Kitchens and technology: an unbeatable duo Cutting-edge technology enhances your quality of life

Mannheim. When it comes to housework, 66% of all German people enjoy cooking. This makes cooking the most popular activity in the household. There are several reasons why this is the case. Firstly, the outcome of cooking is usually a delicious meal and food is just part of everyday life. It is existential. In addition, people enjoy mak-ing something themselves and choosing and preparing healthy in-gredients, enabling them to influence the desired quality and per-sonal taste. Another important reason is the potential ease of cook-ing these days. “It started with a knife and it is still in use! However, it has been supplemented by a number of professional tools. Cook-ing is also fun because it is easier, faster, more energy-efficient and safer”, confirms Kirk Mangels, Managing Director of the Ar-beitsgemeinschaft Die Moderne Küche e.V. (AMK).

Modern technology quickly became part of a kitchen in the past. The electric cooker and fridge were introduced back in the 1950s. The dish-washer followed them in the 1970s, then the extractor hood and finally today it is the induction hob and steam cooker that find their way into the modern kitchen. “Technology and kitchens do not just go well together, they belong together”, concludes Kirk Mangels and adds: “The great thing about the latest developments is also the fact that they are almost intuitive to use. The operation of appliances today is simplified by their high-tech complexity. Just like with the smartphone as the value of the technology is measured by its contribution to our quality of life”. Kitchens and therefore cooking have naturally become more professional in the area of aids and appliances. Mixers, toasters, optimised taps with a hot water dispenser, excellent counter lighting, simple and logical waste sep-aration, coffee machines, milk frothers and pressure cookers, but also electrical pull-out drawers or also sophisticated pull-out modules in wall units were always technical achievements and today are standard equipment in a modern kitchen. They simplify all work in the kitchen, make processes easier and thereby contribute to the quality of the food. However, the various working heights for different activities offered now by specialist kitchen retailers planning individual kitchens are not tech-nical developments in the literal sense, but help significantly with cooking, washing up and preparation. People therefore not only benefit from the technology but they also require technical advancements due to their specific needs. Good and sound ergonomics is therefore increasingly the focus of kitchen planners. It is no wonder when you add up the costs of going out to eat and compare them with the purchase of a modern kitch-en that more and more people are opting for the purchase of a new kitchen. Going out to eat one hundred times is as expensive as an entry-level model with a significant number of add-on options. Moreover, the vast majority of Germans find oven cleaning the most tedious of all household chores. A technical remedy has long since been found in this area as well: with the self-cleaning “pyrolysis oven”. Technical excel-lence is worth it and pays off immediately in terms of quality of life. (AMK)

AMK is the trade and service association for the entire kitchen industry. AMK is involved in technology and standardisation, marketing and PR, internationalisation as well as trade fairs. More than 130 companies be-long to AMK, all of which are well-known manufacturers of kitchen furni-ture, electric built-in appliances, sinks, accessories as well as their sup-pliers, trade cooperations and service companies. AMK is patron of the “Kitchen Day”, which takes place annually with live-events at numerous kitchen exhibitions in German-speaking regions. Next date: September 27th, 2014. For more information, please take a look at www.amk.de and www.tag-der-kueche.de. (AMK)

High-level built-in electrical appliances allow for easy handling even with hot food. (Photo: AMK)

High-level built-in electrical appliances look good and make it easier for cooks to check their food. (Photo: AMK)

It's not just professional chefs but also cooking enthusiasts in their own home who love high-level built-in electric ovens. (Photo: AMK)

An island counter solution in the centre of the kitchen is very functional because it allows you to work from all sides. (Photo: AMK)