The Amazon Echo line of smart speakers provide a great way for us to help manage our daily routines. Tasks like setting alarms, playing music, and providing a weather update are just a voice command away.

Another way the virtual assistant can help is in the kitchen. Whether it is finding recipes, adding groceries to your shopping list, or even explaining a recipe step-by-step, Alexa can help even a novice chef cook a great meal. Here's how Alexa can help in the kitchen.

1. Find the Perfect Recipe With Alexa

You've connected Spotify to Alexa and found the perfect playlist for your meal. Now it's time to find what to cook. Just say "Alexa, give me some ideas to cook for a vegan." Alexa will then respond with several recipe options and what site they came from.

If you don't know what to cook because you're suffering from nostalgic cravings that remind you how good your Mom's lasagna was when you were young or wishing you could create the taste of a great takeout meal you had last week, Alexa can also help.

Just say, "Alexa, find me a lasagna that will feed six." Alexa will reply with a website that she recommends. In this case, a lasagna made from the BBC Good Food guide.

Alexa will then give you three options. You can start the recipe, send the recipe instructions to your phone, or move onto the next recipe.

By getting Alexa to send the recipe to your phone, you can view all the ingredients on the Alexa app for Android or iOS.

If you like the look of the recipe, then it is time to start creating your shopping list.

2. Create a Shopping List

Once you have decided you are happy with Alexa's choice of recipe, then it's time to add your ingredients to a shopping list. Simply say, "Alexa, add spinach to the shopping list."

Once you have added all your ingredients, head to the Alexa app to check you have everything suggested in your recipe.

You then have two options. Ask Alexa to buy it now or add it to your Amazon cart to review the order before purchasing.

Amazon shopping order

Once you are happy you have everything you need, it's time to check out.

3. Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

The ingredients have arrived and you have everything you need to cook your lasagna. Except you have no clue what to do in the kitchen. Allow Alexa to be there with you for each part of preparing the meal.

From the chopping of onions to placing the lasagna in the oven at the correct temperature, Alexa clearly explains each step and what you need to do for each stage.

Say "Alexa, start the lasagna recipe." Alexa will then give you the option to prepare the food or start the recipe. Once you have everything chopped, instruct Alexa to start the recipe.

After the first step is complete, she will encourage you to ask for the next set of instructions when you are ready instead of rushing you through the process. Alexa will guide you through your recipe, including oven temperatures and detailed ingredient amounts.

4. Setting Timers for Each Part of Your Recipe

One thing that is really important when you are making a meal for your friends or family is timing. Obviously to avoid burning your precious meal, but also because nobody likes soggy garlic bread to complement their perfectly timed lasagna dish.

Once again, use Alexa to your advantage. As soon as you have placed your lasagna in the oven say, "Alexa, add a reminder in 30 minutes to place the garlic bread into the oven."

Alexa allows you to set multiple, named reminders all at once so don't be afraid to set several timers regarding cooking the spinach and preparing the salad.

The virtual assistant can send reminders to multiple devices if you do want to slip out of the kitchen to catch a glimpse of your favorite show while everything cooks. If you do find a cheap and easy recipe that isn't necessarily selected by Amazon, Alexa can still help by setting some timers.

5. Add a Recipe to Your List of Favorites

Once you have plated up your lasagna and are satisfied with the meal, you can ask Alexa to store the recipe as one of your favorites. That will allow you to easily access it when you're ready to cook it again.

Just say "Alexa, create a list called favorite recipes." You can then add as many favorite dishes to the list as you like. All you have to do to store your recipe is say to Alexa, "Alexa, add lasagna to the list of my favorite recipes."

Prepare the Perfect Meal With Help From Alexa

It is no surprise that Alexa can access recipes from all around the world. But what is amazing is the attention to detail and ability to take you through the process step-by-step.

With the ability to slow down or speed up the process, it is great for cooking individually or even teaching new chefs how to get the hand of things in the kitchen. Goodbye takeout, hello home cooking. And using Alexa is just one way to bring technology into the kitchen.