Many home cooks have experienced the frustration of forgetting to set a timer when putting food in the oven, leading to burnt meals, wasted ingredients, or even potential fire hazards. The problem stems from timers being manually activated, requiring users to remember to start them. This idea proposes automating the process by detecting when the oven is in use and reminding the user if a timer hasn't been set.

How It Could Work

One approach involves creating an oven accessory that detects door opening and closing, then notifies the user if no timer is set within a minute or two. This could be implemented either as:

• A built-in feature for smart ovens, connecting to a companion app
• A standalone device that attaches to existing ovens, working with a smartphone

The system could provide escalating alerts through phone notifications, sounds, or smart home announcements. More advanced versions might include safety features like auto-shutoff after prolonged inactivity.

Benefits and Opportunities

This solution could help forgetful cooks, elderly users, and those with basic ovens. For manufacturers, it could be a differentiating feature in competitive markets. Potential revenue streams include:

1. Hardware sales of standalone devices or licensing the technology
2. Premium app features through subscription models
3. Partnerships with insurance companies promoting kitchen safety

Getting Started

A simple version could begin with a basic door sensor connecting via Bluetooth to a notification app. Testing this with user groups could validate the concept before pursuing integration with appliance manufacturers or smart home platforms. To address privacy concerns, data could be processed locally rather than in the cloud.

While some smart oven features exist, this approach uniquely focuses on the simple but common problem of forgotten timers, potentially requiring less advanced technology than full smart cooking systems.