Buzz
It’s incredibly frustrating that the time when summer produce is at its freshest and most inspiring is also when my kitchen becomes unbearably hot. While I’ve installed fans, nothing seems to cool down the sauna-like environment created by my stove or oven. Thankfully, I’ve discovered a few gadgets that let me cook without having to endure the heat. It’s like living in the futuristic world of The Jetsons.
Electric stirrers eliminate the need to hover over a hot stove
I’m no fool—I avoid making risotto in the summer. However, I still prepare jams and sauces that typically require constant stirring. Even a quick stir-fry demands attention over a hot pan. One day, it dawned on me that there must be an automated stirring solution—and, as always, Amazon delivered.
After testing three devices, the clear winner is the Stirmate. It securely clamps onto the pot, ensuring the stirring mechanism stays perfectly centered. Its adjustable design accommodates various pot widths and depths, unlike other models limited to shallow pans. Optional accessories, such as the metal stirring tool, excel at handling large batches of sauce, jam, or soup.
Step away from the stove with these innovative stirring devices:
The StirMATE Automatic Pot Stirrer
The StirMATE Stainless Steel Stirrer, ideal for large pots
The Uutensil Stirr, perfect for smaller pots
I can confidently clamp this device onto my pot, walk away, and trust that nothing will burn. Setup takes just two minutes, and cleaning is a breeze. It also stores in a surprisingly compact space.
For $35, the compact Uutensil Stirr is an excellent choice for simple sautéing. Its small size makes it easy to handle, and there’s no setup required—just place it in the pan and let it work. While it’s only suitable for shallow depths, it performs well enough for me to multitask in the kitchen, and cleanup is effortless.
Keep an eye on your cooking from a distance with a security camera
Consider this: Cooking relies on two key indicators—sight and temperature—that usually demand your presence. Whether it’s pasta water boiling over, smoke rising, or a pot reaching a rolling boil, you need to be there to catch it.
Here’s my unconventional take: You can oversee all of this from your couch using a Blink camera pointed at your stove. Critics can queue up at the back—this method works.
While any camera will do, Blink cameras are frequently on sale, affordable, compact, and simple to install. I especially appreciate the Blink mini’s magnetic base, which sticks to my fridge perfectly, offering a top-down view of my stovetop.
I relax on the couch, monitoring my cooking through the Blink app on my phone while enjoying the air conditioning and watching the electric stirrer do its job. Is this laziness or pure genius?
A temperature alarm ensures you’re alerted when your attention is truly required
For tasks requiring precise temperatures, such as heating milk or making jam, a reliable thermometer with an alarm feature is indispensable. A Bluetooth-enabled thermometer allows you to monitor from the comfort of your couch, reinforcing the theme of remote supervision.
Thermometers don’t need to be complex—I prioritize features like a magnetic base for stovetop attachment, easy-to-clean probes, a protective case to prevent damage, and pot clips to secure the probe to the side of the pot. The probe should touch the food, not the pot’s base.
The $33 ThermoPro model meets all these requirements, and you can buy pot clips separately if you already own a thermometer.
While it might seem excessive to go to such lengths to avoid standing by the stove, no one’s stopping you from staying in Steam City. However, each of these tools offers practical benefits beyond convenience, ensuring they’ll be useful in other scenarios. Together, they create an ideal system for remote culinary monitoring, letting you stay cool and comfortable.
