Cookery Tips

Choose a topic for step-by-step recipe import instructions. For other questions, read the FAQ or contact support.

iPhone and iPad

Import a recipe from photos

Cookery does more than extract text. It identifies the title, yield, ingredients, instructions, and other recipe details, then lets you review the organized result.

Add Recipe button in the Cookery recipe list
Start from the Add Recipe button.
  1. Take a bright, sharply focused photo. Crop unrelated text, page numbers, and surrounding pages when possible.
  2. In Cookery, tap Add Recipe, then choose Import from Photo.
  3. Select up to two photos. Arrange them in the same order in which the recipe should be read.
  4. Tap Convert. Cookery will identify and organize the recipe's content.
  5. Review every field, correct anything that needs attention, and save the recipe.

Requires iOS 26 and a device that supports Apple Intelligence. Cookery includes five free imports every month.

Tips for a difficult photo
  • Use bright, even lighting with as few shadows as possible.
  • Flatten cookbook pages to reduce distortion near the binding.
  • Keep text large and sharp; moving closer is usually better than digital zoom.
  • Confirm that numerical measurements and uncommon fraction characters match the original.
  • Try Cookery's Document Filter when contrast or readability is poor.

iPhone and iPad

Import a recipe from text

Cookery can turn recipes from Notes and other text-based apps into structured, editable recipes.

Sharing a text recipe from Apple Notes
Share the text file or note to Cookery.
  1. Open the recipe in Notes, Files, or another app that can share text or documents.
  2. Tap the Share button and choose Cookery.
  3. Open Cookery on the same device to finish the import.
  4. Review the title, ingredients, instructions, and other details before saving.

Intelligent text import requires a device that supports Apple Intelligence.

iPhone and iPad

Import a recipe from a browser

Share a recipe page to Cookery and the app will create a clean, organized recipe without the surrounding webpage.

Cookery appearing in the iOS Share Sheet
Choose Cookery from the browser's Share Sheet.
  1. Open the recipe page in Safari or another browser.
  2. Tap the Share button and choose Cookery.
  3. If Cookery is not visible, choose More, then enable or favorite Cookery in the app list.
  4. Open Cookery on the same device to finish the import.

Mac

Import a recipe from a browser

Cookery for Mac includes both a Safari extension and a system Share extension.

Safari extension

Cookery in Safari's Extensions settings
Enable Cookery in Safari Settings.
  1. In Safari, choose Safari > Settings > Extensions.
  2. Enable the Cookery extension and approve the sites on which you want it available.
  3. If needed, customize Safari's toolbar and add the Cookery button.
  4. Open a recipe page and click the Cookery toolbar button.
  5. Open Cookery on the same Mac to finish the import.

The Safari extension reads the title and URL only when you explicitly share the frontmost page. It may use iCloud to synchronize Cookery settings; it does not send your browsing activity to Pinwheel Development.

System Share extension

Share with Cookery in the macOS Share menu
Choose Share with Cookery from your browser.
  1. Open the browser's Share menu and choose Share with Cookery.
  2. If it is missing, choose Edit Extensions and enable Cookery.
  3. Open Cookery on the same Mac to finish the import.

Mac

Import photos and files

Import photographed recipes, PDFs, images, text files, and Cookery recipe files directly from the Mac app.

Import from Photo in Cookery for Mac
Choose the import source that matches your recipe.
  1. Choose File > Import in Cookery.
  2. Select Import from Photo for an image in Photos, or Import from File for a PDF, image, text file, or Cookery recipe file.
  3. For an intelligent import, arrange selected pages in reading order and start the conversion.
  4. Review the organized recipe before saving.

Five imports are available free every month; Cookery+ removes the monthly limit. Intelligent photo and document imports may require a Mac that supports Apple Intelligence.

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