You’re Not Alone If You Keep Your Recipes in a Notebook. And That’s a Problem
There is a Facebook group called Chef and Hospitality Memes (check it out if you have not already; it’s fun) that asks some interesting questions now and again of its members and followers. One of its members recently asked this:
“Is there an app or program any of you use to keep your recipes?”
Well, the answers were what you might expect, running the gamut from the brain and pencils and “winging it” to an app or two. Here’s a sampling…
David: Yeah, it's called a book.
Steve: Spread sheet, you can update costs, per serving break down. Takes time to put it in but once in it saves time.
Christopher: Your brain is the fastest one ...put down the phone ...remember.
Kenny: All my recipes are on index cards (scrap paper, bar naps etc.). I own a small restaurant I would like my staff to have a reference and maintain consistency. Also, I suffered some pretty severe trauma so my memory isn't all that.
Ryan: Google Drive
The Captain: Yellow note pad
Dan : I'm a fan of using pen and paper to write it down, ... Or screen shot it if your taking inspiration from something online
Ally: ReciMe, you can upload them to the app from any website and they’ll keep them in a nice little folder for you
James: I have them in binders
Ethan: Notebooks exist
Adam : I have Microsoft word on my phone. I use that.
Lee: I just half a*** recipes in my notes and hope for the best haha wing wing
Andi: I’m old school. . . I use a book
Gramesci: A folder full of bookmarks... eventually I'll print them out and put them in a binder
Overall, here are the main categories for how the respondents store and organize their recipes, along with the number of responses in each category:
Category (# of Responses)
Physical Paper Methods (5)
Book, index cards, yellow note pad, binders, pen and paper
Digital Apps/Programs (4)
Spreadsheet, Excel, Google Drive, ReciMe app
Memory (1)
Relying on memory/brain
Whether this is a truly representative sampling of recipe-handling techniques or not, I can’t say. But physical and rudimentary tech methods seem to prevail. And they all can all work to one degree or another.
Truly effective recipe management, however, is at the heart of any successful kitchen operation. More than just listing ingredients and instructions, it’s about recipe precision and cost control. Galley Solutions understands the complexities of managing recipes at scale and has developed a comprehensive technology—Culinary Resource Planning (CRP)— to help culinary professionals transform their operations.
With our Recipe & Food Cost Management tools, you can create, manage, and optimize recipes, ensuring consistency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Kitchens can now move beyond guesswork and manual processes to achieve efficiency and precision every step of the way. Let’s see a spreadsheet or notepad do that.
Clearly, recipe management goes beyond listing ingredients—it's about ensuring that every dish meets your standards, whether it’s prepared in one location or across multiple venues. A robust recipe management system such as Galley’s allows you to maintain consistency, scale recipes, and streamline ingredient management, saving time and reducing errors. With our CRP platform, you can focus on what you do best—crafting delicious meals. Here’s what our recipe management technology can do for you:
Recipe Optimization for Consistency
Create, manage, and standardize recipes across multiple teams and locations, ensuring every dish meets your brand’s quality standards.
Real-Time Food Costing & Supplier Integration
Connect to live vendor pricing and instantly calculate recipe costs to stay on budget, manage margins, and make data-driven purchasing decisions.
Ingredient Transparency & Sourcing
Track ingredient sourcing, availability, and nutritional values, ensuring compliance with dietary standards and improving transparency across the supply chain.
Holistic Operational Insights
Leverage powerful analytics to gain a complete view of recipe performance, food costs, and ingredient usage to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.
So, we understand that many of you are sticking with the tried-and-true recipe-management methods you’ve used for years and are comfortable with. If they are still working for you, more power to you. But we at Galley believe there is a better way. From single-location eateries to nationwide chains, from small kitchens to multiple locations, Galley’ CRP Platforms’ Recipe Management is designed to be flexible and scalable, providing optimal performance every step of the way. Maybe jot that down in your recipe notebook for future reference. We might just be the special ingredient your foodservice operation needs.
Discover more about the importance of data-driven recipe management and how Galley can help here.
