In a recent article we talked about the slate of Xiaomi Smart Appliances which are now available in South Africa from mistore.africa, Yuppiechef, Takealot and Incredible. We ended that article with a promise at a closer look at these unique devices so today let us do just that with a focus on the kitchen.

Xiaomi is offering a trio of really exciting products for the kitchen in its Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things (AIoT) range which are perfect for every level of chef. For the newcomers there are a range of recipes and guides that can ease you into the process and, for the more experienced, there is a range of advanced features and cooking options to really test your limits.

All of this can be done inside of the Mi Home app which gives you a single place to control all your Xiaomi AIoT products. For those who may have just one Xiaomi device at home, and for those fully decked out in a Xiaomi smart home, the Mi Home app controls it all.

For cooking the voice commands are even more welcome. You can control these devices thanks to integration with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so you can keep control even when your hands are busy preparing the next course of your meal.

Xiaomi Smart Multifunctional Rice Cooker

An indispensable part of kitchens across the world, Xiaomi has finally brought smart AIoT functionality to the reliable rice cooker. As South Africa isn’t a country where rice cookers are a common sight in most kitchens, this release has us really excited.

For us rice cooker newcomers, the first surprise is that the rice cooker has eight cooking functions built-in. Through the Mi Home app we can access fine controls over rice types, temperature, cooking times and even the desired texture of the final product.

For those who still picture sitting around waiting for food to cook – and you see this as an obstacle to fresh food in a busy life – this is exactly where AIoT functionality will work for you. The Xiaomi Smart Multifunctional Rice Cooker features a 24-hour delay timer and a 12-hour keep warm feature, so a hot and ready meal is always available no matter your schedule.

Once we’re more confident in our cooking abilities we’re ready to have friends and family over thanks to the three litre capacity, enough to hold 10 bowls of rice that is great for two to six people at a time.

Finally we have to mention that Xiaomi gives you everything you need, right in the box. The steamer basket, rice paddle, ladle and measuring cup are all included and give you everything you need to get going. This is another way that Xiaomi has newer cooks in mind when crafting their devices and also saves us money as we won’t need to go to the shops and pick up these extras when we need them.

Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer 6.5L

Due to their massive influx of popularity over the past few years, air fryers may rival rice cookers in terms of popularity around the world. Here in South Africa air fryers have flooded stores, kitchens and even work break rooms around the country, so what has Xiaomi done to make their version stand out?

Well firstly there’s the huge size. This air fryer has a truly huge 6.5 litres of capacity. That’s big enough to cook an entire chicken, right there in your air fryer basket. Xiaomi has ensured that even the biggest birds get cooked all the way through thanks to the 360-degree convection heating. This can cook at temperatures up to 220 degrees Celsius without the need to fuss and fits with your meal. The upgraded circular air duct makes for a perfect, even cook through the entire chamber.

Then you can look forward to specialised cooking. Take, for example, the degrease feature for food such as chicken wings, lamb chops and steaks (all covered under the modes in the Mi Home app), will remove excess oil ensure you get the crispiest final product. In its testing Xiaomi was able to accomplish food that had its oil content reduced by 88.3 percent.

Advanced chefs can also look to the Mi Home app to do more with an air fryer than you may have imagined. From baking to yogurt making, fermentation and drying fruit, the Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer 6.5L does so much more than your regular air fryer, and the app is there to guide you.

If you already love your air fryer you will be infatuated with the improvements Xiaomi has built into this device.

Xiaomi Smart Blender

Xiaomi has proven that even the humble blender can be improved. With nine-variable speed blending, eight blades, cold and hot modes, a high Borosilicate glass jar and a slew of smart features to blend wirelessly (and even on a schedule), this blender simply does more than you could ever expect.

Our favourite feature of the Xiaomi Smart Blender is its power. The motor that powers those blades is not only high torque, but high power too. While this really shows its muster in turning solids into liquids, we love it for its thoroughness. We’re routinely blending cocoa powder into chocolate drinks and protein powder into smoothies, two powders which can clump and ruin a drink if not mixed properly. We’ve found that lower-power blenders just can’t be relied on to do a proper job here, but the Xiaomi Smart Blender has the gusto to do it properly.

Here again the smart functionality proves just how important it is. The schedule function and ability to blend remotely means that a protein shake is fresh and ready for us after the gym, and a blended ice coffee right when we wake up and right when we get home from work. This is as close to a robot butler we can get right now and it is astonishing that Xiaomi has made it so affordable.

The Xiaomi Smart Blender and the rest of the Xiaomi AIoT Smart Appliances are available right now from mistore.africa, Yuppiechef, Takealot and Incredible.