Technology over the past years has vastly changed and transformed the way we now live. Without realising it, as humans, we have allowed it to seamlessly integrate and influence the way we carry out daily tasks, from waking up in the mornings to preparing dinner in the evenings. Although this can be seen as a disturbance to our mindfulness, at times it does offer relief. 

What’s interesting about the impact of technology on cooking is that it has not just made improvements to the appliances that we use in the kitchen but also the way we conduct cooking. The transformation has also shaped the way we now approach cooking as a whole with endless help guides, videos, and an abundant amount of choices of what we would like to eat. Making dishes from different parts of the world has never been easier thanks to smartphone apps such as Youtube.

Social media= Mouthwatering 

The internet, as a whole, has played a big part in altering our eating habits. The most significant influence that dictates how we now choose what to eat is social media. Due to the constant use of social media, we are heavily influenced and take on board what we see. This is true when it comes to food as seeing food triggers the desire to eat the real thing. Social media behaves like an informant of what food to eat, how it is made, and the latest trends in food, like ice cream on a cloud of candy floss, sounds delicious right? This is the primary reasons why food accounts on social media are massively successful. They show consumers, in short videos, how to quickly make dishes, food hacks and introduce us to dishes we never even knew existed. The fact that a large portion of the population own smartphones and have social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter indicate that “foodporn“, as many now call it is here to stay. One of the most significant driving factors that have interested people in cooking and baking is the sharing aspect of social media. Users share pictures with their followers of the dishes they have cooked, promoting reactions such as likes and comment on their images, which some users find rewarding.  

The rise in people cooking. 

Not only have smartphones provided us with access to the internet and social media, but it has also become an informant and teacher and has opened the door for many to learn how to cook and try dishes they wouldn’t usually. Thanks to online recipes which are not only just available on laptops but also tablets, smartwatches and smartphones, we now have unlimited access to them, which means we are more likely to try them. This is very different from the past as those who had a personal interest in cooking would regularly consult cookery books for recipes. But now, thanks to smartphones, the number of people cooking and of both genders has increased massively. As consumers now, we are not just reading recipes, but we are also watching them being made, which in fact is more comfortable for the brain to process than text. We now have the option to search directly for the recipes of the dish we are looking for and with alterations to it. For example, due to the high number of people who are lactose intolerant, consumers can now learn how to make dairy-free ice cream. Thanks to apps such as Youtube we can also pause and rewind recipes as we watch how they are made, which makes cooking easier. You can see exactly what your dish should look like through the different steps of the recipe compared to cooking books, which generally only provide a picture of the end result. 

More choices better quality 

Smartphones have also given us the advantage to source better quality products directly from the provider. This means fresher ingredients and better-tasting food. By merely popping online and placing orders, consumers can now have ingredients which have travelled from the other side of the world on their kitchen table. Access to the internet and online shopping via smartphones means consumers can now get their hands on specialist artisan products which were once difficult to source. This newfound freedom means people are able to source better quality food for a better diet. 

Taste of things to come 

There are plenty of kitchen gadgets that are slowly making their way onto the culinary market and changing the way food is prepared. This is evident with the introduction of new 3D printing food machines, which will surely change the way eat in the near future. However, for now, you still need those crucial pots and pans, but most importantly, your smartphone — Bon appetit.