how do you organize online recipes
May 9, 2011 5:03 PM Subscribe
How do you organize recipes you find online?
I follow food blogs and often see recipes that I might want to try later. How do you keep track of these recipes? Do you email them to yourself, use evernote, have some online recipe box? What works for you?
I follow food blogs and often see recipes that I might want to try later. How do you keep track of these recipes? Do you email them to yourself, use evernote, have some online recipe box? What works for you?
I clip them to Evernote. I like this because I can access those recipes when I am cooking without access to my cookbooks, folders or computer. (Have iPhone, Evernote in pocket.) I have some resources which do not mesh with Evernote, but are also available on my phone: Bittman, Cooks Illustrated, &c.
posted by Dick Paris at 5:09 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Dick Paris at 5:09 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I write them down on cards if I am really going to use them in the kitchen. It commits a recipe to memory, like eating.
posted by parmanparman at 5:10 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by parmanparman at 5:10 PM on May 9, 2011
I use Del.icio.us (well, Pinboard, now). I tag with styles and ingredients and stuff.
posted by box at 5:12 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by box at 5:12 PM on May 9, 2011
Print it out, 3-hole punch, put it in a binder in the kitchen.
posted by 2bucksplus at 5:12 PM on May 9, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by 2bucksplus at 5:12 PM on May 9, 2011 [4 favorites]
I've been using a combination of Evernote and the Paprika app for iPad. I find myself cooking in other people's kitchens often enough that I like to keep my recipes portable.
posted by padraigin at 5:16 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by padraigin at 5:16 PM on May 9, 2011
I just bookmark them with the tag "recipes". I also tag vegetarian ones, and cakes. Then a quick bookmark search finds what I'm after.
posted by lollusc at 5:18 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by lollusc at 5:18 PM on May 9, 2011
I made my own wiki (mediawiki) and went from there. That way I can upload photos and change categories if necessary.
posted by supyo at 5:23 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by supyo at 5:23 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
Print them, and put them in plastic sheet protectors in a binder.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 5:29 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 5:29 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I write them into a blank recipe book, but only after they've become tried and true in my kitchen. Until then, they're a bunch of printed, copied or quickly jotted pages stuffed into the book, covered in notes. It's more labor intensive to hand write them all into the book, but I cherish the handwritten recipes given to me by my mother and wanted to do something similar for my children or nephew.
posted by youngergirl44 at 5:38 PM on May 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by youngergirl44 at 5:38 PM on May 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
I email them to myself and use tags so I can find them later in my gmail.
posted by JenMarie at 5:39 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by JenMarie at 5:39 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I use either Simplenote (work PC, iPhone) and Notational Velocity (laptop), as they sync together and give me access wherever I am. I used to save them to Delicious, but for some reason I always forget about recipes there.
posted by grapesaresour at 5:40 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by grapesaresour at 5:40 PM on May 9, 2011
To piggyback on the question - anyone have an android app for this they like?
posted by leslies at 5:50 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by leslies at 5:50 PM on May 9, 2011
I use Google Documents. I have several folders "desserts" "salads" "soups" and so forth, so each recipe gets copied and pasted into a new document and filed accordingly. That way, I can browse by folder or search for a particular ingredient.
When it's time to cook the recipe, I print it out, attach it to the fridge, and cook away. Afterwards, I can edit the document and note any changes or variations, or when/for whom I made it.
posted by Lycaste at 5:54 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
When it's time to cook the recipe, I print it out, attach it to the fridge, and cook away. Afterwards, I can edit the document and note any changes or variations, or when/for whom I made it.
posted by Lycaste at 5:54 PM on May 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I use MacGourmet. It will parse recipes from many food sites and can handle pasted recipes from other sites with a little hand-holding.
I personally don't like keeping structured documents like recipes in an everything-bucket like EverNote; I find it useful to build shopping lists from ingredient lists, scale quantities, etc.
posted by bcwinters at 6:40 PM on May 9, 2011
I personally don't like keeping structured documents like recipes in an everything-bucket like EverNote; I find it useful to build shopping lists from ingredient lists, scale quantities, etc.
posted by bcwinters at 6:40 PM on May 9, 2011
I use the old Google Notebook, with tags and folders.
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:53 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:53 PM on May 9, 2011
I used to use delicious, but I switched to pinterest (memail if you want an invite) for a few reasons. 1, it's visual, so I can quickly scroll through and find the recipe I'm looking for. 2, it's nice when I'm browsing to just click a photo and it's automatically added to whichever board I want it to go to (desserts, appetizers, jams, etc.).
So far, the only downside I've encountered is that it's a physical link to the person's blog, so if they move the entry or delete it, it's lost. But what I've been doing is printing the recipes as I use them and storing them in a binder in my kitchen.
posted by kerning at 7:17 PM on May 9, 2011
So far, the only downside I've encountered is that it's a physical link to the person's blog, so if they move the entry or delete it, it's lost. But what I've been doing is printing the recipes as I use them and storing them in a binder in my kitchen.
posted by kerning at 7:17 PM on May 9, 2011
I use my mind. If it isn't good enough to remember - or at least remember a few key words that I could search on to find it - it probably isn't something that really was worth my time.
I have a pretty solid number of go-to recipes from epicurious.com that I can find with a few key words, otherwise its from the books on my shelf, and a large file of recipes I have written down (in a binder - not a 3x5). Lastly, I have a pretty good number of recipes memorized and an even greater number of techniques and flavor profiles that I work with stored in there too...
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:24 PM on May 9, 2011
I have a pretty solid number of go-to recipes from epicurious.com that I can find with a few key words, otherwise its from the books on my shelf, and a large file of recipes I have written down (in a binder - not a 3x5). Lastly, I have a pretty good number of recipes memorized and an even greater number of techniques and flavor profiles that I work with stored in there too...
posted by Nanukthedog at 7:24 PM on May 9, 2011
I also use a wiki. Recipes are bookmarked, then tested, and if they turn out well I add them to the wiki.
posted by annathea at 7:57 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by annathea at 7:57 PM on May 9, 2011
If the recipe works, I'm unlikely to forget it. One good recipe suggests other, similar recipes, so the new thing becomes habit.
Bad recipes? Tried it once, didn't like how it turned out, won't go there again.
posted by SPrintF at 8:06 PM on May 9, 2011
Bad recipes? Tried it once, didn't like how it turned out, won't go there again.
posted by SPrintF at 8:06 PM on May 9, 2011
I copy/paste them into google docs, and then organize them into categories.
It's not the quickest way to do it, but much easier for sharing later.
posted by contessa at 8:12 PM on May 9, 2011
It's not the quickest way to do it, but much easier for sharing later.
posted by contessa at 8:12 PM on May 9, 2011
I also use Evernote, and tag with major ingredients, vegetarian / meat, and major sources (smittenkitchen, seriouseats, etc). It works great for me since I can add things from any computer, and the whole thing is searchable.
posted by rossination at 10:39 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by rossination at 10:39 PM on May 9, 2011
I also use MacGourmet and the accompanynig new iPad app (also have the iPhone app, but it's less essential, I think.)
It's great because you can add your recipes with as much or as little information as you want. Source (with optional link), keywords, tags (categories), directions, pictures (even for step-by-step), preperation (times and/or tools), notes for tweaking/suggestions, and even nutritional informatoin, if that's your thing. It also has ratings and an "I've tried this" check mark, which is nice - then I have a folder of "Try this" recipes that haven't been tested yet, and afterwards I can easily decide if they're keepers.
It does take a little bit f extra effort to keep it updated as opposed to just bookmarking or printing, but I really enjoy the searchability and comprehensiveness. I've had it for ten months now and I'm excited to see my recipe collection grow.
posted by coraline at 10:45 PM on May 9, 2011
It's great because you can add your recipes with as much or as little information as you want. Source (with optional link), keywords, tags (categories), directions, pictures (even for step-by-step), preperation (times and/or tools), notes for tweaking/suggestions, and even nutritional informatoin, if that's your thing. It also has ratings and an "I've tried this" check mark, which is nice - then I have a folder of "Try this" recipes that haven't been tested yet, and afterwards I can easily decide if they're keepers.
It does take a little bit f extra effort to keep it updated as opposed to just bookmarking or printing, but I really enjoy the searchability and comprehensiveness. I've had it for ten months now and I'm excited to see my recipe collection grow.
posted by coraline at 10:45 PM on May 9, 2011
Oh yeah, it also has shopping list and wine notes sections, but I've never used them, so can't really comment on them.
posted by coraline at 10:46 PM on May 9, 2011
posted by coraline at 10:46 PM on May 9, 2011
Surprised nobody's mentioned Google Reader. That's how I follow food blogs.
All my food blogs come in my Food folder/tag. The recipes I like, I manually add the tag recipe. As needed, I'll add any of the following standards: chicken (wow I just tried to autocomplete that with a Tab), vegetarian, baking, cooking, meat, cheese, beer, bread...
posted by knile at 1:15 AM on May 10, 2011
All my food blogs come in my Food folder/tag. The recipes I like, I manually add the tag recipe. As needed, I'll add any of the following standards: chicken (wow I just tried to autocomplete that with a Tab), vegetarian, baking, cooking, meat, cheese, beer, bread...
posted by knile at 1:15 AM on May 10, 2011
I'm the same as Knile, I follow food blogs in Google Reader, and then I tag the ones I like with "recipe"
To find one I want all I need to do is put the keyword in the search box, and pull the drop-down that normal says "All items" to "Recipe"
posted by chrispy108 at 1:22 AM on May 10, 2011
To find one I want all I need to do is put the keyword in the search box, and pull the drop-down that normal says "All items" to "Recipe"
posted by chrispy108 at 1:22 AM on May 10, 2011
Similar to others, I follow many food blogs via Google Reader and anything interesting, just keep starred. Then I'll just do a search of starred items for whatever ingredient, method, etc.
posted by splout at 1:46 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by splout at 1:46 AM on May 10, 2011
Another Delicious user - I tag them as a recipe, course type, if it's vegetarian, and any vital main ingredients as well (so I can choose them by seasonal items).
posted by like_neon at 2:31 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by like_neon at 2:31 AM on May 10, 2011
Up until just last week I've been using Microsoft OneNote. The major drawback I had with it was that I've only got one license, so it's installed on my laptop (which comes into the kitchen with me) but I do most of my web searching on my desktop.
I just started playing around with Evernote and I think I'm going to stick with it. The big draw for Evernote is the synching capabilities, obviously, but having a smartphone really adds another level. We were in the library over the weekend and as I was browsing through an issue of Cooks Illustrated I was taking photos of pages with interesting recipes and uploading them right from a comfortable chair.
I like the organization and layout of OneNote better (it really encourages you to just make as many "notebooks" and "tabs" as you feel like), but the anywhere-anytime capabilities of Evernote are really hard to beat.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:14 AM on May 10, 2011
I just started playing around with Evernote and I think I'm going to stick with it. The big draw for Evernote is the synching capabilities, obviously, but having a smartphone really adds another level. We were in the library over the weekend and as I was browsing through an issue of Cooks Illustrated I was taking photos of pages with interesting recipes and uploading them right from a comfortable chair.
I like the organization and layout of OneNote better (it really encourages you to just make as many "notebooks" and "tabs" as you feel like), but the anywhere-anytime capabilities of Evernote are really hard to beat.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:14 AM on May 10, 2011
I also use Evernote and multiple tags. I love this because then I can access the recipes on my phone while grocery shopping, or if I am cooking at my mom's house or whatever. When I actually cook the recipe, though, I print it out - and if it's a keeper, the hard copy ends up in a messy folder of recipes that I keep in my kitchen.
posted by katie at 6:19 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by katie at 6:19 AM on May 10, 2011
My way is probably needlessly complex, but I set up a Drupal site for my recipes. Each node has the full-text of the recipe (allowing it to be searchable) as well as a link to the original online source. I also have them all tagged: dinner, lunch, chicken, dessert, etc. so I can search for what I want. I also have some entries that do not have an online source, but are things that I frequently make from my cookbooks. So if I ever need to look up a recipe while I am shopping, I can do so on my phone. And when I do my cooking, I bring up the recipe on my Android tablet (covered in a ziplock bag).
Or if someone ever says to me, "Can you give me the recipe for your [whatever]" I can do it immediately.
I also created a folder on my PC to archive all the original recipe sources. I did this by using CuteFTP to "print" a PDF version of each of the original online versions, which I have saved in the folder.
I also use Eat Your Books which creates a searchable index of all your cookbooks. (You can't see the full-text of the recipes, but at least you can search by ingredient, get the book and page number, and then consult your book for the actual recipe.)
posted by LaurenIpsum at 6:26 AM on May 10, 2011
Or if someone ever says to me, "Can you give me the recipe for your [whatever]" I can do it immediately.
I also created a folder on my PC to archive all the original recipe sources. I did this by using CuteFTP to "print" a PDF version of each of the original online versions, which I have saved in the folder.
I also use Eat Your Books which creates a searchable index of all your cookbooks. (You can't see the full-text of the recipes, but at least you can search by ingredient, get the book and page number, and then consult your book for the actual recipe.)
posted by LaurenIpsum at 6:26 AM on May 10, 2011
Oops, not "CuteFTP." I meant "CutePDF."
posted by LaurenIpsum at 6:32 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by LaurenIpsum at 6:32 AM on May 10, 2011
I am old school and print them out. When I leave them online some of them seem to disappear etc. I don't have that many so leafing through the printouts is my fastest search strategy. I have the electronic versions on my hard drive in case I am ever motivated to create some sort of organized electronic recipe library.
posted by caddis at 8:23 AM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by caddis at 8:23 AM on May 10, 2011 [1 favorite]
I email them to my Gmail account, and I tag them with "recipes".
If they are desserts, I also tag them "desserts".
That's it!
posted by exceptinsects at 5:56 PM on May 10, 2011
If they are desserts, I also tag them "desserts".
That's it!
posted by exceptinsects at 5:56 PM on May 10, 2011
It's probably too ridiculously involved for most, but I do a quick cut+paste into my Google Docs folder for recipes. I have subtags--"made", "to make", "potluck/party", "dinner", "breakfast", etc.--and whenever I have a moment go through and star favorites, etc. It's more initially labor intensive, but it pays off in spades later because then I can search easily, re-categorize, tag and untag, share easily, print and export, etc.
posted by ifjuly at 9:34 AM on May 13, 2011
posted by ifjuly at 9:34 AM on May 13, 2011
I (mostly) use a free wordpress blog set to private. I broadly categorize them, then tag with the primary ingredients. I include a link to the original source.
As I come across recipes I want to save I bookmark (or star them in G. Reader) then when I have a rainy afternoon with nothing to do, they get transferred to the blog.
posted by kathrynm at 11:46 PM on May 14, 2011
As I come across recipes I want to save I bookmark (or star them in G. Reader) then when I have a rainy afternoon with nothing to do, they get transferred to the blog.
posted by kathrynm at 11:46 PM on May 14, 2011
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posted by hot soup girl at 5:07 PM on May 9, 2011