Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Sharp Cooking
Getting started
What is Sharp Cooking?
Sharp Cooking is a private cooking system for home cooks. Save recipes from anywhere — websites, cookbooks, photos, handwriting, PDFs — organize your collection, plan meals, build shopping lists, and cook hands-free. It connects the whole workflow in one place.
What does it cost?
Everything you see now is free — and will stay free. We're developing an optional premium tier that will change the way you cook, but you can always stick with the free tier.
Is Sharp Cooking just a recipe manager?
No. Recipe managers help you store recipes. Sharp Cooking connects those recipes to meal planning, shopping lists, and cooking — so you actually use them. The problem most cooks have isn't finding recipes, it's having a system to use them consistently.
Who is Sharp Cooking for?
Home cooks who already have recipes they trust and need a better way to use them. If you have recipes scattered across bookmarks, cookbooks, screenshots, and emails — and you want one place to keep, find, plan around, and cook from them — Sharp Cooking is built for you.
Adding recipes
Can I import recipes from any website?
Sharp Cooking automatically extracts recipes from most websites. Paste a URL and it pulls the title, ingredients, instructions, and timing into a clean format. Some websites block automated access — for those, photograph the page or paste the text instead.
What other ways can I add recipes?
Photograph cookbook pages or handwritten recipe cards — the AI reads handwriting too. Upload images or PDFs. Paste text from emails, messages, or documents. On a laptop, scan the QR code on the import screen to use your phone as a camera — no cables needed. Works in any language.
Does AI processing mean my recipes are shared with a third party?
When you import a recipe, the source content is sent to an AI service to extract the structure. Only import content is processed — your saved recipes, meal plans, and notes are never sent to an AI service. The content is not used to train models and is not retained after processing. You review the result before anything is saved. Read the full details in our Privacy Policy →
How accurate is the AI extraction?
It works well with clearly structured recipes from websites, typed text, and legible handwriting. Always review the result before saving — most fixes take a few seconds. Everything is editable.
Can I edit recipes after importing?
Yes. Every recipe is fully editable. Change the title, ingredients, instructions, timing, servings, tags, and photos. Add notes and adjustments. Changes save automatically and sync across all your devices.
Privacy and sharing
Is my data private?
Yes — privacy is a core part of how Sharp Cooking is designed. Your recipes are private by default — not published, not indexed by search engines, not visible to other users. We don't sell your data, don't build advertising profiles, and actively block AI scrapers from accessing your collection. Read more about our privacy approach →
Can I share recipes with friends and family?
Yes. Share individual recipes via private link, QR code, text, or email. Recipients don't need an account to view it. For ongoing sharing, add household members to your account or create a private group. You can also set up an event — a potluck, a holiday meal — to coordinate who's making what.
How does Sharp Cooking handle recipe copyright?
We respect copyright. Sharp Cooking is a personal digital locker, not a distribution platform. Save recipes for your own use, share individual recipes with specific people — that's it. No public feed, no bulk distribution.
Using the app
What devices and browsers work with Sharp Cooking?
Any modern device with a web browser: phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. Chrome, Safari, and Edge are supported. Your recipes sync automatically across all devices.
Do you have a mobile app?
Sharp Cooking is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Install it from Safari on iOS or Chrome on Android and it appears on your home screen. It works offline, syncs across devices, and behaves like a native app — without an App Store download.
Can I use Sharp Cooking offline?
Yes. Once installed as a PWA, Sharp Cooking caches your recipes, meal plans, and shopping lists locally. Cook from any recipe without an internet connection. Changes sync when you're back online — useful if your grocery store doesn't have mobile or WiFi coverage.
What languages does Sharp Cooking support?
The app user interface is currently available in nine languages — English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese, and Polish — with more coming. Recipe import is a separate matter: AI can handle many languages, but we're still testing it. Let us know how it works for you.
Is Sharp Cooking accessible?
Yes. Built to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA — we treat that as a floor, not a ceiling. Keyboard navigation, screen reader support, voice control for hands-free cooking, large readable text, high-contrast colors. Designed for real cooking conditions, not ideal desktop environments. Read our accessibility statement →
Meal planning and cooking
How does meal planning work?
Open the meal planner and see your whole week. Drag recipes into breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack slots. Move meals when plans change. Add your meal plan to a shopping list in one click.
How do shopping lists work?
Build lists from your meal plan or add items manually. Items organize by store category. Check items off as you shop. Lists work offline and sync across all devices in real-time.
What is Cooking Mode?
A full-screen, distraction-free view for when you're actually at the stove. Large text, one step at a time. Navigate with voice commands — say "next," "repeat," or "ingredients" when your hands are busy. No ads, no popups, no scrolling.
Your account
How does sign-in work?
Registration requires only a name and email — no password to create. Sign in with a magic link or set up a passkey for biometric sign-in (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello). Passkeys can't be phished or stolen.
Can I export my recipes?
Yes. Export your full recipe collection at any time. Your data isn't locked in — you own it and can take it with you.
How do I delete my account?
Go to Settings and click "Delete Account." All recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, and personal data are permanently deleted. This cannot be undone — export anything you want to keep first.
Still have questions?
Contact us or email hello@sharpcooking.com. We read every message.
Or try it yourself — the fastest way to understand how it works.