I don’t know about you but I waited and waited AND WAITED to get an Amazon Echo device. For one, there are so many out there but two, do I really need one more device?! I decided, in the end, to get this more affordable Echo Dot because it was on sale and it was small. I didn’t want something to take up space. NOW, I absolutely love having this in my kitchen.

OH – this is not an ad. All thoughts are my own and I just love what this device can do. Some of the links are affiliate links meaning if you purchased from this I get a little profit but there is no extra cost for you. You can read more about that here.

No matter what kind you have, all the ideas listed below will work with any of the devices.

7 Useful Ways to Ask ‘Alexa’ For Help in The Kitchen

1. Make a grocery list or keep a running list

“Alexa, add bread, yogurt, and apples to my grocery list”

It gets even better! If you have a Whole Foods near you it can even add to your Amazon Fresh order and have it delivered straight to your door. It is not available where I live but if you have it available I suggest giving it a go and seeing what the experience is like.

Another cool feature in regards to the grocery list is that you are able to keep a running memo on your phone and can access it right through the app on your phone. I love technology – it is amazing to me! Scary sometimes, but amazing.

2. Ask what is for dinner

“Alexa, ask Allrecipes what I can make with zucchini, tomatoes, and spaghetti”

Another feature in the ‘what’s for dinner’ section is that it has a recipe of the day. Ask Alexa, “What is the recipe of the day?” She’ll respond back with what kind of dish you are in the mood for – Mexican food perhaps?! – and then will suggest a recipe for you. From there, she can send you the recipe to your phone, email, or read it out loud.

3. Set timers

“Alexa, start a casserole timer for 30 minutes”

In addition to setting one-timer, you could start as many as you need at multiple times. It could look something like this:

“Alexa, start a casserole timer for 30 minutes”
“Alexa, remind me to check the casserole in 15 minutes”
“Alexa, start a warm bread timer in 20 minutes”

Whatever you need, she can do! Can you imagine how wonderful it will be to set a timer when you have messy hands? Surely I am not the only one that forgets to set a timer?!

4. Converting units

“Alexa, how many ounces are in 2 cups?”

I usually go to my phone and check when I need to convert something. With the help of Alexa, it is a simple ask and she will have it in less time than it would take me to search on the phone.

5. Hungry?

“Alexa, I am hungry. Where can I eat?”

She’ll tell you the top-ranking restaurants in your town. Fancy a date night, Let Alexa pick the restaurant.

6. Get cooking times

“Alexa, how long does it take to boil an egg?”

Ask Alexa for any cooking time and she will give you the best guess. Of course, as always, times will vary depending on the actual appliance you have so keep that in mind but it gets pretty close. Some other examples:

“Alexa, how long will it take to roast asparagus?”
“Alexa, how long does white rice take to cook?”
“Alexa, how long will it take for me to cook a 20-pound turkey?”

7. Have fun

The one thing I use Alexa the most for is listening to music while I cook or prep food. It is so easy to ask for a specific song depending on the mood. I don’t have to worry about my hands being messy and touching something – so convenient! You can also access podcasts, YouTube, or audiobooks.

Now, if you had the Echo Show, you could even watch cooking shows or demonstrations right in the kitchen while you cook.

What kind of things do you enjoy using your Echo device for?