cooking Archives

Ask Kim: 'Can you help me choose an Echo device?'

I want to get an Amazon Echo Show, but can’t decide between the 8 or 10 or which version. Can you provide your recommendation?

Rodney in Nevada

Absolutely! First things first, here’s how I like to use mine:

Video calls on the fly: Forget typing a text or making a regular call. The Echo Show lets you video chat with friends and family by asking Alexa. It’s face-to-face catch-ups made easy!
Kitchen sous chef: Want to whip up something tasty but need a little guidance? The Echo Show can display step-by-step recipes or even play cooking videos. Now you’ve got a sous chef that won’t talk back.
Smart home control center: Lightbulbs, thermostats, doorbells — you name it. If it’s a smart home device, you can likely control it through your Echo Show. Just swipe or ask Alexa, and you’re the master of your home tech universe. OK, that was a stretch, but it sounds good in theory.

Now, which one to get?

Both are totally solid, but I would go with the Echo Show 10. It’s bigger, faster and newer, and just about every spec is upgraded. The Echo Show 8 is certainly more affordable, but this is something you want to buy once and forget about for a few years. This model is already over two years old.

A nice in-between budget-wise is a certified refurbished version of the 10. You can return it if there are any issues, but it’s really in Amazon’s best interest to make sure anything refurbished is tested and ready to go. You can get the Echo Show 10 for around $145 this way.

No unexpected Drop Ins

Now that you have the perfect Echo Show let’s do a little cleanup when it comes to privacy.

Drop In connects you to another Echo speaker or display for an instant conversation. “Alexa, drop in on the kitchen Echo Show.” You can announce things through all your Echo devices at once, too. For example, to get the family to come for dinner, the command is “Alexa, drop in on all devices.”

But remember, the Echo speaker or display goes both ways. It lets someone immediately listen in or watch what’s happening in the room after 10 seconds. With the Echo Show, you don’t necessarily want someone with the ability to pop in and see what you’re up to all the time.

You can set permissions to enable or disable a specific device. Here’s how:

Open the Alexa app, then tap Devices.
Select Echo & Alexa, and then select your device.
Tap the Settings gear in the upper right > Communications.
Select Drop In, then select which permissions to enable or disable.
Choose On to allow Drop In with permitted contacts only or My Household to Drop In only on devices on your account, or Off, which means nobody can Drop In.

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The future is here: Amazing robots that cook, clean and carry your stuff

Did you ever watch “The Jetsons” and wish the robotic maid Rosey was real? She was responsible for many household tasks, including cleaning, cooking and caring for the family — George, Jane, Judy, Elroy and their pet dog Astro. And boy, oh boy, Rosie was built.

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Relaxation goodies

🛀 You know you need ‘em.

Tough holidays? Roll this migraine stick ($13) on your temples, forehead and neck to tackle your headache.
Pair this bath pillow (20% off) with a bathtub wine holder ($14) and forget all your worries. Ahh.
Holiday cooking is basically a full-time job. Heel your feet with a wooden foot roller ($15).
A heated, vibrating gua sha stone ($55)? Say less.
What’s your favorite tea? Oolong? Earl Grey? Jasmine? Chamomile? This tea sampler box has ‘em all.

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👍👎 AI can’t read your mind: Use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts to get the results you want. Say you’re cooking for friends, and some have allergies. Say, “Create a recipe for six people. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables and carbs. Don’t include dairy products, shellfish or nuts.” Easy-peasy.

💸 Another flop for Harry and Meghan: Their $100 million Netflix deal is on shaky ground. “Polo,” their new series focusing on the world of elite equestrian sports, has been ridiculed by critics as “unintentionally hilarious.” I tried to watch it, but it was so bad. The couple never did the animated series Netflix signed for, either. Meghan’s reputation as being extremely difficult to work with isn’t helping matters, and her cooking show is going up in smoke, too. PSA: Working for a living takes up your whole day.

$1,200 oven

Manufactured by Anova, it uses an internal camera to recognize your food and tell you how to cook it. It uses both wet and dry heat, like ovens in restaurants. In the future, the Precision Oven 2.0 will spot cooking mistakes before a dish is ruined.

5 clever ways to use your Echo and Alexa that you’ll wish you knew sooner

When cooking, it’s easy to say, “Alexa, remind me the cauliflower pizza is done in 15 minutes.” That’s one of the most useful and basic ways to use the Amazon-owned smart assistant.

The downside is that it can pick up conversations we’d rather it didn’t. Tap or click for steps to listen to and erase any errant recordings. I do this regularly. That’s not the only vital privacy step if you have an Echo or more at home. Tap or click here to ensure your smart speakers are locked down correctly.

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5 Siri Valentine's Day tips they'll never forget

If you’re on #TeamiPhone, you’re probably a Siri fan. We know we are. With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’re here with five top Siri tips that can help you make this year one to remember.

Read on for some fun ways to incorporate Siri into Valentine’s Day.

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Gifts that give them something to do

🏡 And they won’t even have to leave the house.

Stop spending hours in the candle aisle trying to guess what scent they like. They can make their own with this kit!
A cozy cup holder is great for movie lovers … or anyone who doesn’t want to tear apart an entire sectional looking for a lost remote.
You’ll have the hottest gift of the day with a hot sauce-making kit. Maybe pair it with a gallon of 2%.
A dream decoder ($16) might help them figure out why they keep dreaming about pugs wearing tuxedos.
For the person who loves YouTube and podcasts more than crafting, these headphones sound as good* as models three times the price.
A sushi-making kit (23% off, $8), because paying $16 for a California roll at a restaurant is lunacy.
Channel Columbo with a fun murder mystery game (33% off).
This cookbook (29% off) has 100 recipes straight from Disney’s parks. And yes, it has the Magic Kingdom Dole Whip. Mmm.
This book (34% off) is like paint-by-numbers but with stickers. Even I can do that!

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Holiday cooking is already on my mind: An inexpensive cookbook holder will keep your tablet out of the mess of flour, stock and butter. This one is gorgeous if you have a bit more to spend.

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Splitting up the holiday cooking this year? A shared note-taking app like Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote or Evernote makes it a cinch to remember who’s preparing what. This is even easier if everyone already has, say, a Google or Microsoft account. You can also try a dedicated shopping list app like Any List, Out of Milk and OurGroceries.

33 days

How long the average home cook spends planning Thanksgiving. That’s two weeks each on the guest list and menu planning, plus three days of food prep and cooking. Get going! You don’t want to make Thanksgiving a cluster-pluck.

Amazon’s (digital) clearance aisle

It’s called Amazon Outlet and it’s packed with good deals. Here’s a page that displays them all. Below are a few that caught my eye:

Dull kitchen peelers make cooking more of a chore than it needs to be. Upgrade yours with a swiveling option that doesn’t clog — only $6.99!
Tidy up under the kitchen or bathroom sink with two-tier adjustable shelves. Heck yes, they’re 50% off.
Cute outdoor upgrade: Hanging garden pots. A three-pack is less than $12.
Live somewhere with cold winters? Grab a pack of insulated faucet covers now, while they’re 50% off.
Straw toppers keep you from spilling your drink everywhere. Great colors, enough to share and 23% off.

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They blue it! LG is cooking up a PHOLED screen to sell next year. Blue phosphor OLED is more efficient, brighter and longer-lasting. The catch? OLEDs are already expensive to produce, so these may cost a fortune.

Affordable upgrades

Problem, meet solution. Inexpensive hacks that make life easier:

This fridge lazy Susan spins around the stuff that gets stuck in the back of the top shelf. It’s on sale for $19.99.
Fix loose outlets — no more half-in, half-out plugs! Get a 15-pack on sale for $6.99.
Food storage lids can be a mess. This bamboo organizer keeps ‘em all in check.
Hang up your cooking tools with under-cabinet rotating hooks. A space saver and an organizer for just $7.99.
Your coffee mug, drink and remote will fit in this pillow. Plus, it’s 14% off in black. Movie night perfection.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Upgrade your kitchen

I love spending time cooking for the week on a Sunday. And you know what makes meal prep more fun? New gear to get the job done.

This set of six rainbow-colored Cuisinart knives brightens things up.
The Rapid Dash Egg Cooker is a sweet solution for making fast hard-boiled and soft-boiled eggs. It’s 11% off — and no more rings around the yolks!
A marble cheese board with a built-in slicer for a fancy happy hour spread. Yes, please.
Upgrade your fussy garlic press with a simple and elegant stainless steel rocker. It’s 17% off and super easy to use.
A DIY indoor organic herb garden, because your food deserves fresh herbs — and so do you.
I use these to freeze soup. One cube equals one bowl. So easy to thaw. Souper-duper!
A food scale makes baking so much easier. Fewer measuring cups to wash!
Sick of cleaning out the air fryer? Grab a pack of liners. I use these every time.
Grate gracefully with a microplane. I got one — now I have a zest(er) for life.
Stop buying bags of popcorn covered in yellow gloop. This bowl works with kernels in the microwave!

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🎬 AI love story? TV manufacturer TCL is cooking up the “first-ever fully AI-generated rom-com” called “Next Stop Paris.” The trailer is, um, interesting. Despite the AI claim, they’re using human writers, actors and animators. Sounds like someone really wants investor money.

Not just a rumor anymore: Apple is officially cooking up a foldable MacBook for 2027. This analyst says it’ll have a 20.3-inch screen and could change how we use laptops forever. As for pricing, well, it’s Apple, so start saving now.

Must-have gear for the ultimate sports fan

Has your old ball cap seen better days? Get a new hat, jersey, sweatshirt or whatever from Fanatics.
Baseball lovers, keep your can or bottle nice and cold with handy insulators.
Be the envy of all tailgaters with a portable charcoal grill.
Don’t forget the grill caddy with insulation to keep food and drinks cold. Plenty of space for utensils and cooking supplies, too.
Not really into sports and just here for the wine? Grab a fancy Yeti wine tumbler.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

AI-pocalypse: OpenAI admits ChatGPT might, kinda, almost help with creating bioweapons. Its study, with 100 brainy participants, showed AI is just 9% better than humans when it comes to cooking up evil schemes. I don’t feel any better about that.