How to Write a Recipe (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Recipe writing has its own art so that everyone who practices the recipe can produce delicious and satisfying dishes. A small mistake in making a list of ingredients or writing down the wrong amount can spoil the results of a dish. So when we write a recipe, choose each word carefully and practice the steps in the recipe first before sharing it with others. If you want to know how to write recipes fluidly, which can truly describe the dishes you make, see Step 1.

Step

Part 1 of 4: Getting Started

Step 1. Draft your recipe

A recipe is a series of cooking steps that can ultimately result in a delicious dish. It helps people who read it. If you're going to write down a recipe you've made so many times that you've memorized the recipe by heart, it's a good idea to step back for a moment and think about the best way to share it with others. Who will your readers be, and what will their cooking style be? Your target audience will influence how you write recipes.

If you're writing family recipes to make sure they're not forgotten, it's the authenticity that comes first. Write down ingredients and measurements clearly so that future generations can remake Grandma's biscuits or Uncle Benny's chili and sample a little family history.
If the recipe you are writing is going to be shared with the general public, prioritize the taste and accessibility of the recipe over tradition. Make sure your readers can get the ingredients in the recipe, and make sure the results are good enough that they are worth a try for your readers.
Also pay attention to the skill level of your readers. Try to think of a way you can include it in the recipe so that it is easy for novice cooks to follow. If there are no complicated cooking techniques, write down the cooking steps as clearly as possible.

Step 2. Gather the ingredients

Prepare all the ingredients needed to make the recipe. You may need to practice your recipe more than once to make improvements, so make sure you have plenty of each ingredient in stock. Don't forget to measure out water, ice, and other ingredients that you may tend to overlook.

Step 3. Gather the required equipment

Gather all the pots, frying pans, spatulas, beaters, and other equipment needed to make the dish. If you usually use special equipment, such as an electric mixer, determine if someone who doesn't have one can make it manually. You may need to share other options and ideas to make the recipe easy to put into practice.

Step 4. Start cooking

Imagine you are practicing this recipe for the first time, and make this recipe the way you want your readers to practice it. Start by writing down the things that need to be done first, preheat the oven or turn on the stove, and expand this recipe with raw ingredients. As you work, pay attention to the dosage and technique you use, as well as the order in which you add the ingredients.

Record the things you do. Write down the size of each ingredient. Explain each cooking process using familiar cooking and baking terms. Be sure to record each cooking step - you can edit it later if you need to.
Consider taking photos. Colorful step-by-step photos can grab the reader's attention and provide helpful information on complex techniques. Try taking photos of each step you take, or have someone else take pictures as you practice the recipe. Even if you don't include step-by-step photos, you should still need to post at least one photo of the finished dish.

Part 2 of 4: Writing the Ingredients List

Step 1. Enter the exact measure

For each ingredient, write down exactly how much you need. List all measurements in a consistent format - either imperial or metric units (or both, if you prefer).

Use consistent abbreviations for sizes. For example, tsp or tbsp for teaspoon or tablespoon.
If there is a material that does not have a numerical size, write it in capital letters. For example, "Olive oil".

Step 2. List the ingredients in the order you use them

Making a list of the ingredients used is a standard thing to do. This is so that readers can easily follow the required materials.

Step 3. List the ingredients used together in order of volume

For example, if you're writing a recipe about baking a cake, all the dry ingredients usually need to be sifted together. Since you cannot list all the ingredients in order of use, list them in order of volume. 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and so on.

Step 4. Write "separated" behind the ingredients that will be used in parts

Often times, you may use one type of ingredient in several different steps in a recipe. For example, you may need to butter cream with sugar to make coffee cake batter, then use more butter to make the topping. For an example like this, list the entire amount of butter plus the word "split" - as in, 6 tablespoons butter, separated.

Step 5. Divide the list into sections, if necessary

If the recipe has two separate components, such as a pie crust and pie filling, divide the ingredient list into two or more parts. Title each section appropriately. Write for contents, for skins, and so on.

Step 6. Write down the common name, not the brand

Unless a specific ingredient product is absolutely necessary to make your recipe work, write down the general name of the ingredient, instead of the brand name. For example, instead of writing 2 cups of Angelsoft brand flour write 2 cups of all purpose flour.

Step 7. Include simple techniques in the ingredients list

To keep the How to Make section of your recipe simple, you can add simple techniques like chopping, mincing, and melting to the ingredients list. First make a dosing list of the ingredients, followed by the technique. Here are some examples:

1 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons red onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups bell pepper, finely sliced
2 apples, peeled and sliced

Part 3 of 4: How to Write

Step 1. Describe the equipment needed

Utensils can make or break a recipe, so be specific about the size, shape, and composition of the utensils needed to cook the food. For example, write Use a 22.5 cm pie pan or Use a flat pan or a large frying pan, to direct the reader directly with great care.

Let the reader know if one type of equipment can be replaced by another. For example, if you don't have a food processor, you can replace it with a blender.
You may need to include a list of special equipment needed - a double boiler, special cooking twine, a baking stone, and so on.

Step 2. Write a clear and easy to understand explanation of the cooking process

Break it down into simple steps and explain each cooking technique using commonly used cooking or baking terms. Long and complicated steps should be separated into separate paragraphs to make cooking easier to follow. Don't use too many adjectives or give too much information - the right information is key to making this recipe work. Here are some examples:

Melt the butter in a large flat skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and onions and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs and beat one by one. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda and salt.

Step 3. Write down the exact temperature and cooking time required

If the recipe calls for using an oven, make sure you write down clearly what temperature it takes to heat it. For stove-top dishes, use common terms like "medium-high heat" and "medium-low heat" to indicate how hot the pan should be.

Temperature can also be explained through cooking techniques. For example, write a slow boil over medium low to indicate that the soup being cooked should not boil over.
Explain how long it will take to cook. Write "Bake for 20 - 25 minutes" or "Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours".

Step 4. Add hints to help the cook do the right thing

Since everyone's oven and stovetop are slightly different, it can be helpful to add hints as to what the dish should look, taste, and smell at the various steps. Here are some examples:

Bake until cheese is bubbling, about 15 minutes.
Bake until the top is brown and dry.
Simmer slowly until the spices are mixed.
Bake until the top is brown and dry.
Cook until Baked until the contents of the dry pudding are cooked.
Cook until the salmon changes color and hardens.

Step 5. Break complex steps into paragraphs

Recipes with various complicated techniques, the how-to section needs to be divided into several paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain the complete part of the recipe. In a pie recipe, for example, separate the crust from the filling.

Step 6. Explain how it is presented

In the last section, the cooking method should be explained how to serve, either let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing or garnished with chopped coriander leaves. Describe how the food should look and taste so your readers know what the result will be.

Part 4 of 4: Giving the Final Touches

Step 1. Give the recipe a title

A descriptive title will make the recipe catchy and make it stand out among the thousands of recipes out there. No need to be too descriptive - your recipe will prove its taste when put into practice! Just give it a title that sounds appetizing and catchy, in a personal style if that's what you want. Here are some examples:

Tricia Chocolate Brownies
Sweet and Sour Chicken Soup
Savory Crispy Cookies from Oatmeal
Uncle Pete's Chowder

Step 2. It's a good idea to write a brief introduction

If your recipe has a specific history, consider including a brief introduction so readers know how much this recipe means. Write about the person who cooked the recipe for the first time, improvements made over the years, or anecdotes about your relatives enjoying it.

Step 3. Present helpful information

Add additional information that readers need to know as they practice the recipe. Here are a few things you may need to include:

Tell the recipe how many servings can be.
Write down the time it will take to practice the recipe, including preparation and cooking time.
Include serving suggestions, such as a choice of garnish or other food that goes well with the recipe (for example, "Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top" or "Serve with a baguette."
Write down substitutes if you have any restrictions (for example, "You can replace cashews with walnuts" or "Use tofu instead of chicken so this dish can be categorized as a vegetarian meal").
Give warnings about problems that may arise during cooking. Examples could be "Don't open the oven during the baking process as it will spoil your cake," or "Don't let the oil get too hot on the stove."

Step 4. Think about composition

When you write a recipe, arrange it so that it is easy to read. If you want, add photos so the instructions are easier to follow. The following is the standard order of information in prescription writing:

Title
Introduction (optional)
List of ingredients
How to make
Number of servings
Cooking/prep time

Step 5. Test your recipe

Once your recipe is complete, practice it one more time to test it. You may need to share the recipe with people who have never cooked it. See if the recipe is able to produce the "expected" dish. If it's too sour, sweet, salty, spicy, or doesn't taste right, think about what you can do to fix the problem, then start repeating the process one more time.

Second-guessing adjustments, whether regarding ingredients, cooking time, or temperature doesn't always work. This is why the "kitchen test" needs to be carried out as in a laboratory, and the results carefully recorded and repeated

Suggestion

For the original recipe, see the basic suitability of the dish and standard cooking times.
Learn about the different spices, and their uses.
If possible, consider cutting back on fat, salt, and other ingredients that are considered less healthy.