Modifying Recipes

To modify a recipe using our AI assistant, follow these steps:

1. Open the recipe you want to modify and click on the "Recipe Assistant" button.
2. Ask to modify the recipe by clearly stating what changes you want. For example: "Make this recipe gluten-free" or "Add more protein".
3. Click the "Preview Changes" button that appears to see exactly what would change in the recipe.
4. Choose how to save the changes:
   • Create a new branch of the recipe (available to everyone)
   • Update the current branch (if you own it)
   • Update the original recipe (if you are the recipe owner)

The AI assistant can help you modify multiple aspects of a recipe:

• Ingredients: Add, remove, or substitute ingredients, and adjust their quantities.
• Instructions: Change cooking methods, add steps for clarity, simplify procedures, or enhance techniques.
• Servings: Scale the recipe up or down to feed more or fewer people.
• Cook Times: Adjust preparation time, cooking time, or total time based on modifications to the recipe.

When the assistant suggests modifications to a recipe, you'll have a chance to preview exactly what would change before saving:

• Changed elements are clearly highlighted so you can see exactly what's different from the original.
• Removed items appear with a red background highlight.
• Added items appear with a green background highlight.
• Modified quantities and times are shown with arrows indicating the change (e.g., 2 → 4 servings).

After previewing the AI's modifications, you have several options for saving the changes:

• Create a Branch: This option is available to everyone and creates a new branch of the recipe that preserves the original while saving your modifications as a connected but separate version. This is the recommended option when you want to keep the original recipe intact while experimenting with changes.
• Update the Current Branch: If you are viewing a branch that you created, you can choose to update it with the new modifications rather than creating another branch. This is useful when you're iteratively improving a branch you've already created.
• Update the Original Recipe: If you created the original recipe, you can choose to update it directly with the modifications. This completely replaces the original recipe with the modified version. Use this when you're confident the changes are improvements you want to keep permanently.

To get the most useful modifications from the AI, try phrasing your requests in these ways:

• Be specific about your goals: "I need to make this recipe gluten-free for someone with celiac disease" is better than just "Make this gluten-free."
• Mention constraints: "I don't have a food processor, only a blender" or "I need to serve this to someone who can't handle spicy food."
• Specify what to preserve: "I want to reduce the calories but keep the creamy texture" helps the AI understand what's important to you.
• Ask about implications: "How will making this dairy-free affect the flavor and what can I do to compensate?"

Remember you can also ask general cooking questions about the recipe before asking for modifications.

Here are some examples of effective recipe modification requests:

• "Use canned tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes"
• "Modify this to use an air fryer"
• "Add more fiber and protein"

View more examples →

While our AI can suggest many adaptations, some modifications—especially those related to severe allergies, medical conditions, or precise nutritional requirements—should be verified by professionals. Always consult with healthcare providers regarding dietary modifications for medical conditions.

Learn more about food safety with AI →