LAS VEGAS — The next time you grill, you may want a side of Wi-Fi.
Lynx Grills announced on Tuesday at the 2014 International CES show in Las Vegas a voice-activated smart grill that serves up food based on user preferences. The concept grill, which is expected to hit the market in 2015, connects to a recipe database, gives you instructions and even sends text messages at key times, including when it's time to flip the food.
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"Basically, it allows you to prepare a meal like you would conduct an orchestra, managing every single item and step to make sure that the end result is what you want," Jim Buch, CEO, Lynx Grills, told Mashable.
After the grill connects to Wi-Fi, the user is asked a few questions. The grill determines the best cooking time, technique and even where the items should go. It can also send SMS alerts to keep the griller on top of its status.
But perhaps the smartest feature is its ability to remember how you best like your food. For example, you can audibly request meat to be rare, medium or well done — or make specific requests such as "cook it exactly like last time, but add 30 seconds more time to each side." To turn it on, you'd say: "Smart Grill, preheat now."
"Not only does this save time, so you don't have to hover over the grill the whole time, it helps you prepare consistent meals," Buch said. "The learning algorithm remembers your doneness preference, which is in the taste buds of the user. The grills hit it on spot almost better than a human chef because it remembers how you have cooked it in the past and you can program it specifically to your taste."
It also helps experienced grillers prepare meals they haven't before, such as lobster tail. By accessing Lynx's recipe database via the accompanying app, users can download user-generated recipes or upload their own. Recipes include how to cook everything from chicken tikka masala to filet mignon.
For safety reasons, the smart grill shuts off after 30 minutes of not hearing any instructions. Although you'd need to be nearby to turn on the grill, it's possible to turn it off remotely, if, say, you forget to do so when back inside the house or on the way to the movies.
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Image: Lynx