Asking Questions

There are two ways to ask questions:

• Assistant: Access the "Assistant" from the sidebar to ask any cooking-related question, even without having a specific recipe open.
• Recipe Assistant: When viewing a specific recipe, look for the "Recipe Assistant" button. This allows you to ask questions directly about that recipe or any general cooking question.

The AI assistant can help with a wide range of cooking inquiries. Here are some categories of questions it can answer:

• Recipe Clarification: "What does it mean to fold in the cheese?" or "Why do I need to rest the meat after cooking?"
• Ingredient Questions: "What type of apples are best for baking?" or "Can I substitute almond milk for regular milk?"
• Cooking Techniques: "How do I properly sear a steak?" or "What's the difference between simmering and boiling?"
• Troubleshooting: "Why did my cookies spread too much?" or "How can I fix a sauce that's too salty?"
• Nutritional Information: "Is this recipe keto-friendly?" or "How can I make this recipe higher in protein?"
• Food Science: "Why does bread rise?" or "What makes caramelization happen?"

When asking questions about a specific recipe (using the "Recipe Assistant" button on a recipe page), consider these approaches:

• Clarify Instructions: "In step 3, what does it mean to cook until translucent?"
• Ingredient Substitutions: "Can I use vegetable oil instead of olive oil in this recipe?"
• Equipment Alternatives: "I don't have a food processor, what else can I use for this step?"
• Scaling: "How should I adjust the cooking time if I double this recipe?"
• Storage: "Can I freeze this dish after cooking? How long will it keep?"
• Serving Suggestions: "What side dishes would pair well with this main course?"

To get the most helpful responses from the AI assistant, try these strategies:

1. Be Specific: The more details you include in your question, the more tailored the response will be.
2. One Question at a Time: For complex issues, start with one clear question, then follow up with additional questions based on the response.
3. Provide Context: Mention relevant details like the type of equipment you're using or specific dietary restrictions.
4. Ask Follow-up Questions: If the initial answer doesn't fully address your needs, ask follow-up questions to get more specific information.

Here are some effective questions to inspire your own:

• "What's the best way to steam vegetables?"
• "What kind of mushrooms should I use?"
• "Is this safe for someone with diabetes?"

View more examples →

The AI assistant draws on extensive cooking knowledge but may not have information about very specific or regional ingredients and techniques. Always use your judgment when applying cooking advice, especially regarding food safety.

Learn more about food safety with AI →