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There’s a tech revolution coming to South African kitchens thanks to the entry into the marketplace of a highly rated yet affordable all-in-one smart cooking machine which looks set to transform South African kitchens as it has already done in Asia with significant inroads made into the American and EU markets.

These “cooking robots” with their smart technology allow users to improve the quality of prepared dishes, save time that would otherwise be spent on cooking and cleaning up, save on energy costs as well as minimise food waste.

The company behind the TOKIT Omni Cook C2 is Chunmi Technology Co., Ltd, a company that has been in existence since 2013 and specialises in smart kitchen appliances. Chunmi, in turn, is part of the ecological chain of multinational Chinese conglomerate the Xiaomi Corporation; a network of independent companies, each of whom focuses on developing specific products.

Xiaomi is best known for its consumer electronics, software and electric vehicles and is the second-largest manufacturer of smartphones in the world. The company is ranked 338th and is the youngest company on the Fortune Global 500. Xiaomi invests in companies such as Chunmi and provides them with resources, but Chunmi operates largely autonomously, focusing on its own product development.

The Johannesburg based Swiss Diversitas Group are the official Southern African distributors of the TOKIT Omni Cook C2 with other appliances to be added to the portfolio in coming months.

All-in-one smart machines, such as the TOKIT Omni Cook C2, combine multiple features and do the job of more than 20 traditional appliances, letting the user make thousands of different recipes from homemade bread and curries to pasta sauces, stock, pastes, yoghurt and ice cream. The machine is Wi-Fi-enabled and connected to a global repository of recipes which users are guided through via the device’s step-by-step digital interface.

Its 18cm colour touchscreen offers user-friendly navigation through hundreds of digital recipes, ensuring flawless dishes every time. With Wi-Fi connectivity for recipe updates, precise temperature control (35-180°C), a robust motor and self-cleaning capabilities, this appliance redefines cooking with seamless integration and effortless maintenance.

The TOKIT Omni Cook has a motor with a speed range of 40 to 12,000 RPM. It also has 20 forward gears (0.5 to 10) and 10 reverse gears (-0.5 to -5). The speed is adjustable, allowing for precise control during different cooking processes.

Its multifunctionality makes it a stellar addition to any kitchen. It helps cooks prepare meals at home more efficiently, saving both time and money. With a small footprint of less than one square metre, users can place the TOKIT Omni Cook C2 anywhere and save up to 90% of the space in their kitchen while replacing other kitchen appliances at the same time.

The smart machine’s various modes include sous vide, deep fat frying, integrated scales, blending, slow cooking and fermenting for making things such as yoghurt, dough and cheese.

The TOKIT Omni Cook employs the free CookNJoy platform (there are no annual subscriptions) where users can find more than 3000 recipes; as well as being a free recipe library, it allows users to join a community of other TOKIT Omni Cook users. These recipes can be accessed through a touchscreen interface on the machine, a phone app and the TOKIT website. The recipe collection is constantly updated with new dishes from different regions of the world. Users can also input their own recipes via the CookNJoy app.

The TOKIT Omni Cook can be used in one of two ways. Its functions can be used individually – as a scale, a steamer or a blender – as needed, or users can opt to follow one of the 1000 recipes optimised for the appliance.

Says founder and director of the Swiss Diversitas Group Nicolas Thoenen: “Smart all-in-one cooking machines can be used by both the novice home cook, culinary enthusiasts and professionals. Beginners who follow directions will turn out good food and impressive dishes while busy folks get what amounts to an extra pair of hands. These machines are also found in many professional kitchens with professional chefs adapting them to use their own recipes while also using them to make sauces and the like.”

Adds Thoenen: “Just as cell phones reshaped society, we believe that the integration of smart cooking gadgets into daily life will change how we interact with food. These devices make cooking simpler and more accessible and allow people to embrace healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. As intelligent IoT (Internet of Things) and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to advance, the question isn’t if these technologies will dominate South African kitchens – it’s how soon.”