Every single day, we inch closer to a future where robots can manage all of our household tasks. We’ve got robot vacuums taking care of floor cleaning, robots that can tackle laundry and other manual chores, and, astonishingly, versatile smart cooking robots that replace a head chef. Xiaomi’s aptly-named Smart Cooking Robot has an unusual appearance compared to traditional robots. It lacks arms or a head; it’s essentially a self-contained unit. It features a large pot-like container equipped with a touchscreen, all mounted on a chic base. Yet, it’s loaded with a multitude of capabilities that enable it to cook for you. Its 3D induction heating technology will warm your food, while an internal motor and components facilitate up to 35 different functions.
Perhaps even more remarkable, it’s operated by Xiaomi’s “CookingIoT” advanced cooking algorithm. This system precisely selects cooking temperatures, cooking times, and stirring speeds for each dish across hundreds of recipes. Additionally, it can mimic the actions required for tasks like stir-frying in a wok, gently whipping cream with a mixer, and grinding beans or solids into fine powder. You simply add your ingredients and seasonings into the pot — the screen provides exact measurements — and then let it operate. It can prepare up to three dishes and one soup simultaneously, sufficient for a small family. It sounds advanced and almost too futuristic to be feasible, but it’s real, with alternatives like the Thermomix TM6 available as well. The current price is £899.99 or approximately $1,200 USD, though it’s not officially available in the U.S., meaning you might need to import one if you wish to acquire it.
While they don’t cook for you, if you’re in the market for a traditional robot, there are several fascinating alternatives available at Costco, no international shipping required.
How many kitchen gadgets does the Xiaomi Smart Cooking Robot take the place of?
As stated on Xiaomi’s product page, the 35 functions of the Smart Cooking Robot can effectively substitute a wide range of appliances that you might have, whether hidden in cupboards, on the countertop, or in a pantry. Among the evident appliances it replicates are a slow cooker, rice cooker, multi-functional electric kettle, induction cooker, and a soup maker. Additionally, it can perform many intricate functions too. It operates as a low-temperature food processor with built-in timers and can serve as a kneading machine, meat grinder, fermentation device, vegetable cleaner, and even a voice assistant.
Inside the base, a high-powered switched reluctance motor generates the energy necessary for tasks like grinding, kneading, or stirring. It provides a spectrum of speeds from 40RPM to 12,000RPM, with the highest speeds for demanding tasks like grinding. The 8-inch touchscreen display showcases your ingredients, measurements, and cooking instructions. You follow along after picking a recipe from over 200 available options, dropping everything into the primary pot. It then takes care of the preparation and cooking, and when it’s fully done, you dine.
Regrettably, there are no public reviews or comments available for reference, though you can encounter numerous influencer-driven reviews and videos. The absence of user feedback appears to be due to its unavailability in the U.S. through official routes. Naturally, the Thermomix TM6 can be found at various retailers across the States. There was also the Chefee Robotic Chef featured on Shark Tank, which might eventually become accessible. If you are open to some manual cooking tasks, products like the Dreo ChefMaker can significantly simplify food preparation in the kitchen.