How to organize recipes?

Dawgtired · February 2017

I've been keeping them on index cards in a small box. I figure there has to be a better way. I'd love to hear from y'all regarding what works best, i.e., three ring binders, notebooks, etc., etc.

Thanks!!!!

Eoin · February 2017

Brain. That's why every one of my cooks is a bit different!

poster · February 2017

I recently converted everything to pdf. Either take a pic and convert or use a word processor or print to pdf when viewing online recipes. I stored them all on my computer and also onto dropbox, this way I have access to them with my phone wherever I am. (like the grocery store when an idea pops into my head or I think I forgot something to make a specificic recipe)

Botch · February 2017

I still use recipe cards held in a metal box.
When I find a recipe I want to try on the 'net (like from here) I copy/paste it onto a word processor document, then title it so it automatically sorts alphabetically (for example: "Beef, Sezchuan with broccoli", or "Salad, Caprese") within Dropbox. When I try one of those new recipes, I print it out to follow; if its a keeper I write it down on a recipe card and add it to my metal box. Archaic, maybe, but it works for me.

I was gifted one of these recipe holder things:

Image: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41P-iDvGvJL._SY450_.jpg

I never would have paid $16 for such a thing myself, but I absolutely love it! The magnet is strong enough to hold a recipe card, and the curvature is just right to hold upright an 8.5" x 11" recipe printout, a recipe on a magazine page, or even one clipped out from the newspaper. A great doodad.

smbishop · February 2017

I use Microsoft OneNote. I can save recipes to OneNote (using the print command) directly from any website or document. It is saved in the cloud and can be accessed from any pc or phone. Works great for organization, and I try and include links to the original article... I also use it for my family grocery shopping list. The notebook is shared with my wife and daughters and they can view and update it on their phones...

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/b2/z92dkm8lzgvi.png

YEMTrey · February 2017

@smbishop

Great minds! That was exactly what I was going to suggest.

Rascal · February 2017

I either download from the net or type them in ms notepad. Then they go into a folder called 'recipes'. The folder has various categories in subfolders, and some of the subfolders have subfolders. I have everything backed up on 3 zip drives, one of which is kept at a different location. It's been a long-time hobby and I have over 4,000 to date!

smbishop · February 2017

@YEMTrey Great minds indeed!

Aviator · February 2017

Used to use Living Cookbook, but they have let me down in support. They do not reply to multiple emails. Ditched.

I have started using Recipe Keeper from Windows 10 store.

Easy, cut and paste, like it.

RRP · February 2017

I'm old school and like paper pages vs. index cards - not computer files! Over the years I have filled 2 plastic notebooks with recipes that we like and they are in page protectors. Should I make changes I write on the paper! BTW I keep these current and not just filled with "want to do some time recipes". These two notebooks have index dividers.

Gulfcoastguy · February 2017

I have a Word file that I used to keep on my computer at work. Before I retired I emailed it home. I do have a few copies printed out but they are almost always missing the most recent ones. A few of the simpler ones, I just memorize.

caliking · February 2017

Evernote. Recipes are given descriptive titles so I can search for them, can be edited easily to reflect changes I want to make in the future, or as I get them dialled in. Can be accessed easily from my phone, tablet, or computer, and has proven very handy when cooking at somebody else's place.

But they made some goofy changes, and I have considered migrating to OneNote. If I can ever figure it out.

Stormbringer · February 2017

I use a food blog (see signature). Same principle as OneNote and allowing me to share recipes with other people ... anyone. WordPress is simple to use, the Lovecraft theme is a good one (mine uses this with some custom CSS).

Judy Mayberry · February 2017

I use Word on my Mac and under the generic Food file, have groups for BGE, Sous Vide, and Recipes (everything else). I try to keep the operative word first, like FLANK STEAK--THAI MARINADE (I just made that up). I copy and edit recipes in my preferred format, size, and font, and add pertinent comments from replies, at the end. I intend to go back into Recipes and make sub-folders for groups like Indian, Soup, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Italian, etc. I have a flash drive with 16Gig to save them to.

When I'm going to cook, I print out a copy on junk paper and take it into the kitchen with me.

ToTheMax · February 2017

I use Google Docs. I have seperate tabs, one for the low and slow, one for wok, one for pan seared, one for high heat, etc.

I have cook times, ITs, seasonings, and comments in each tab

GatoGordo · February 2017

I use Pepperplate (http://www.pepperplate.com/). I can access recipes from my PC and from my phone. This is helpful if I happen to be in the grocery store, see something on sale, and need to access the recipe to see what other ingredients I need. It also has a print option so I can make a paper copy to use while in the kitchen.

blasting · February 2017

I keep recipes organized in google docs ( each recipe even has a pic). I pull up the recipe on the big screen that faces the kitchen and follow along on that. It works pretty slick.

Cookbook_Chip · February 2017

I would love to give a shameless plug

but hesitate to do so. Not sure of the etiquette.

kthacher · February 2017

I use the Paprika app on my phone and iPad. The strength of this app is that it can automatically import almost any recipe you find on the Internet. Properly formatted, and usually with zero extra work. That feature combined with the ability to arrange your recipes into whatever category you want, is what works for me. I used to do the binder thing, but an app like this is way superior for my needs.

jtcBoynton · February 2017

I have been using recipe software for years now. Currently using MacGourmet (Mac world). I do have a couple of three ring binders with printed out copies of my favorite recipes. So much easier to keep organized more useful than old index cards. It does take some time and effort to convert if you are still all paper, but well worth it.

gdenby · February 2017

Most of my saved recipes are in a plain .txt file. That is readable by anything that can handle words. I started gathering them from the net about 10 years ago. Currently, its around 1200 pages long if on paper. I have a programmer's text editor, and can just open the file and type in whatever term, say "beans" and come up with a listing of all 800 times it shows up in the file. My plan for the last few years is to buy an inexpensive tablet or used laptop that I can carry into the kitchen.

But it is well enough structured that I may eventually get around to turning it into a database.

I also have 50 - 60 old cookbooks downloaded from archive sites. Probably another 10000 pages.

But the search engine's are so efficient now, and there's so much stuff out there, I don't save off so much anymore.

I do have card files from my Mom and an Aunt. Also a few of my Mom's ring binders that are somewhat organized.

motsol · February 2017

I use Evernote. I like how you can capture them via web or phone. Easy to search also.

Aviator · February 2017

does anyone know how to pull the recipes out of the now defunkt LC database and migrate it to a new one?

shadowcaster · February 2017

The recipes that I have or have printed from the Internet are all in 3 ring binders. I also got tab dividers and separated them by category. This works well for storage and is easy to prop up the binder and use during cooking if need be.

Theophan · February 2017

kthacher said:

I use the Paprika app on my phone and iPad. The strength of this app is that it can automatically import almost any recipe you find on the Internet. Properly formatted, and usually with zero extra work. That feature combined with the ability to arrange your recipes into whatever category you want, is what works for me. I used to do the binder thing, but an app like this is way superior for my needs.

jtcBoynton said:

I have been using recipe software for years now. Currently using MacGourmet (Mac world). I do have a couple of three ring binders with printed out copies of my favorite recipes. So much easier to keep organized more useful than old index cards. It does take some time and effort to convert if you are still all paper, but well worth it.

I used to use MacGourmet and liked it, but got frustrated for some reason I no longer remember, and switched to Paprika, and I LOVE Paprika! I agree with @kthacher that it's amazingly easy to import recipes from the Web, and a great thing about an app is that I have ALL of my recipes in my pocket anywhere I go! (I have Paprika on my computer, my iPhone and my iPad.) If I'm away from home, they're all still right there in my pocket. It's great. It can also convert your recipe into a grocery list, though I don't use that a lot. Here's a screen shot showing how you can create any category you want, and the same recipe can be in as many of them as you like, so it's really easy:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/o8/sfdxr2tfimpb.jpg

And here's what a recipe looks like:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/of/9l5myza2uuev.jpg

You can also search by name ("meat loaf," for example) if you haven't made a category for that already, and all of your meat loaf recipes come up (I just did a search, and because it's SO darn easy to import recipes, it turns out that I have 18 meat loaf recipes!!!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/kt/34qyn2blfcs1.jpg

I really like it. And I'm just a customer -- no kickback for this endorsement!

bgebrent · February 2017

I keep them in word, old school. You guys have much better solutions.

kthacher · February 2017

@Theophan – great post re Paprika. I am just a customer too. This app has found a place in my iPad dock, since I use it so much. I also agree with the power of having it synched on all devices. I can be in a grocery store and can get instant access to any recipe in the collection. Plus you can easily email any recipe to anyone who wants it. Built in timers too.

Can't say enough good things about the developer of this app. The updates are frequent. When I show people how easy it is to import a recipe from the web they are blown away. The natural language processor inside this app is truly impressive.

JacksDad · February 2017

I use emacs if I'm feeling lazy, vi if I want to feel like a real chef...

jtcBoynton · February 2017

Theophan said:

kthacher said:

I use the Paprika app on my phone and iPad. The strength of this app is that it can automatically import almost any recipe you find on the Internet. Properly formatted, and usually with zero extra work. That feature combined with the ability to arrange your recipes into whatever category you want, is what works for me. I used to do the binder thing, but an app like this is way superior for my needs.

jtcBoynton said:

I have been using recipe software for years now. Currently using MacGourmet (Mac world). I do have a couple of three ring binders with printed out copies of my favorite recipes. So much easier to keep organized more useful than old index cards. It does take some time and effort to convert if you are still all paper, but well worth it.

I used to use MacGourmet and liked it, but got frustrated for some reason I no longer remember, and switched to Paprika, and I LOVE Paprika! I agree with @kthacher that it's amazingly easy to import recipes from the Web, and a great thing about an app is that I have ALL of my recipes in my pocket anywhere I go! (I have Paprika on my computer, my iPhone and my iPad.) If I'm away from home, they're all still right there in my pocket. It's great. It can also convert your recipe into a grocery list, though I don't use that a lot. Here's a screen shot showing how you can create any category you want, and the same recipe can be in as many of them as you like, so it's really easy:

And here's what a recipe looks like:

You can also search by name ("meat loaf," for example) if you haven't made a category for that already, and all of your meat loaf recipes come up (I just did a search, and because it's SO darn easy to import recipes, it turns out that I have 18 meat loaf recipes!!!

I really like it. And I'm just a customer -- no kickback for this endorsement!

I think Paprika and MacGourmet are far more alike than different. You may have been unhappy with the import feature of MacGourmet when you switched to Paprika. They had a period when it didn't work too well - Still may be their weakest feature. I don't import too many recipes anymore (have way too many already collected) so this isn't a big issue for me. I have a lot of recipes already in MacGourmet and transferring to another software was a pain last time I seriously looked at switching (I originally used MasterCook on a windows system and have made the conversion once and don't want to make it again unless it is easy).

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/oh/4si3dxwrcpq5.jpg

GATraveller · February 2017

Botch said:

I still use recipe cards held in a metal box.
When I find a recipe I want to try on the 'net (like from here) I copy/paste it onto a word processor document, then title it so it automatically sorts alphabetically (for example: "Beef, Sezchuan with broccoli", or "Salad, Caprese") within Dropbox. When I try one of those new recipes, I print it out to follow; if its a keeper I write it down on a recipe card and add it to my metal box. Archaic, maybe, but it works for me.

I was gifted one of these recipe holder things:

I never would have paid $16 for such a thing myself, but I absolutely love it! The magnet is strong enough to hold a recipe card, and the curvature is just right to hold upright an 8.5" x 11" recipe printout, a recipe on a magazine page, or even one clipped out from the newspaper. A great doodad.

You sure that's a recipe holder.....looks like something all together different.

tonyled · February 2017

i email them to myself in gmail with the subject being the recipe title. then they are searchable and i can print them as many times as i like or easily email them when requested

How to organize recipes?

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Pure Michigan
Large BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

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How to organize recipes?

Comments

Pure MichiganLarge BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Categories

Pure Michigan
Large BGE, Medium BGE, Mini BGE, Weber Smokey Mountain, Weber Performer.
If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.