of a microwave, yet can cook a 12-inch pizza or even a whole chicken.

If you’ve read this far, then there’s probably a good chance you’re interested. However, we have some bad news if you’re in the UK – as you may need to wait a while to see this model.

The oven is currently available for pre-order to Americans after its debut at tech convention CES in January 2019. The oven is being touted as ‘limited edition’ – with only 2,000 units having been produced. That’s not to say the oven won’t be re-issued in the UK after this ‘limited’ US run, or that the technology won’t be re-packed into other Whirlpool ovens, but it’s still frustrating to see the future near yet so far. The Smart Countertop Oven has an MSRP of $799.

But while you wait for this new breed of ovens to become available, why not wait on buying a new oven and keep your old one in great condition? At Repair Aid, we repair and service ovens to ensure they stay as good as new – preventing you from needing to buy a new oven in the foreseeable future.