Regular readers of The Verge are likely aware that among all the spaces in my smart home, the kitchen holds a particularly special place in my heart. As someone who is both a passionate home cook and a mother of two young children, this room naturally becomes the hub of my daily activities — a space where culinary creativity, family life, and technology all intersect. Because so much of my time is spent here preparing meals, organizing ingredients, and managing household tasks, I’m constantly seeking innovations that can introduce greater efficiency, convenience, and enjoyment into my routines. This perpetual curiosity pushes me to experiment with new smart home devices, allowing me to test and compare each connected gadget firsthand in pursuit of those rare products that genuinely save time, enhance ease of use, and deliver true value without unnecessary complexity.
However, one persistent drawback of diving deep into this world of smart kitchen technology is the price tag that so often accompanies it. Many of these high-tech appliances and connected tools come at a premium, which makes finding good bargains especially appealing. That’s precisely why Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event is such a timely opportunity — it provides a window to purchase some of my favorite smart kitchen products at substantially reduced prices. During these limited-time promotions, I scour the listings for the sharpest markdowns on items I have personally tested and found helpful in my own kitchen setup. Below, I’m highlighting a selection of the most impressive discounts I’ve discovered — deals on products that have proven themselves to be functional, reliable, and genuinely transformative within my smart cooking environment.
One standout device that has fundamentally changed my day-to-day cooking experience is the Echo Show 21, which I’ve been using exclusively in my kitchen for approximately three months. The device operates on Alexa Plus, Amazon’s enhanced, AI-infused version of its voice assistant, and the improvements it introduces to recipe management are nothing short of dramatic. When I’m mid-cooking — hands dusted with flour or occupied with chopping vegetables — I can display a recipe on its ample screen and have it remain there persistently while I work. Alexa’s upgraded contextual understanding means it effortlessly recognizes my follow-up queries about the recipe’s next steps, ingredient substitutions, or cooking times, all without my having to continually remind it of which dish we’re preparing.
Additionally, the integration of a personal Cooking Library has revolutionized how I store and retrieve recipes. Now, I can easily send recipes directly to the Echo Show or upload them for later use, ensuring my culinary inspirations are neatly organized and readily accessible. The system even allows me to photograph handwritten notes — those cherished recipe cards passed down through generations — and have Alexa automatically convert them into digital, easy-to-read versions. This not only modernizes my recipe collection but also safeguards it for the future. As an extra perk, the Echo Show doubles as a Fire TV, allowing me to catch up on my favorite series or stream tutorials while I cook. For those considering the setup, I highly recommend purchasing the adjustable stand unless you intend to mount the device on a wall; the flexibility it adds makes positioning the screen far more convenient. And if the 21-inch version feels overly large for your counters, the Echo Show 15 offers a compact yet equally capable alternative. Readers interested in my in-depth impressions of Alexa Plus and its performance can find my full review linked elsewhere on the site.
Throughout my experiments with various kitchen appliances, I have also conducted extensive trials with different air fryer models — from the traditional bucket-style varieties to more compact, mini-oven designs. Yet none have impressed me as much as the Typhur Dome 2, which has quickly become a mainstay in my cooking arsenal. What sets it apart is its intelligently engineered design: the wide, horizontally oriented basket provides significantly more surface area than most air fryers, while the slightly lower ceiling helps retain and circulate concentrated heat directly over the food. This combination results in faster, more consistent cooking and makes the appliance ideal for preparing generous portions that can satisfy a family of four with ease.
The culinary results speak for themselves. This air fryer produces some of the crispiest, most flavorful chicken wings I’ve ever made — the kind that rival those from a dedicated restaurant kitchen. It can even reheat a full-sized pizza to near-original quality within minutes, preserving both texture and taste. Its efficient design eliminates the need for preheating, expediting meal preparation on busy evenings, and it even includes a surprisingly effective self-cleaning mode that helps keep the interior spotless with minimal effort. The only significant drawback is its substantial footprint; at around fourteen inches wide, it occupies a considerable portion of counter space, which smaller kitchens may struggle to accommodate. Nevertheless, the accompanying mobile app proves useful, offering curated recipes and sending timely notifications when a dish has finished cooking. Still, I appreciate that every essential control remains physically accessible directly on the device itself, allowing for full functionality even without the app.
In summary, these innovations — from the multifunctional Echo Show 21 with its advanced Alexa Plus integration to the impressively designed Typhur Dome 2 air fryer — exemplify how intelligent technology is seamlessly transforming the modern kitchen. They enhance practicality and efficiency while maintaining the joy of cooking, turning an ordinary meal preparation routine into a more connected, informed, and enjoyable experience. And with events like Prime Big Deal Days offering substantial savings, there’s never been a better moment to elevate your kitchen into a smarter, more convenient culinary space.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/tech/796213/smart-kitchen-gadgets-prime-day-sale-coffee-machine-air-fryer
