Using Computers in the Kitchen

If you spend much time in your home or business kitchen, locating a computer there can provide a number of benefits. Computers can be used to store and retrieve recipes, convert metric measurements, create grocery lists, and provide entertainment while you are waiting for food to finish heating. If connected to the internet, using them to answer cooking questions, access additional recipes, and watch demonstrations of particular foods being prepared is also possible. Computers can be set up so that they will turn kitchen appliances on at particular times as well.

Laptop computers are easiest to place in a kitchen and begin using there, but have some disadvantages; they will be damaged more if anything is spilled in their keyboards, and they (as well as replacement parts) will generally cost more than an equivalent desktop computer. A small desktop-style computer might be placed under the counter (with adequate ventilation if it is to be operated for a long period of time) to protect it from spills and dust/dirt, and its keyboard could be kept in a drawer if it is large enough. A membrane keyboard might be considered if keeping the keyboard clean and dry is a concern. If a printer is necessary, using a compact inkjet model is preferable, so as to avoid using too much kitchen counter space. It is best to minimize the number of wires to conserve space and enhance safety. Using X10 modules and software makes it possible to control power to kitchen appliances; for example, a coffee maker which was set up the night before can be turned on at a particular time in the morning.

Free software is available online for many kitchen purposes, and has been made for MS-DOS, all versions of Windows, and other operating systems. Some examples of useful freeware programs you can download to use on computers include "Cooking Aficionado 3.1" (Windows 98-XP), "Shop'N Cook Cookbook Reader 3.4" (Macintosh OS X), "SoftCuisine 2.0" (Win. 95-XP), "DashCook 2.0" (Mac OS X 10.4.1), and "Metric Converter 2.46" (Win. 95-2000/ME/NT). "Every-Occasion International Recipes 1.02", a free-to-try program which is available at download.com, provides over 300 recipes from around the world and runs in Windows 95/98/NT/2000 and Millenium. Commercial software for kitchen purposes can be purchased inexpensively on eBay.com, including such titles as "Cooking With Chefware" (DOS/Windows), "MasterCook Deluxe 4.0" (Windows), and "World Cuisine Festive Cooking" (Windows 3.1-98/OS2/Macintosh) for under $10, some of them including thousands of recipes.

With the appropriate set-up, software, and accessories, using computers in the kitchen can be beneficial, safe, and without excessive expense.