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Adding Your First Recipe

Sharp Cooking is designed to make it easy to digitize and organize recipes from any source. Whether you’re working with old family recipes handwritten on index cards, bookmarked websites, or recipes shared via email, we have a method that works for you.

Our AI-powered extraction technology does the heavy lifting - analyzing your recipe source and automatically organizing it into ingredients, instructions, and metadata. You’ll spend seconds adding a recipe instead of minutes typing it in.

Quick Overview

You can add recipes from:

Photos - Take a picture of a cookbook page, recipe card, or printed recipe
Website URLs - Paste a link from any recipe website or blog
Text - Copy and paste recipe text from emails, PDFs, documents, or anywhere else
Files - Upload PDF documents, Word files, or image files directly
Spreadsheets - Import multiple recipes at once from CSV, Excel, or Google Sheets
Manual entry - Type in your own recipe from scratch without AI assistance

Each method uses the same powerful AI extraction engine to read and organize your recipe. The AI understands recipes in multiple languages and can handle various formats and layouts.

Common Scenarios {#scenarios}

Let’s look at some typical situations and which method works best:

Scenario 1: Old Family Recipe Card

You have your grandmother’s handwritten chocolate chip cookie recipe on a yellowed index card.

Best method: Photo

Take a clear photo with your phone
The AI can read most handwriting (though results vary with handwriting legibility)
You’ll likely need to make small corrections, but it saves you from typing everything
After extraction, you can add tags like “family” or “grandma” and notes about the recipe’s history

Scenario 2: Recipe in a Cookbook

You found a great pasta recipe in a cookbook you borrowed from the library.

Best method: Photo (multiple if needed)

If the recipe spans two pages, take a photo of each page
Upload both photos at once
Our system can merge multi-page recipes into a single recipe
Review carefully to ensure instructions are in the right order
Add the cookbook name in the “Source” field so you remember where it came from

Scenario 3: Recipe from a Website

You found a recipe on NYT Cooking or AllRecipes.

Best method: URL import

Copy the URL from your browser’s address bar
Paste it into Sharp Cooking
The AI extracts the recipe from the page’s structured data
Most major recipe sites work perfectly with this method
If URL import fails, use text paste as a backup (copy the recipe text from the page)

Scenario 4: Recipe in an Email

A friend sent you their famous lasagna recipe via email.

Best method: Text paste

Select and copy the recipe text from the email
Paste it into Sharp Cooking
The AI will identify ingredients and instructions even if the email formatting is messy
Works great for recipes in any language

Scenario 5: Recipe in a PDF

You downloaded a recipe collection as a PDF file.

Best method: File upload

Upload the PDF directly
The AI extracts text from the PDF and organizes it
Works best with digital PDFs (not scanned images of recipes)
For scanned PDFs, use photo import instead

Scenario 6: Multiple Recipes to Import

You have a spreadsheet with 50 family recipes you want to digitize.

Best method: Spreadsheet import

Download our CSV template
Copy your recipes into the template format
Import everything at once
Great for migrating from another recipe app or organizing recipes you already have typed out

Adding from a Photo {#photo}

This is the most popular method for digitizing physical recipes from cookbooks, magazines, printed pages, or handwritten cards.

On Mobile

Open Sharp Cooking on your phone
Tap Add Recipes in the navigation menu
Select Take a photo
Point your camera at the recipe and tap the capture button
Review the photo - you can retake it if the text isn’t clear
Tap Extract recipe
Wait 10-15 seconds while our AI analyzes the image and extracts the recipe
Review the extracted information in the preview
Make any corrections or edits needed
Tap Save recipe

The recipe is now in your collection and synced to all your devices.

Multi-page recipes: If your recipe spans multiple pages, tap Add another page after taking the first photo. You can upload up to 10 images at once, and the AI will merge them into a single recipe.

Photo quality matters: Make sure the recipe text is well-lit and in focus. Hold your phone steady and avoid shadows across the text. The clearer the photo, the more accurate the extraction.

On Desktop

Click Add Recipes in the header
Select Take a photo
Click Connect phone to generate a QR code
Open your phone’s camera app and scan the QR code
Take the photo on your phone (or select from your photo library)
The photo automatically appears on your desktop
Click Extract recipe and wait for the AI to process it
Review the extracted information and make any edits
Click Save recipe

This workflow is perfect when you’re browsing recipes on your desktop and want to quickly snap a photo with your phone’s camera without switching devices.

Adding from a Website {#url}

If you found a recipe online, URL import is the fastest method. The AI reads the recipe page and extracts the structured recipe data.

Navigate to the recipe page in your web browser
Copy the URL from your browser’s address bar
In Sharp Cooking, click Add Recipes → Import URL
Paste the URL into the text field
Click Import recipe
Wait a few seconds while the AI fetches and analyzes the page
Review the extracted recipe in the preview
Make any edits if needed
Click Save recipe

Supported sites: URL import works with most major recipe websites including AllRecipes, Food Network, Serious Eats, NYT Cooking, King Arthur Baking, Bon Appétit, Epicurious, and thousands of food blogs. The AI looks for structured recipe data (schema.org markup) that most modern recipe sites include.

Paywall recipes: Some recipe sites put content behind paywalls or require login. If you have access to the recipe on the website (you’re logged in or subscribed), you can copy the recipe text and use the paste text method instead.

Troubleshooting: If URL import doesn’t work for a particular site, it’s usually because the site blocks automated access or doesn’t include structured recipe data. In these cases, use the text paste method - it works just as well and takes only a few seconds longer.

Adding from Text {#text}

Perfect for recipes in emails, documents, or any text you can copy. This is the most flexible method and works with any recipe format.

Select and copy the recipe text from wherever it appears (email, PDF, website, document)
In Sharp Cooking, click Add Recipes → Paste text
Paste the text into the large text area
Click Extract recipe (or use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Enter on Windows, Cmd+Enter on Mac)
Wait a few seconds while the AI analyzes the text
Review the extracted recipe
Make any corrections or additions
Click Save recipe

The AI is remarkably good at parsing recipe text, even when formatting is inconsistent or unconventional. It can identify ingredients, instructions, cooking times, servings, and other metadata from unstructured text.

Works with any format: The AI handles recipes formatted in many different ways - numbered lists, bulleted lists, paragraph form, or even casual conversational descriptions of how to make something.

Multi-language support: You can paste recipe text in any language. The AI extracts recipes written in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, and many other languages. The extraction happens in the original language, and you can view the recipe in any of our supported interface languages.

Adding from a File {#file}

Upload files directly from your computer, including PDFs, Word documents, images, and text files.

Click Add Recipes → Upload file
Drag and drop your file onto the upload area, or click to browse your computer
Supported formats: PDF, DOCX, TXT, RTF, JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP
Wait for the file to upload
Click Extract recipe
Review the extracted information
Make any edits
Click Save recipe

File size limit: Maximum 10MB per file

PDF tips: Digital PDFs (created from Word or other software) work better than scanned PDFs. For scanned recipe pages, use the photo upload method instead - the AI is optimized for image processing in that workflow.

Multiple images: If you have several image files of the same recipe (multiple pages), you can upload them all at once by selecting multiple files. The AI will attempt to merge them into a single recipe.

Adding from a Spreadsheet {#spreadsheet}

Import many recipes at once from CSV files, Excel spreadsheets, or Google Sheets. Perfect for migrating from another app or digitizing a large collection.

Click Add Recipes → Import sheet
Download our CSV template file
Open the template in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet application
Fill in your recipes following the template format
Save the file or share your Google Sheet
Back in Sharp Cooking, either:
- Upload your CSV/Excel file, or
- Paste the URL to your Google Sheet
Preview the recipes that will be imported
Click Import recipes
Wait while the system processes all recipes
Review the confirmation showing how many recipes were imported

Required columns: title, ingredients, instructions

Optional columns: description, category, cuisine, time, servings, tags, notes, recipeSource

Formatting tips:

Separate multiple ingredients with the pipe character (|) or semicolon (;)
Separate instructions steps with pipe (|), semicolon (;), or period followed by line break
Tags should be comma-separated
You can import up to 250 recipes at once

Google Sheets: Make sure your sheet is shared as “Anyone with the link can view” before pasting the URL.

Manual Entry {#manual}

Type in a recipe from scratch without AI extraction. Perfect for when you’re creating an original recipe or prefer full control.

Click Add Recipes → Manual entry
Fill in the recipe form:
- Title (required) - Name of the recipe
- Category - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, etc.
- Cuisine - Italian, Mexican, Thai, etc.
- Time - How long it takes to make
- Servings - How many people it serves
- Description - Brief description of the recipe
- Ingredients (required) - Enter ingredients one per line
- Instructions (required) - Enter steps one per line
- Tags - Add tags separated by commas (e.g., “quick, healthy, kid-friendly”)
- Notes - Any additional tips or notes
- Source - Where the recipe came from
Optionally upload a recipe photo
Click Save recipe

Manual entry gives you complete control over exactly how the recipe is formatted and organized.

Understanding AI Extraction Quality {#ai-quality}

Our AI extraction technology is highly accurate, but it’s important to understand what to expect:

Accuracy rates:

Printed text from websites or books: 95%+ accuracy
Clean handwriting: 85-90% accuracy
Difficult handwriting or faded text: 60-70% accuracy
Complex recipe formats: 90%+ accuracy

What the AI does well:

Separating ingredients from instructions
Identifying quantities and measurements
Extracting cooking times and temperatures
Recognizing recipe structure even when formatting varies
Understanding recipes in multiple languages
Handling both metric and imperial measurements

What to review carefully:

Quantities with fractions (e.g., 1 1/2 cups) - sometimes read as “11/2”
Special characters and measurements (°, ½, ¾)
Ingredient modifiers like “finely chopped” or “room temperature”
Unusual ingredients or regional terminology
Cooking times when written in varying formats

Always review before saving: Even though the AI is very accurate, you should always review the extracted recipe and compare it to the original source. It takes only 30-60 seconds to check, and ensures your recipe is correct.

Editing after extraction: Don’t worry about perfect extraction - you can always edit any part of the recipe after saving it. Many users do a quick check during extraction and fix small details later when they actually cook the recipe.

After Adding a Recipe {#after-adding}

Once you save a recipe, it immediately appears in your My Recipes collection and syncs to all your devices.

What you can do next:

Organize your recipe:

Add or edit tags to make it easier to find later
Add to favorites by clicking the star icon
Assign a category if you didn’t during import
Add notes with your own tips or modifications

Use your recipe:

View the recipe in cooking mode with voice control
Add to your meal planner
Add ingredients to a shopping list
Share with friends and family

Edit anytime:

Click the Edit button on any recipe
Modify ingredients, instructions, or any field
Reorder ingredients or instruction steps
Upload additional photos
All changes save automatically and sync across devices

Automatic enhancements: The system automatically:

Generates suggested tags based on ingredients and recipe title
Detects category if not specified
Identifies cooking time and serving size from instructions
Extracts cuisine type when mentioned in the recipe

Tips for Best Results {#tips}

For Photo Uploads

Use good lighting - natural light is best
Keep the camera steady
Make sure text is in focus
Capture the entire recipe in frame
Avoid shadows across the text
Don’t tilt the camera at extreme angles
For multi-page recipes, take photos in order

For URL Imports

Works with most major recipe sites (AllRecipes, Food Network, NYT Cooking, etc.)
Make sure the page contains a recipe (not just an article about food)
Some sites block automated access - use paste text as a fallback
Copy the full URL including https://

For Text Paste

Include the full recipe (not just ingredients)
Paste everything at once
Our AI handles most formatting variations
Don’t paste just a shopping list - include the cooking instructions
Works in any language

For Spreadsheet Import

Follow the template format exactly
Use pipe (|) or semicolon (;) to separate ingredients and steps
Keep each recipe in a single row
Don’t leave required fields empty
Preview before importing to catch formatting issues

Common Questions {#faq}

How accurate is the AI extraction?

The AI is very accurate (95%+ for printed text, 85-90% for clean handwriting) but not perfect. Always review the extracted recipe and compare it to the original. The extraction saves you 90% of the typing work - you just need to verify and fix any small mistakes.

Can I edit recipes after saving them?

Yes, absolutely. Click the Edit button on any recipe and you can modify anything - ingredients, instructions, title, tags, photos, everything. Many users do a quick review during extraction and then fine-tune details later when they cook the recipe.

Does the AI work with recipes in other languages?

Yes. The AI extracts recipes in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese, and many other languages. The recipe stays in its original language, and you can view your interface in any of our 6 supported languages.

What if I have a recipe in Spanish but I want my interface in English?

No problem. The recipe content stays in Spanish (or whatever language it was written in), but your buttons, menus, and navigation appear in English. You can have recipes in multiple languages in your collection.

Can I add recipes without creating an account?

You need a free account to save recipes. However, you can test the extraction features without an account to see how they work. Once you create an account, you can save unlimited recipes.

How many recipes can I add?

There’s no limit. Add as many recipes as you want.

What happens to the original images I upload?

We store the images securely in the cloud. You can view the original photo anytime by opening the recipe and clicking on the image. This is helpful when you want to reference the original formatting or handwritten notes.

Can I delete recipes?

Yes, you can delete any recipe from your collection. Click on the recipe, then click the Delete button. Deleted recipes are permanently removed.

What if the AI completely misreads a recipe?

This is rare, but if it happens, you have several options: 1) Edit the recipe after saving to fix all the issues, 2) Delete and try again with a clearer photo, 3) Use manual entry to type it in yourself, or 4) Contact support and we’ll help improve the AI.

Do I need to crop photos before uploading?

No, the AI can identify the recipe within the photo even if there’s other content in the image. However, clearer, more focused photos give better results.

Can I import recipes from another recipe app?

If your other app allows you to export recipes as a CSV or JSON file, you can import them using our spreadsheet import feature. Check your current app’s export options.

Does the AI automatically add tags?

The AI suggests tags based on ingredients and recipe content, but you have full control. You can accept the suggestions, modify them, or add your own tags.

Can I add a recipe that’s part of a larger cookbook or blog post?

Yes. Use the photo method to capture just the recipe portion, or use text paste to copy only the recipe text. You don’t need to capture the entire page or article.

What if my cookbook recipe is copyrighted?

Recipes themselves (lists of ingredients and instructions) generally cannot be copyrighted in most jurisdictions, though the specific written description and photos can be. Sharp Cooking is for your personal, private use. Don’t redistribute copyrighted recipe content publicly.

Can I add my own original recipes?

Absolutely. Use manual entry to type in your own creations. This is perfect for recipes you’re developing yourself.

What happens if I upload multiple photos of different recipes by mistake?

The AI will attempt to extract multiple separate recipes. During the preview step, you can delete the ones you don’t want before saving.

Can I merge two recipes into one?

Yes. If you upload multiple photos and they’re all part of the same recipe, the AI will merge them. You can also manually combine recipes by editing one and copy-pasting content from the other.

How do I know if a website URL will work?

Most major recipe sites work perfectly. If you’re not sure, just try it - it only takes a few seconds. If the URL import doesn’t work, you can always fall back to copying and pasting the recipe text.

Does this work offline?

Initial recipe extraction requires an internet connection (the AI processing happens in the cloud). However, once a recipe is saved, you can access it offline on your phone.

What’s the difference between category and cuisine?

Category describes when/how you eat it (Breakfast, Dinner, Dessert, Appetizer). Cuisine describes the regional cooking style (Italian, Mexican, Thai, French).

If the recipe is written in the post text, you can copy and paste it. If it’s only in an image, screenshot the image and use photo upload.

What if my recipe has both metric and imperial measurements?

The AI will extract whatever measurements appear in the recipe. You can convert between metric and imperial units when viewing the recipe by using our built-in conversion tool.

Need More Help? {#more-help}

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Last updated: January 21, 2025