According to Amazon.com, the Kindle was one of the more popular gifts being given this past Christmas. Yes, it’s popular with those who like to read books, magazines and newspapers but what about us home culinarians? Are there really any advantages to using a Kindle in your kitchen? I think so and here’s why:
Though we are still waiting for that “paperless society” touted by John Naisbitt in his book Megatrends, more and more people are turning to e-book readers as a way to streamline they way they buy and read books. I am one of those individuals who find that there simply is no way to replace the feel of paper turning in my hands. However, I’m running out of room for my personal library of cookbooks
My solution, the Kindle – it’s lightweight, portable, and can contain literally thousands of books on file. For me, this is a great way to increase bookshelf space. For home cooks, there are even more advantages. Using a Kindle in the kitchen allows you to have access to hundreds of cookbooks within minutes, and all at the touch of a button.
What is a Kindle?
Amazon’s Kindle was the first E-Book, thin, and lightweight, much like an overgrown iPod. Unlike similar devices, the Kindle’s screen simulates the real ink of printed books, so there is no strain on the eyes. “Pages” are turned with the click of a button, and the Kindle can connect to the Internet for immediate book purchase and download.
The Kindle is available in two formats: the original 6-inch screen and a larger, more newspaper-friendly Kindle DX, with a 9.7-inch screen. The books you purchase for the Kindle are usually less expensive than what you can expect to pay for paperback or hardback versions.
Kindle in the Kitchen
The Kindle wasn’t designed specifically for use in the kitchen, however a number of its features have immense value for use in the kitchen.
• Book Storage:
The Kindle can hold thousands of cookbooks. Whether this includes e-book cookbooks that you buy or files that you convert from your own computer, the result is one small, portable space to store all of your favorite recipes.
• Annotation Features:
The Kindle allows its users to take notes and make “bookmarks” of pages. You can flag favorite recipes, note changes you’ve made to the original recipes, and even keep a permanent record of tricky conversions. Because the notes are made right on the files, they will never get lost or misplaced.
• Wireless “WhisperNet”:
The Kindle can connect to the Internet from almost anywhere a cellular connection can be made. It is an internal device, so you don’t have to pay for a network or have wi-fi in order to tap into this feature. It allows you to browse and purchase books directly from your Kindle (via Amazon.com), and you can download and start using them immediately. Although you can connect to other websites, the Kindle isn’t really designed for it, so it can be difficult to look at other cooking sites on the screen.
• Aditional Features:
The Kindle also has a number of features to make reading easier. You can increase the text size so that it is most comfortable for you. You can choose the audio feature, which will read aloud the text (including recipes) right to you. There is also the ability to view and zoom in to pictures, though the images will be in black and white, and can be somewhat grainy compared to the glossy, magazine-style pictures we’ve come to expect from cookbooks.
Using Your Kindle in the Kitchen
There are almost 900 cookbooks currently listed on the Amazon site for use with the Kindle, including the more popular ones from Food Network celebrities and current diet fads. You can also put your favorite recipes into Word documents on your own computer and have them transferred to files that are compatible with the Kindle. It is a great way to organize your recipes so that they are all available at the touch of a button, and in one convenient location.
If you plan on using it in the kitchen, where food and liquids can threaten damages, you might want to consider a stand or even a protective cover that will keep it out of the heavy spill zone.
A Kindle provides a great way to streamline the way you cook and use recipes. If you have limited space to collect the cookbooks you want, are looking for a great organizational tool, or find great value in getting new recipes at the touch of a button, the Kindle could be right for you. And while that cake cools or your stew simmers, you can sit back, relax, and read the latest New York Times Bestseller.
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