The month of December is often marked by at least one family member spending an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen.

Feeding the family can be a chore, but with some clever tech you can upgrade your kitchen time and maybe even get to take time off before everybody eats your festive feast at the end of December.

For the oven – Wireless meat thermometer

Getting your meat cooked to the perfect temperature is one of the small joys in life and the best way to do this is with a thermometer. Opening the oven door every 45 minutes to check the temperature of something isn’t advised as it cools the overall temperature and slows down the cooking process.

Wireless meat thermometers are the perfect tool to get your meat perfect every time and the Michris Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer is an affordable solution. This Bluetooth temperature gauge boasts a battery life of up to four hours and five presets for different meat types. The smartphone app guides you through the cooking process every step of the way.

Michris Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth

Price: R1 099 at Makro.

For the one-pot wonders – Induction hob

With the price of electricity always going up and loadshedding a constant threat, being more energy efficient is something all South Africans are trying to be.

Induction hobs are rather expensive but can potentially save you a buck on your electricity bill. This is because induction hobs use electromagnetic waves to heat a pan and nothing else. This means that you aren’t wasting energy and you’re also safer than you would be with regular hobs or gas burners.

We should, however, note that not all pans and pots will work with induction hobs so be sure to check if the person you’re buying one for has the equipment needed.

Defy Single Induction Hob

Price – R989.99 at Hirsch’s.

For the kitchen – Virtual assistant

Having a virtual assistant in the kitchen is more useful than you realise. The Google Home Mini features native integration with Google Assistant so converting pounds into kilos or ounces to millilitres has never been easier.

Not only can you search but you can also play music, ask Google to set timers and more. It’s a really simple tool that once you’ve installed in your kitchen, you won’t want to get rid of.

Price – R799 at Builders.

For the morning – WiFi coffee maker

This gift suggestion is purely for the coffee addicts among us that want coffee when their foot hits the floor out of bed each morning. The Milex WiFi Coffee Machine connects to an app on your smartphone so that you can wirelessly start brewing your coffee in the morning or afternoon. The coffee machine features a carafe that can house 1.8 litres of java juice. Of course, you can use the machine without an app which is important.

The coffee filter is reusable and dishwasher safe so no more fussing with paper filters.

Price – R1 399 at Milex.

For the chef – Sous vide

Consistency is the mark of a great chef and no cooking tool is more consistent than a sous vide.

These remarkable devices circulate water at a constant temperature ensuring that anything you cook is perfect every time. The SousChef Digital Sous Vide Circulator is able to circulate seven litres of water per minute and can heat a bath of 22 litres of water. The device features low water detection to prevent damage and the holder can be detached or attached for easy use in any container. That having been said, we highly recommend making use of a fit for purpose container.

To that end we recommend the SousChef Sous Vide Immersion Container with Lid which will cost a bit extra but the materials will ensure your meals are cooked perfectly without issue.

One other “nice to have” is a vacuum sealer but you can just easily seal your food with a straw and zip-lock bag.

Price – R2 999 at Yuppiechef.

Optional extra

SousChef Sous Vide Immersion Container with Lid

Price – R999 at Yuppiechef.

For the person in a rush – Instant Pot

We debated putting an air fryer in here instead but after many debates an Instant Pot won out for two reasons – ribs and cinnamon rolls.

Truth be told, an Instant Pot is one of the best multi-function cooking tools available. Not only is it great for cooking rice, stews, and steaming, it’s also a fantastic pressure cooker, and can even be used to ferment things such as yogurt.

It is important to get an Instant Pot that carries the Instant Pot branding. There are various iterations under this brand but be sure to shop this brand as the quality and functionality will leave you in good stead for years to come.

Product – Instant Pot Duo

Price – R2 499 at Hirsch’s.

Cookbooks

While the internet makes finding recipes incredibly easy, cookbooks are still a great way to find ideas or just have a guide to follow step by step.

We know that tastes vary from person to person but we’ve given you something of a starting point below. Prices will vary as will availability.

• Just Add Rice by Ming-Cheau Lin,
• The Great South African Cookbook by various,
• Joshua Weissman: An Unapologetic Cookbook by Joshua Weissman,
• Cook and Enjoy by S.J.A De Villiers,
• Dessert Person: Recipes and Guidance for Baking with Confidence by Claire Saffitz,
• That Sounds So Good: 100 Real-Life Recipes for Every Day of the Week: A Cookbook by Carla Lalli Music.