Pantry/recipe software

[kentauros]

I know there are plenty of good recipe programs out there, but the primary functions I would like to see most don't seem to exist, or I'm not aware of them (most likely the latter.) I have seen one or two of the older programs with something they called "pantry" but what it meant to them was you inputted a handful of items you have in your pantry and it looked up recipes with those ingredients. Okay, that's close to what I'm looking for, but not it.

Rather, I would like to be able to input my entire pantry, refrigerator/freezer and spice-cabinet contents into a kind of ingredient database. Then, I would like to have the program not only keep track of what I've got on hand at any one time (and subtract those items/amounts used) but also be able to suggest recipes based on those ingredients without me having to go out to the store for one or two items.

I understand, of course, that I wouldn't always be using the software's recipes, what with the bookshelf of cookbooks available, so the database would be off from time to time. Easily fixed if it's written right, plus you could always add those favorite recipes into it like any other cooking program.

To me, such a system would be an incredible time-saver and especially a money-saver, not just in food, but also fuel.

Has anyone ever included such a thing into a cooking program, and if so, which one? And if not, then who do I talk to for getting it developed? :)

[Tesha]

1. Aren't you a little afraid...

afraid of becoming a slave to the program?

A week of being too busy, too sick, too lazy... and you'd have to remember what all you used - or you'd rely on the program and "blast!" you'd forgotten to tell it you used up the last of thewhatever 2 weeks ago.

[kentauros]

2. Consider, too, that it's just me.

I don't consume that much that it would be too much trouble to update it. That might be a problem, though, for a family of four or more. I'd just like something to help me keep track of what I've got, including those rarely-used items in the back of the pantry.

I would think there'd be ways of adjusting things after the fact. I'm not a programmer, but to me this is something sorely lacking in recipe software. I'd actually buy a recipe program if they included a comprehensive pantry section. Otherwise, I really have no use for recipe-software, thanks to the aforementioned cookbook collection ;)

[Warpy]

4. That's my thought, just keep a pad affixed to the fridge

When you use something up, jot it down. If you've been frazzled for a week or two, just look in the cupboards and fridge to see what's missing and write it down just before you go to the store.

As a general rule, I keep my own pad (or envelope if I'm frazzled) at the puter and write stuff down here.

Entering stuff in to the puter and printing it out just seems like an extra step to me.

[kentauros]

8. Yes, that's good for keeping things stocked

but does nothing for me if I'd like the software to make suggestions on what could be made with it all, like for variety away from my own imagination ;)

[csziggy]

10. I use the Ingredients Search at AllRecipes.com

To find recipes to use what I have on hand or what is on sale or in season. Although I have the Master Chef program which is supposed to do some of what you want, I found it was just too much hassle for me to keep up to date.

But if you want to try out Master Chef, you can download a trial version: http://www.debonosoft.com/mc/download.htm
http://www.debonosoft.com/Default.asp

[kentauros]

12. Okay, I'll have a look.

Thanks :)

It probably is a hassle, yet I see some people here that know exactly what they have on hand and can even list many tens of items. I only know that I have perishables, non-perishables and spices. I'd be hard-pressed to name more than a dozen items I have on hand now ;) Such a function in a program would probably help me use up those items I should use, and faster than I have in the past (like before it spoils.)

[salvorhardin]

3. There's a number of such apps for the iPhone/iPod Touch

http://www.appsafari.com/shopping/8998/pantry/

[kentauros]

7. I own no iProducts

:)

[salvorhardin]

14. Neither do I

Can't afford them! :D

[kentauros]

16. Isn't that the truth!

:D

I own very few gadgets. My cellphone is eight years old and still works. When it stops working, I'll get a new one ;)

[pengillian101]

5. I am a low-tech kind of gal.

I just make a list of what's in both freezers on my computer, print it out and cross off and add to it in handwriting. I update the document occasionally and print it out again. A pantry list would work the same, eh?

Good luck keeping track!

My freezer list document needs updating - thanks for the reminder :-)

[pengillian101]

6. Here's my freezers' contents at the moment/

Big Freezer
Schwan's:
Battered Cod fish
Blue hake
Spinach pizza
Tortellini
Hash browns
Tator tots
Corn, Peas, Broccoli
Bread dough
Croissants
Wild Rice
Omaha:
Italian meatballs
Beef tips
Ground beef patties,
Fillet mignon
Butterflied trout
Stuffed sole
Chicken breasts (cooked)
Creamed spinach
Steakhouse potatoes

King Crab
Bread
Onion buns
Lefse
Ham
Green and jalapeño pepper
salsa
Heat & eat leftovers – soup, ribs,casseroles
Almonds
Bananas


Fridge Freezer

Jimmy Dean sausage
Ground beef
Thin cut pork chops
Potato sausage
Chicken wings
Potato hash brown cakes
Bacon
French fries
Corn dogs
Tortillas
Ham

Schwan's Vegies:
Pasta w/vegies
Corn
Beans
Spinach
Cilantro

Schwan's Ice cream
Vanilla
Summer's Dream

[Warpy]

11. Mine is 3 pounds of prawns

half a Costco bag of halibut fillets
half a Costco bag of Copper River salmon fillets
2 bags of mixed veg
1 bag of chopped broccoli (for broccoli cornbread)
several boxes of Quorn products
1 bag of frozen peaches.

I've been cleaning things out for weeks in anticipation of getting a new Energy Star fridge with a bottom freezer and no fancy crap.

I just need to work on the fridge side.

[pengillian101]

17. 1 bag of chopped broccoli (for broccoli cornbread)

Wow, never heard of that, but it sounds delightful!

[Warpy]

18. It's cornbread with cottage cheese, broccoli, chopped onion

and too much butter to be particularly good for you.

However, it's pure heaven.

http://southernfood.about.com/od/broccoli/r/bl00513g.htm

I substitute self rising cornmeal for the Jiffy Mix and save myself the lard, which I try to avoid. That much butter is more than enough, you really don't need the extra lard in the Jiffy Mix.

Flavor is provided by the broccoli and onion. Really.

[kentauros]

9. I'm really kind of both; depends on the situation :)

I have no list of what I own, though my fridge is pretty easy for the most part. Still, to physically hunt down recipes either in all of my books or online according to what I have readily available would be a huge chore, one that would likely cause me to eat out :P

Maybe I should ask the computer group... :)

[Phentex]

13. SuperCook, Recipe Puppy and a host of others!...

Sometimes I just google the ingredients I have and a bunch of things come up. Sometimes I'm sent to a website for the product and a list comes up.

Google "recipe search by ingredients on hand" and see what happens. I did! :)

[kentauros]

15. Supercook looks like the easiest to use and the most versatile.

The "how to" video on Recipe Puppy had no commentator and was difficult to figure out what was being done. I'll still try it out, once I start to make a list of my available ingredients. Or I'll just add a few by memory and see what pops up :)

Thanks for mentioning these sites. They appear to be an online version of what I wanted, and that works, too :D


Here are the ones I've found in addition to what you've suggested, for everyone else to try out, too:

http://www.recipepuppy.com
http://search.myrecipes.com/enhanced-search.html
http://www.recipebridge.com
http://www.recipekey.com
http://www.recipematcher.com
http://www.supercook.com


Here's someone's blog that reviews many of these sites and others not mentioned:

http://food.thefuntimesguide.com/2007/11/recipes_with_ingredients_on_ha.php