How to Organize Recipes

Make sure you can always find the recipe you need!  Learn your own favorite recipe organization tricks with these 10 easy ways to organize recipes!

How to Organize Recipes

If you're a foodie, like me, you probably have tons and tons of recipes that you love, and even more that you're dying to try. It's hard to keep track of all those recipes, isn't it? I may have some hidden in basically every room of my house... maybe... But I am learning ways reign in my recipe craziness and how to organize recipes.  I like some methods better than others, but no matter how you work best, you can find the best recipe storage solution for you.

10 Easy Ways to Organize Recipes

1. Recipe Binder

A recipe binder is a wonderful way to organize your recipes.  You can organize by type of dish or alphabetically or any way that makes sense to you.  I recently shared a post about how to make a recipe binder, and included FREE recipe binder printables as well as a supply list.  You can check it out and grab your own HERE.

2. Recipe Box

This recipe organization idea is a classic, and you can never go wrong with a classic.  Recipe boxes are pretty cheap and easy to find.  You can find one at almost any store (Walmart, Target, sometimes even the dollar store) or you can even find a recipe box online.  I personally love the personalized recipe boxes and have one on my own kitchen counter.  You can check out more personalized recipe boxes HERE.  To organize recipes in your recipe box, all you need are

• Index cards or recipe cards (if you want some free and cute recipe cards, I've got you covered. You can get some free recipe card printables HERE).
• Recipe Box Dividers - you can grab these pretty cheap or you can make them using index cards and little labels, or even washi tape

 

 

3. Recipe journal

Recipe journals are a new recipe organization method that I've been trying to organize the recipes that I share here, and I really love it.  The journals are basically blank recipe notebooks, and you can fill it in with all of your favorite recipes.  It's also great if you like to develop recipes on your own, like I do.  Then you can write it in the basic recipe in pencil, and add in all of the little tweaks you make to it as you go.  I started my recipe journal last Christmas and I already have one full and another half full!  You can check out some recipe journals HERE.  I've tried these 2, and give them a big thumbs up!

1. Black My Recipe Journal Blank Cookbook, 111 pages
2. Keep Calm and Cook Recipe Journal

 

 

4. Binder Rings

If you're looking for a super duper simple and frugal way to organize all of your recipes, consider a binder ring.  You can write all of your recipes on index cards or recipe cards (you can grab my free printable recipe cards HERE), then hole punch the corners and stick a binder ring through it all.  You can use one giant binder ring for all of your recipes or you can split it up into types of dishes. A binder ring each for dinner recipes, dessert recipes, etc.  You can also consider laminating your favorite recipes if you're a messy cook, like me.

 

 

5. Shutterfly

In the opposite direction, if you're looking for a beautiful high-end option, you can make a recipe book or cookbook on Shutterfly.  I personally wouldn't use it for my recipes that I just want to try. But I think it's a gorgeous and practical way to keep family favorite recipes or special recipes that have been passed down.  A recipe book from Shutterfly would also make a truly thoughtful gift that would be cherished as a keepsake.

 

6. Spiral Notebook

You don't always have to get elaborate to get the job done though.  Use a spiral notebook to jot down your recipes as you cook.  You can even add recipes you've printed from the internet by taping or gluing them to a page.

 

6. Accordion Folder

If you love typing up your recipes or printing them from websites, you can use an accordion folder to practically sort and organize your recipes.  Just like with a recipe binder, you can sort them alphabetically or by dish, and even have a section for recipes to try.

7. File folders in a file box

Getting even more basic, you can place your printed or jotted down recipes into labeled file folders.  Place them in a file box to keep track of them and keep them safe.

 

 

 

8. Pinterest

Always a fan favorite!  You can find amazing, delicious recipes all over Pinterest. But did you know you can also organize your recipes on Pinterest.  Instead of having a Pinterest board labeled something generic like "Food" or "Yum" make boards to sort your recipes like "Dinner," "Breakfast," or "Cookies."  Then you can sort all of the recipes you find to the appropriate board and find them more easily.  (And if you love food, come join me on Pinterest! I'd love to pin with you and share recipes!)

 

 

 

9.  Yummly

If you don't know about Yummly, I suggest you head over there right now.  It's kind of similar to Pinterest, but it's just food. Alll yummy, delicious food.  And similarly to Pinterest, you can choose to just have one big place for your "Yums" (yums on Yummly are like pins on Pinterest), or you can create subsections to categorize your yums into breakfast, dinner, desserts, etc. There's even a Yummly bookmarklet that you can add to your browser, so you can save any of your favorite recipes from the web, even if there's not a Yummly button on the site.

10. Online Recipe Organizer

And last but not least, this one's for the techie foodie.  You can also organize recipes with online recipe organizers, apps, or computer programs. These are great because they allow you to have your recipes with you no matter where you go.  Here's a rundown on a few of the most popular options:

• ChefTap:  If you're on Android, the ChefTap Android app has gotten AMAZING reviews.  It's getting it's great reviews because it's actually doing what most other apps claim to do.  It can format and save recipes from almost any site.  You can even import an entire Pinterest board as separate recipes! Pretty amazing!
• Google Drive:  When saving recipes to Google Drive, it's easy to make notes about the recipe and share recipes with others. You can just copy/paste the recipe you want to try and save them.  It's extremely easy to search for recipes in Google Drive using any ingredient or word from the title.
• Evernote: Just like Google Drive, clipping and saving on Evernote makes it super easy to find and search for recipes, even using just 1 ingredient.
• Paprika: A great, basic, and easy-to-use app that you can save and categorize all of your recipes.
• Pepperplate: Pepperplate is free and will work on any device, so you can find and share recipes no matter where you are or what device you're using. You can also menu plan and make shopping lists.

 

What's your favorite way to organize your recipes? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

 

Did you like these Recipe Organization ideas? Find more on my Organization, Organized Kitchen, and Kitchen Tips boards on Pinterest!

If you liked these ideas about how to organize recipes, you might also like

Free Printable Recipe Cards

 

How to Make a Recipe Binder

 

Home Management Binder - FREE Printables

See More Organization Ideas

Count Me In!