Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SHCA) unveiled its first smart countertop microwave ovens featuring Wi-Fi connectivity and certified “Works with Alexa” compatibility for hands-free operation using voice commands for yet another way to enjoy “Simply Better Living”.
Working with Amazon, and in partnership with Conagra and Orville Redenbacher, Sharp has redesigned and fine-tuned their best-selling Orville Redenbacher countertop microwave ovens to include Alexa voice commands, adding an additional level of sophistication to the kitchen appliance while continuing to provide owners with superior cooking capability.
“Using the Alexa app or an Alexa-enabled device, you can now use your voice to start or stop the microwave, add time to the current cooking cycle, or even cook at a specific power level to make operating your Sharp Smart Countertop Microwave Oven simpler,” said Jim Sanduski, President of SHCA. For example, just say, “Alexa, defrost 2 lbs. of meat,” and Alexa will start defrosting at the appropriate time and power settings. Our wide selection of Alexa commands takes the guesswork out of cooking.”
The Sharp Smart Countertop Microwave Oven is available in two sizes: The 1.1 cu. ft. SMC1139FS model (MSRP: $149.99) offers over 30 voice commands, and 10 more food presets available by voice only and for 20 dollars more, the 1.4 cu. ft. SMC1449FS model (MSRP: $169.99) offers Sensor Cooking, over 70 voice commands, and 50 more food presets available by voice only. Both models feature a modern brushed stainless steel finish that is easy to clean and complements any style.
“We worked with the Amazon team to enable these specific skills,” Sanduski told TWICE in an interview, “and thanks to the sensor cooking capability of the 1.4 cu. ft. model, combined with the algorithm database which Amazon has created as part of their smart cooking suite, we’re able to deliver very simple as a result of adding Alexa cooking capability to the units”
“At Sharp, we remain committed to our brand promise of Simply Better Living. We create products that are simple to use, better than the competition, and support your choice to live a healthier lifestyle,” says Peter Weedfald, Senior Vice President of SHCA. “We are proud to build on our decades of experience designing innovative cooking appliances. Now you can just say “Alexa, microwave fresh vegetables” for a hands-free way to select the Fresh Vegetables preset on your Sharp Smart Countertop Microwave Oven.”
In addition to the Alexa enabled features, both the mid-sized and family-sized smart microwave ovens are also specifically tuned to achieve optimal popping results from Orville Redenbacher’s Microwave Popcorn, the market leader in microwave popcorn*. Simply touch the “Popcorn” button to choose the Classic Size (3.3 oz) or Single Serve Mini Bag (1.16oz) of Orville Redenbacher’s® Microwave Popcorn, or use your Amazon Echo device or the Alexa app and say “Alexa, Microwave Classic Popcorn” to cook a perfect batch of delicious, buttery popcorn for your movie nights or for an anytime tasty treat.
Additional features of the Sharp Smart Countertop Microwave Ovens includes One-Touch controls, Express Cook, and a Carousel® turntable system. While it may seem minor compared to the amazing voice controls, one feature we really like about the Shap Smart Microwaves is that you can connect these microwaves to your Wi-Fi, which enables the clock on the extra-large, white LED display to automatically set to the correct time – a “Simply Better Living” quality of life feature that you’ll appreciate when the power resets after an outage.
One important note is that the microwaves, while certified “Works With Alexa”, do not have a microphone or speaker built-in. This means an Amazon Amazon Echo or other Alexa-enabled device is needed to utilize the voice command functions of the units. The 1.1 cu. ft. SMC1139FS and the 1.4 cu. ft. SMC1449FS are available for purchase at select retail locations and shop.sharpusa.com.
See also: Sharp’s New “4-U” Selections Bring The Savings Home
