How tech helps consumers make the most of Thanksgiving

Apps and devices enhance the way families experience this time of year.

As one of the most important meals of the year, the prepping, cooking and cleaning involved can cause their fair share of anxiety. That being said, multiple technologies are enhancing the way families experience this time of year. Smart tech, mobile apps, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices are bringing kitchens of the future into homes now.

Recipes galore

Finding the perfect recipe is the first step to creating an ideal Thanksgiving experience, and yes, there's an app for that! The free recipe app BigOven helps people make grocery lists, plan meals, use leftovers, share recipes with others, and even has a Thanksgiving Advice Center.  It's similar to the Paprika App, which embeds timers in the recipe to minimize app switching while cooking.

Time, temperature, and weight

When it comes to cooking any meal—especially dinners as large and intricate as Thanksgiving—timing is indeed everything. This is where wireless and smart technology come in handy.

Thanks to wireless, digital thermometers, home cooks are able to monitor temperatures from their smartphones. The Zvation Wireless Meat Thermometer works with eight different types of meat, with up to four temperatures for each. Users can also set their own custom temperature.

Vorwerk's TM5 machine offers multiple features for at-home chefs. Its robust Cookidoo-Recipe Platform has more than 40,000 recipes with step-by-step instructions that can be added to a home cook's personal weekly meal planner and converted into digital shopping lists. The machine also whips up Thanksgiving favorites, such as cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, desserts, cocktails, or even mulled wine. Because of the smart technology that provides guided cooking instructions, the TM5 cooks the meals, while hosts can spend more time entertaining their guests.

"The TM5 represents the future of cooking," says Kai Schäffner, CEO of Thermomix USA, "Smart kitchen technology will continue to simplify the cooking experience, like the TM5, so that everyone can make healthier, cheaper, and unbelievably delicious meals in a chef-like manner. Technology will connect the best kitchen appliances, and they will come ready-to-connect right out of the box."

In addition to timing and temperature, measuring the weight of ingredients is crucial for home cooks during Thanksgiving. The wifi-enabled Drop scale allows users to place ingredients on its heat resistant surface, and see the weights on their smartphone through the Drop app.