Cooking Apps

Allrecipes (iOS, Android, Windows, and computer; free) -  With 40,000 recipes the Allrecipes.com has become one of the most popular websites and it's app has become almost as popular. You can save your recipes, search for recipes, browse what is popular, and create a grocery list. I like their new full screen view. They now have some "Healthy" recipes that they want to charge $2.99 for {side note: I noted multiple apps that are charging extra for healthy, vegan, and vegetarian recipes}

Allrecipes Videos (iOS and Android free) - a great selection of basic and special recipes (700 total) each has a corresponding video how-to. There are categories you can browse or search for a recipe, and it has a recipe box to save the ones you want to try.

BigOven (iOS ,Android, Amazon, Windows, computer; free) - 350,000+ recipes this app and the corresponding website should have the recipe you want. You can search or browse the categories which include different ethnic cuisines, dietary restrictions, skill levels, for different age groups, type of weather, holidays, and seasons. There are meal menus to chose from that have recipes for each dish. There is a grocery list, menu planner, and use up leftovers features. You can save recipes as favorites, to try, and more.

Cookpad (iOS and Android free) - this is an interesting app it's like part recipe app and part cooking social media. You can save recipes, follow contributors, private message, and there is a forum. The recipes all come from users, some take pictures of each step, some have typos, and some make funny comments. I found it strangely mesmerizing. I laughed, and I felt like I wanted to contribute.

Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List (iOS, Android, and Windows; free) - The Epicurious website was the go to place for recipes when the Web was still new. When I was working at Williams-Sonoma we would steer people to the website for meal ideas. The app is nice but the majority of the recipes come from Bon Apetit and Gourmet magazine, so I had a hard time finding anything I liked. The categories are really nice: Kid Friendly, Can't Cook, Cook like a Pro, Low Carb, Low Fat, Vegetarian Main Course, etc. I did similar searches on all the apps and this app gave me the most complicated, difficult, gourmet of the apps.

Escoffier Companion (iOS and Android free) - Auguste Escoffier is one of the most important chefs in culinary history. When I was a Reference Librarian at Johnson & Wales University all first year students had to learn about him and you would see them lug around his most important book. This app provides you with multiple timers, conversion, ingredients and equipment encyclopedia, and cooking terms glossary. Budding chefs could use this app as a learning and reference tool. Another app My Escoffier provides you with a 63 page sample of Escoffier Recipe Guide, which is a beautiful picture step-by-step cookbook.

Evernote Food (iOS and Android free) - Visually gorgeous with a very slick set-up this app allows you to find a variety of recipes that actually come from blogs, websites, and submitted by restaurants or chefs. You can browse or search for recipes. You can create a meal and it will create a shopping list. You can export recipes to your Evernote account (so you can access it on anything that you use Evernote: phone, tablet, or computer) and the "My cookbook" portion of the app . I quickly found recipes that I wanted to try to make.

Food Network In the Kitchen (iOS and Android free) - This app is jam packed with stuff: create grocery list, timers, how-to videos, recipe videos, recipe box, share on social media, browse by category, and search for recipes. I like that there is a little slider beside the recipe so you can save your place when you are making it. The recipe reviews sometimes give helpful suggestions, I was underwhelmed on the number of selections of healthy recipes and what they considered a healthy recipe. I do appreciate the the nutrition information, but it didn't give a serving size just that a recipe serves a certain number of portions.

Pepperplate (iOS, Android, and computer; free) - The app claims to be "the only app for serious chefs" which I can see how it tilts toward the professional. It has a minimal design that is designed for you to create recipes or import them. There are no recipes provided or available to browse. It requires you to create an account, but makes your content immediately available both in the app and on the website. I found that it does have some problems importing recipes using a tablet and it is much easier to do it on a PC. If you are looking for a place to organize and use your own recipes, this seems like a good choice. It allows you to upload pictures so you could scan a recipe and then upload it that way quickly.

Perfect Produce (iOS and Android 1.99) - For fruit and veggie lovers this app provides an alphabetically arranged list providing useful information about a smattering of common fruits or vegetables you might possess in your fridge. Details include nutrition facts, recipes, storage information and the best method for selecting particular fruits in the store. You can look up veggies and fruit by desired nutritional content: fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, etc.

Simmer by Panna (iOS only free) - this app has lush videos, easy layout, and slick interaction. Step-by-step videos by professional chefs and restaurants. You can save your favorites, follow contributors, see editor's picks, and share on Facebook or Twitter.

Weber's On the Grill (iOS and Android 4.99) - 300 different recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts and everything in between and how to do it, step-by-step. You can add and delete items on your grocery list after selecting your recipe. You can enter the thickness of the meat and the app will automatically adjust the grilling time and temperature accordingly. Short instructional videos will help take you from novice to grill-master.

Pinterest (iOS, Android, Windows, and computer; free) while not strictly a cooking app this social media platform has some great recipes that I have found and used in the past. I would look at comments from other “pinners” to see if they were successful before attempting a recipe. I know there are some that are almost impossible to pull off for the average cook. Before “pinning it to your board” check to make sure that it links to an actual recipe or website, I’ve had the unfortunate circumstance of it directing me to a broken link or advertisement instead of a recipe (there goes Thursday night’s dinner). You can browse the cooking or recipes categories or search for a recipe.