Recipes and Cooking Help
AI is like having a knowledgeable chef in your pocket. Whether you need recipes, cooking techniques, or help using up ingredients, AI can transform your time in the kitchen.
What You'll Learn
How to use AI for recipes, cooking guidance, meal planning, and solving kitchen challenges.
Why This Matters
Cooking can be stressful when you don't know what to make or how to make it. AI makes cooking more accessible, creative, and enjoyable.
What AI Can Help With
- Find recipes - Based on ingredients, preferences, or cravings
- Adjust recipes - Substitutions, scaling, dietary modifications
- Learn techniques - Step-by-step cooking guidance
- Plan meals - Weekly meal planning
- Troubleshoot - Fix cooking mistakes
Finding Recipes
By Ingredients
"I have chicken thighs, bell peppers, and rice. What can I make?"
By Craving
"I want something comforting but not too heavy for dinner tonight"
By Constraints
"Give me a vegetarian dinner recipe that's high in protein and takes less than 30 minutes"
By Cuisine
"I want to try making Thai food at home. What's a good beginner-friendly Thai recipe?"
Recipe Customization
Dietary Adjustments
"Make this recipe vegan: [paste recipe]"
"How would I make this recipe gluten-free?"
Scaling
"This recipe serves 4. How do I adjust it for 12 people?"
Substitutions
"I don't have buttermilk. What can I use instead?"
"What's a good substitute for fish sauce in this recipe?"
Try It Yourself
Get a personalized recipe:
Then customize:
- "Can you make this recipe lower in sodium?"
- "What side dish would go well with this?"
- "How would I adapt this for an air fryer?"
Meal Planning
Weekly Plans
"Create a week of dinner ideas for a busy family of four. Mix of quick meals and one weekend cooking project."
Themed Plans
"Give me a week of Mediterranean diet dinners with a shopping list"
Budget-Conscious
"Plan 5 dinners for under $50 total, using ingredients that share well across recipes"
Variety
"I'm in a dinner rut. Give me 7 creative dinner ideas I probably haven't tried"
Learning Cooking Techniques
Step by Step
"How do I properly sear a steak? Explain step by step"
Why It Works
"Why do I need to let meat rest after cooking? Explain the science simply"
Skill Building
"What are the basic knife cuts every home cook should know?"
Equipment Questions
"What's the difference between a sauté pan and a skillet? When should I use each?"
Troubleshooting
Rescue Missions
"My soup is too salty. How can I fix it?"
"My cake sank in the middle. What went wrong?"
Common Mistakes
"Why did my bread not rise? I used yeast."
"My fried food comes out soggy. What am I doing wrong?"
Prevention
"How do I prevent pasta from sticking together?"
Using Up Ingredients
"I have half a head of cabbage, some ground beef, and tomato sauce. What can I make?"
"These bananas are very ripe. What should I do with them besides banana bread?"
"I bought too much cilantro. How can I use it before it goes bad?"
Baking Help
Conversions
"How many cups are in a pound of flour?"
Adjustments
"I live at high altitude. How do I adjust this cookie recipe?"
Understanding
"What's the difference between baking soda and baking powder? When do I use each?"
Special Occasions
"I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the first time. Give me a menu and timeline for cooking day"
"What's an impressive but not-too-difficult dish I can make for a dinner party?"
"Create a romantic dinner menu I can prep ahead so I'm not stuck in the kitchen all night"
Shopping Lists
"I want to make these three recipes. Create a consolidated shopping list organized by grocery store section."
"What pantry staples should I always have on hand?"
Cooking for Special Diets
"My guest is diabetic. What dessert can I make that's low in sugar but still delicious?"
"Give me high-protein meal ideas for someone building muscle"
"I need anti-inflammatory recipes. What should I be making?"
Pro Tip
Be specific about your skill level:
"I'm a beginner cook. Give me a recipe that doesn't require any techniques I might not know."
Or:
"I'm comfortable in the kitchen but want to level up. Give me a slightly challenging recipe that will teach me something new."
Common Questions
Q: Are AI recipes reliable?
A: Generally yes, but AI sometimes combines techniques oddly. If something seems off (like unusual cook times or temperatures), double-check with a reputable recipe site.
Q: Can AI account for my oven being weird?
A: Tell AI about your equipment! "My oven runs hot" or "I only have a small saucepan" helps it adjust.
Q: What about food safety?
A: AI covers basics, but for food safety questions (especially about meat temperatures, canning, or storing food), verify with official sources like USDA guidelines.
Q: Can AI help with nutrition information?
A: AI can estimate, but for precise nutrition (for medical reasons), use verified nutrition databases or apps.
What's Next
Food keeps us healthy, but what about other health questions? In the next lesson, we'll explore AI for health and wellness - with important caveats.