High-Tech Kitchen Gadgets | HuffPost Life

t the 1964 World's Fair in New York, the high-tech kitchen of the future featured push-button appliances that assembled automated meals made by machines. Fifty years on, technology is giving us more individualized--and efficient--control of home food preparation.

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At the 1964 World's Fair in New York, the high-tech kitchen of the future featured push-button appliances that assembled automated meals made by machines. Fifty years on, technology is giving us more individualized--and efficient--control of home food preparation.

Computerized blenders, juicers and coffeemakers have revolutionized our favorite beverages. WiFi-connected devices, such as the WeMo-enabled Crock-Pot smart slow cooker, can be operated remotely via a smartphone app. Three-dimensional printing has moved into the kitchen, thanks to a product called ChefJet. What else does the future hold? Here are seven products to try now.

--Frank Vizard

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High-Tech Kitchen Gadgets

Juicepresso Cold-Press Juicer(01 of07)

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The Juicepresso is a surprisingly elegant cold-press juicer that uses a low-speed motor (40 rpm) to extract more juice out of fruits and vegetables; undamaged on a cellular level, the juice retains its nutritional value for up to three days (versus a few hours with other models). The first concoction we made used fruit we had on hand—six strawberries, a tangerine, a bitter orange and a handful of blueberries. The pulp came out of the spout on the left side, devoid of any liquid; the juice poured out of the spout on the right. The result was delicious. Juicepresso offers an online recipe book, but the real fun is developing your own special elixirs. Cleanup, incidentally, is easy, as all the main elements of the extraction system have been combined into a single screwlike assembly that can be put in the dishwasher. $450; juicepressousa.com.

Photo © Juicepresso

Air X Water Generator(02 of07)

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To produce drinking water out of the air: That’s the promise of the Air X water generator from Untapped Water Systems, a company based in Taiwan and Edmonton, Ontario. About the size of a water cooler, Air X draws in air, condenses it and passes the new water through a series of filters, ultraviolet lights and other proprietary technology to kill bacteria. Air X can yield about 20 liters of hot or cold water daily (in conditions of 80 degrees and 60 percent humidity) and uses no chemicals. Available later this year; $2,395; uws.tm.

Photo © Courtesy of Air X Water

Blendtec Designer 725 Blender(03 of07)

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If you’re a smoothie fanatic, the Blendtec Designer 725 might be the machine for you. It’s got a 1,700-watt motor and a tough blade for breaking up ice and frozen fruit, and the slider controls let you dictate the speed and the pulse. There are six pre-programmed cycles and a digital readout for recipes and nutrition tips. Available June 1; $650; blendtec.com.

Photo © Courtesy of Belndtec

Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker Enabled by WeMo(04 of07)

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This souped-up Crock-Pot slow cooker might be the closest thing to remote-control cooking yet. A WeMo (Belkin’s home-automation technology) smartphone app lets you adjust temperature, change cooking time, check status and cut power. It will also send a reminder when the food is done. Available at the end of May; $130; belkin.com; crock-pot.com.

Photo © Belkin International

SodaStream Soda Maker(05 of07)

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Turn your kitchen counter into a soda fountain with SodaStream, a device that has won numerous design awards (and has attracted some controversy over its Israeli origins). SodaStream carbonates still water in less than 30 seconds and provides as many as 60 flavored syrups to add. Depending on the model, expect to get 60 or 130 liters of sparkling water or soda before needing to replace the carbonator with a new one (available at participating retailers). SodaStream is also a feature in new Samsung refrigerators. $80 to $250; sodastreamusa.com.

Photo © Courtesy of SodaStream

ChefJet 3D Printer(06 of07)

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Layer-by-layer 3-D printing has captured attention by making plastic objects on the spot, but a 3-D printer that can make dessert is bound to whet appetites. The ChefJet countertop 3-D printer shapes chocolate and other confectionaries in ways that would be difficult using traditional methods. ChefJet ($5,000) is limited to monochrome creations, but ChefJet Pro ($10,000) produces multicolored designs (like those pictured here). Available later this year; 3Dsystems.com.

Photo © Courtesy of ChefJet

Moen MotionSense Hands-Free Faucet(07 of07)

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It’s a little like magic: Wave your hand over the Moen MotionSense faucet—or place a cup or glass underneath it—and watch the water pour. The magic actually comes from two strategically placed sensors powered by six AA batteries that should keep the water moving for about a year. It’s convenient when your hands are full or dirty. From $400; moen.com.

Photo © Moen

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