Cooking robots recreate dishes of master chefs as AI perfects recipes

A cooking robot in Changsha, Hunan province, can turn out a plate of chili fried pork, a signature Hunan dish, in just over two minutes, using artificial intelligence to control everything from heat and timing to seasoning.

At a showroom at the Xiangjiang Science and Technology Innovation Base in early August, several robots worked simultaneously, preparing different dishes. Freshly cooked plates were brought to a tasting table, where visitors, including restaurant owners and managers, sampled the food.

Cao Changli, who tried a beef dish prepared by one of the robots, said he could hardly tell it apart from food cooked by a chef. "The beef is tender and well-seasoned," Cao said. "If you hadn't told me it was cooked by a robot, I wouldn't have known the difference."

The robot, Xinchushi X7, is the latest model developed by a Changsha-based technology company that uses AI to translate chefs' cooking techniques into standardized digital processes.

The idea grew out of a challenge the team identified in the restaurant industry in 2021, according to Du Hui, brand director of Xinchushi.

"Consumers want healthy, freshly cooked food with wok hei," Du said, referring to the distinctive smoky aroma and flavor produced by high-heat stir-frying. "But restaurant operators were facing rising costs and difficulties recruiting skilled chefs."

Cooking machines already existed, Du said, but many struggled to reproduce wok hei while maintaining consistent quality.

To address the problem, the company brought together software developers, hardware engineers and experienced chefs. Its development team incorporated technologies including AI modeling, image recognition and intelligent control to reproduce key elements of a chef's work, from controlling heat to timing the addition of ingredients and seasonings.

After five years of development and five generations of products, the X7 uses a 50-centimeter iron wok and a 12-kilowatt heating system that can reach 300 C in 15 seconds.

Its AI-powered temperature algorithm keeps the wok temperature within 1 C of the target, while other systems precisely control cooking time and the quantities of oil and seasonings used.

"We turned the master chef's craft into data," Du said.

A chef's recipe can be broken down into detailed instructions, including when ingredients should be added, how much seasoning should be used and how the heat should change at each stage.

The resulting digital recipes are stored in the cloud and can be adjusted to suit regional tastes.

For restaurant chains, Du said, the system allows the same recipe to be downloaded by machines at different outlets, helping maintain consistent flavor across locations. A single worker can also oversee several robots at the same time.

The company's cooking robots are now used in more than 300 cities across China and have entered more than 20 countries and regions, including markets in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Australia, according to Du. Overseas demand has been particularly strong in places with sizable Chinese communities, he said.

The Changsha company's efforts come as China's cooking robot industry expands. China's cooking robot market was expected to exceed 3.7 billion yuan ($540 million) in 2025 and reach more than 11.7 billion yuan by 2030, according to the global cooking robot industry development report released in August 2025 and reported by China National Radio at the time.

According to the report, cooking robots are being used in restaurant chains, workplaces and school canteens, hospital kitchens and large central kitchens. Their applications are expected to expand further as the technology develops.

For Du, however, greater automation does not mean replacing chefs. At the company, he said, chefs are increasingly focused on developing recipes and converting their experience into digital instructions that machines can reproduce.

"I believe digital inheritance is a more reliable tool for preserving culinary heritage," Du said.

Contact the writers at limuyun@chinadaily.com.cn