https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:43:49 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2122079 Wed, 20 May 2020 18:33:28 +0000 April 2122079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My recipes are a mess but I have long been tempted to use a system I read about decades ago.&nbsp; The organizer suggested getting the biggest Rolodex you can find at a thrift store.&nbsp; Copy your favorite recipes onto the cards (which you should be able to purchase as long as there are elderly secretaries still breathing.)</p> <p>The cards are easy to flip through, to remove and replace, to categorize, etc.</p> <p>Or, Google something called a "desk reference system" and think about the possibilities for recipes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119799 Mon, 11 May 2020 16:57:52 +0000 texasgal 2119799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use a scanner app that can create PDFs of any document. I put the PDFs in folders (like Fish, Eggs, Sides, Desserts etc) on Dropbox. I can then print the pdf or view it on my iPad while cooking. In addition, I have access to all these files from my phone, so I can find out what ingredients I need to get while in the store (quite useful if I find a good deal on some fish or meat). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119735 Mon, 11 May 2020 08:36:16 +0000 Sal 2119735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use binders too (I have two) and edit them every couple of years.&nbsp; It has a mix of handwritten recipes and printed recipes and cuttings.&nbsp; I have a variety of sections from preserves to fish etc...&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>I have a small collection of cook books as well plus magazines.&nbsp; My magazines need an edit at the moment - and sadly two NZ titles have gone under during the pandemic.&nbsp; Magazines here are struggling. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119704 Sun, 10 May 2020 23:04:24 +0000 Anonymous 2119704@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a box with index size cards of recipes, but didn't use it much, and don't use recipes at all now. If there's something I'm interested in making, I just look up a few versions to see the general ingredients, time, temp but don't exactly duplicate. I figure any cooking is just combinations of carbs, protien, produce, dairy or sub, spices, and oil!<br /> #suntigerslazylatinkitchen </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119700 Sun, 10 May 2020 21:42:22 +0000 Style Fan 2119700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have binders with page protectors and a notebook.&nbsp; I do have cookbooks that I use and I write notes in them.&nbsp; My recipe collection is probably smaller than others because I do not bake anything, I do not make desserts, I have been a vegetarian forever and am now plant-based and I often do not use recipes.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119566 Sun, 10 May 2020 04:40:16 +0000 Gigi 2119566@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry to post and run!</p> <p>I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who struggles with this, ha ha. I think for now the easiest solution would probably be smaller binders. I would love to have something even more organized, but I think other options will probably require me to devote more time to this project, which I don't have right now.</p> <p>The apps do sound interesting. It would be handy to be able to be able to create a grocery list with them. I'm often saying to myself, "Yes, I have ingredient X on hand already for this recipe," but I forget that another recipe I want to make that week calls for that same ingredient, and I end up not having enough! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119435 Sat, 09 May 2020 13:40:48 +0000 unfrumped 2119435@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Following with great interest. I have cookbooks ( somewhat thinned/ purged a few years ago when I acknowledged that I had collected a lot for no go reasonable), file folders in hanging files full of recipes many of which now don’t fit how we eat or cook, and awhile ago started Pinterest but did not start sub- categories, so there’s now a slew of those.<br /> I don’t currently have a home printer and I also find phone too small/ messy, so need to work on that.<br /> I like Gaylene’s categories as they fit a lot of what I am trying to preserve/ weed out. . A long time ago I also got a special 3-ring binder for moving the “ keepers” into, and having the first page or so in each section for “ to try”, which might hold most, but likely will be overstuffed, so separate smaller binders but limited number may work better. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119414 Sat, 09 May 2020 05:27:27 +0000 Gaylene 2119414@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Like Carla, I use binders and page protectors to hold my printouts and miscellaneous pieces of paper. My collection is mostly for inspiration and techniques since I’m always substituting and tweaking as I cook or bake. After years of trying to organize according to conventional categories, I finally found a system which works for me:</p> <p>I use 4 binders (1 1/2 inch) with the following labels:</p> <p><b><i>Heritage</i></b>—for family recipes passed down to me from my mom, grandmothers, and assorted relatives and friends. These are &nbsp;mostly handwritten on cards and scraps of paper and carry a lot of sentimental value, especially around the holidays.</p> <p><b><i>Want to Try</i>—</b>for recipes which grab my attention. I loosely organize these into mains, sides, and sweets. I’m pretty strict with this binder since I regularly go through it and toss out anything which I haven’t tried within half a year.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div><i><b>Daily Fare— </b></i>this is where I put recipes from the<i> Want to Try</i> binder if they make the grade. This binder is divided into <b>Summer</b> and <b>Winter</b> sections with each section loosely arranged into Mains, Sides, and Sweets. What we like to eat shifts with the seasons, so I finally realized it made sense to organize my recipes this way.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Friends and Festive—</i> t</b>hese are my tried and true recipes for entertaining, potlucks, summer parties, and holidays. Lots of interesting party food and desserts here. Also lots of fuss-free ideas for good mains that don’t leave me in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>My pre-condo kitchen had a dedicated sitting area with extensive bookshelves to house my very sizable cookbook collection. I’m now down to 10 cookbooks and four binders—and I’m very strict about keeping my recipe collection culled so it fits into its designated space.&nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119383 Sat, 09 May 2020 00:14:40 +0000 Carla 2119383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Binder works for me. &nbsp;I like plastic page savers, because I can wipe them if I get sloppy during cooking. &nbsp;My categories (I use a divider) are:</p> <p>Mains<br />Soups and Salads<br />Sides<br />Sweets</p> <p>My binder isn’t unwieldy, but if it did become a problem, I would move to a separate binder for each category. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119358 Fri, 08 May 2020 21:24:35 +0000 MsMary 2119358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am sold on the Paprika App: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.paprikaapp.com">http://www.paprikaapp.com</a>. I had to pay for it but it's worth every penny. </p> <p>(It's worth it for the "generating a grocery list" function alone!) </p> <p>I have it on all my devices and it syncs automatically. When I want to cook something I print out the recipe and I keep the printouts in a drawer in my kitchen, or I just pull it up on my laptop and put it on the counter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119355 Fri, 08 May 2020 21:12:34 +0000 JAileen 2119355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have binders too. Except for baking, though, I hardly use recipes.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119353 Fri, 08 May 2020 21:06:03 +0000 Anonymous 2119353@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mine are a horrible mess of printed-from-the-web pages and things ripped out of magazines and newspapers. &nbsp;I often end up reprinting the same recipes because I can't easily put my hands on the original. All this is to say I'm following along with great interest here. I am NOT an organizer by nature and I'll put the first 3 all nicely into a beautiful newly purchased folder and then never do it again . &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119344 Fri, 08 May 2020 19:43:48 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 2119344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I use the website/app Plan to Eat. It will automatically import recipes that are online, or you can put them in by hand. There's a yearly subscription fee, quite reasonable, and they always have an after-Thanksgiving sale. </p> <p>ETA: When I reference it while cooking, I usually print off a copy, or look at it on my laptop or tablet; I agree, a phone screen is too small for more than a quick look.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119341 Fri, 08 May 2020 19:30:06 +0000 Barbara Diane 2119341@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My recipes are all over the place-cookbooks, paper scraps, newspaper cuttings, online, etc.</p> <p>I started a new category-recipes we really liked. It helps me keep track of ones I want to return to.</p> <p>Not what you asked, but I thought I’d mention it anyway.</p> <p>I also note in cookbooks recipes I liked, any substitutions I did, and earlier this week a note not to make a certain recipe again. Again, not what you asked but maybe a help to someone reading this.</p> <p>Looking forward to reading replies. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/recipe-organization#post-2119335 Fri, 08 May 2020 18:52:01 +0000 Gigi 2119335@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a lot of recipes that I have gathered from online, and my general method of organizing these is to punch them with a three-hole punch and put them in a binder, which I have organized by category. However, this is quite unwieldy, and it can be hard to find a specific recipe in the categories that have a lot of pages. Does anyone have any great ways of organizing such recipes that they'd like to share?</p> <p>Note: I need to have hard-copy recipes when I am cooking and cannot use my phone for that (its screen is too tiny).</p> <p>Thanks! </p>