I think it’s safe to say that over the past year or so, we’ve all spent more time preparing our own food. In doing so I’ve tried to adopt technology that will make a difference in both my culinary life and well- being. The first item my research has led me to is the Vitamix Ascent 2500.

Some people have likened the Vitamix to the “Ferrari of blenders.” I would call it the Rolls-Royce. Not the car, but the jet aircraft engine. This came to mind after my first blend. This is when the instruction manual directs you to clean the container.

I added water, a drop or two of soap and slowly cranked up the rpms for 60 seconds. At “full throttle” it screamed like an F-16 on takeoff. It was impressive and, to the uninitiated, a little scary. Was this thing going to blow up? No way. These are built on the order of “milspec” (military specifications). Maybe better. The warranty is good for 10 years!

So, I started making stuff. First were smoothies from dragon fruit, bananas, papaya — you name it. Then on to humus and soups. On the Ascent 2500 there are automatic settings for smoothies, frozen desserts and soups. Just point the dial, press the tab and walk away.

So where does the technology fit in?

Built into the system is “Self-Detect” technology. That means the blender “reads” the container size (which is communicated via Wi-Fi) and adjusts blending times and speed. Next, download the product’s “Perfect Mix” app and pair the blender with your smartphone. This enables you to find a recipe (say, hummus) on the app. After adding the ingredients to the container, click the “blend” icon that pertains to your recipe. With hummus it’s the “spreads” symbol, which you tap on the smartphone. The command is sent to the Vitamix. Flip the switch and the machine will take care of the rest (or you can operate the 10-speed blender manually).

The engine is so powerful, the Vitamix can grind coffee or make nut butter. (I roasted walnuts and made walnut butter.) It will pulverize anything to the point where the temperature of your mixture will rise if you don’t remove it in time.

Is this for everyone? At $500 probably not, if you’re just into weekly smoothies. Keep in mind the Vitamix works as blender and food processor, so you’re getting a two-fer.

My other kitchen acquisition is the DeLonghi Livenza Air Fry Digital Convection Oven. Essentially, it’s a nine- function digital all-in-one toaster, air fryer, broiler and convection oven with nine presets.

Why opt for this appliance? Having a multifunctional device saves room and money. I use it primarily as a toaster and air fryer, but occasionally I can bake, broil or warm up a slice of pizza. During the pandemic I decided to go primarily plant-based, and the Livenza is perfect for air-frying tofu (which takes about 25 minutes). At $208 on Amazon, it’s reasonably priced and has a small footprint on the counter. You can cook everything and save energy to boot.

What do I like? The interior is illuminated when cooking so you can see what’s going on, and it beeps when finished. The digital display is easy to read. It’s constructed from stainless steel, which is aesthetically pleasing and robust. The oven door is solid. Two steps are involved for making anything: set the time and set the function. The only thing I didn’t like was that the oven door handle will hit the counter before it’s entirely open. Thus, if you want to open the door all the way, you have to pull the oven to the edge of the counter. Not a deal-breaker.

The final item in your high-tech kitchen is decidedly low-tech but green in concept. It answers the age-old question, What do you do with compost without attracting flies or stinking up your kitchen? I ditched the coffee can and went to the 1.75-gallon Good Grips Easy-Clean Compost Bin ($29.99), which is manufactured by OXO, a company synonymous with high-quality kitchen products. The smooth plastic makes it easy to clean or, better yet, you recycle a plastic bag you get at the grocery store. It has a “stay-open” lid so you can easily toss the eggshells or watermelon rinds. And yes, the lid is removable for convenient emptying.

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Rob Kay, a Honolulu-based writer, covers technology and sustainability for Tech View and is the creator of fijiguide.com. He can be reached at Robertfredkay@gmail.com.