Backup recipes from cooking blogs

Backing up recipes from cooking blogs ensures that your favorite dishes remain accessible even if the website goes offline or changes. Here’s how you can do it efficiently and ethically:

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1. Use a Note-Taking App

Apps like Notion, Evernote, Google Keep, or Microsoft OneNote are ideal for saving recipes:

• Copy and paste the recipe content (ingredients, steps, tips).

• Add the original blog URL for reference.

• Tag recipes (e.g., “Dessert,” “Vegan,” “Quick Meals”) for easy retrieval.

2. Save as PDF

Most browsers allow you to Print to PDF:

• Open the blog post.

• Press Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac).

• Select Save as PDF as the printer option.

• Save it in a designated recipe folder.

3. Use Web Clipper Tools

Browser extensions like Evernote Web Clipper, Notion Web Clipper, or Pocket allow you to save the full content:

• Click the extension button while on the recipe page.

• Choose to save the simplified article or full page.

• Access it offline anytime.

4. Use Pinterest or Bookmarking

If you just want quick access:

• Pin the recipe post to a dedicated board (e.g., “Dinner Recipes”).

• Or create browser bookmarks in categorized folders.

5. Screenshots for Quick Access

Take screenshots if the recipe is short and doesn’t need copying:

• Save screenshots in organized folders or apps like Google Photos with album labels.

6. Use Recipe Management Apps

Apps like Paprika, Whisk, or Copy Me That are designed to collect and organize online recipes:

• They extract recipe content cleanly from blogs.

• Provide ingredient scaling, grocery lists, and meal planning.

• Some offer cloud sync across devices.

7. Use Pocket or Instapaper

These apps let you save articles to read later:

• They strip away ads and extra content.

• You can tag recipes and even highlight important steps.

• Pocket has offline access and text-to-speech options.

8. Automate with IFTTT or Zapier

If you often save recipes from specific sites:

• Set up an IFTTT recipe like: “If I bookmark a recipe on Chrome, then save it to Google Docs.”

• Or use Zapier to save RSS feed items from cooking blogs into a Google Sheet or Notion database.

9. Create a Personal Recipe Database

If you’re collecting a large number of recipes:

• Use tools like Airtable or Notion to build your own recipe collection.

• Add custom fields like cuisine, cook time, difficulty, photo uploads, or ratings.

• Link original URLs for credit.

10. Respect Copyright and Fair Use

Always:

• Keep backups for personal use only.

• Don’t republish full content online without permission.

• Credit the original author when sharing with friends or family.

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Bonus Tips

• If you cook often, consider printing out your most-used recipes and organizing them in a binder.

• Use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) apps to scan recipes from cookbooks or screenshots into editable text.

• Periodically review your saved recipes and delete ones you didn’t end up using.

Backing up recipes not only ensures continuity in your cooking journey but also saves time and keeps you organized. With the right tools, you can build a digital cookbook tailored to your taste.