As the days get longer and warmer, the irresistible aroma of grilled food fills the air, inviting friends and family to gather around the barbecue. Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a novice just starting out, maintaining perfect timing while cooking your favorite meats can be a juggling act. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! In this blog post, we will walk you through creating a BBQ timer routine with Alexa, making sure that your meats come off the grill perfectly cooked every time.
Open the Alexa App: Start by opening the Alexa app on your smartphone. Make sure your device is connected to your home Wi-Fi network.
Navigate to Routines: Tap on the “More” icon located in the lower right corner of the screen. Then select “Routines” from the list.
Create a New Routine: Tap the “+” icon to create a new routine. This is where the magic begins!
Name Your Routine: Give your routine a name that you’ll remember, like “BBQ Timer.” This will help you recognize it later.
Set the Trigger: Tap on “When this happens” to set up a trigger. You can choose the “voice” option and say something like “Start BBQ Timer” or you can set a specific time to start the timer if that suits your grilling schedule better.
Add Action: Now it’s time to add the action. Tap on “Add action” and then select “Alexa Says.” Choose the option “Custom” and type in a message like “Your BBQ timer is set.”
Set Timer Duration: After this, you will need to add another action. Tap on “Add action” again and select “Wait.” Enter the amount of time you want for your BBQ (e.g., 15 minutes for chicken, 10 minutes for burgers, etc.).
Final Notification: After the wait, add one more action by selecting “Alexa Says” and provide a friendly reminder like, “Your BBQ is ready!”
Save Your Routine: Don’t forget to save your routine by tapping “Save” at the top-right corner of the screen!
If you’re an adventurous DIYer looking to take your BBQ timer routine further, you can integrate Alexa with Node-RED for a more customized experience. The node red contrib alexa home skill can help you build flows that interact with your BBQ timer routine and more.
Set Up Node-RED: Ensure you have Node-RED running in your local environment. You can find more about this in the Node-RED documentation.
Install Necessary Modules: Consider installing relevant node-red contrib modules for your projects.
Create a BBQ Flow: Build a flow that listens for voice commands via Alexa and starts your timer depending on the input. You can refer to node-red flow examples for inspiration.
With our BBQ timer routine featuring Alexa, you no longer have to guard your grill continuously. Instead, you can savor the time spent with friends and family, knowing Alexa has your back for timing. As you embrace the smart gardening and outdoor lifestyle, integrating Alexa routines can elevate your grilling game significantly. Don’t be afraid to get creative with Node-RED to enhance your BBQ experience even further! Happy grilling!