How do I add recipes to Plan to Eat?

December 25, 2025 •

4 min read

According to user feedback, the average person has recipe sources scattered across the internet and old cookbooks, creating disorganization. Learning how do I add recipes to Plan to Eat efficiently is the first and most crucial step towards consolidating your favorite dishes into one easy-to-manage digital recipe book.

Quick Summary

This guide details the multiple methods available for adding recipes to your Plan to Eat account. It covers the browser extension, mobile app features, and manual entry options for a seamless process.

Key Points

Web Clipper: Use the browser extension to import online recipes with one click on a desktop.
Mobile Share Extension: Save recipes from your mobile browser directly into the Plan to Eat app using the share menu.
Manual Entry: Type in or paste recipe text from offline sources like cookbooks, and the tool will automatically organize the content.
Image Scan: The mobile app allows you to take a photo of a recipe from a cookbook and scan it for easy import.
Pinterest Import: Connect your Pinterest account to import recipes from your pinned boards.
URL Import: Paste a recipe link directly into the 'Import from Web' tool for quick conversion.

Getting Started: Preparing Your Recipes

Before you begin adding recipes, it's helpful to know what methods are available and to gather your sources. Plan to Eat offers several ways to import recipes, catering to various needs, whether you're pulling from a favorite food blog, a family cookbook, or a Pinterest board.

Choose Your Recipe Source and Method

Online Recipes: For recipes found on websites, the Recipe Clipper browser extension or mobile share extension is the fastest method.
Cookbooks or Handwritten Notes: Recipes from physical sources are best added using the Manual Entry or Paste Recipe Text feature.
Pinterest Boards: You can import recipes directly from your Pinterest boards into your Plan to Eat account.
Previously Bookmarked Recipes: Use the Import from Web tool to paste specific URLs you have saved elsewhere.

The Browser Extension Recipe Clipper

For desktop users, the browser extension is a game-changer. Once installed, it allows you to capture a recipe from nearly any website with just a couple of clicks. The tool intelligently scrapes the webpage for ingredients, instructions, and other key information, populating a new recipe card in your account.

To install and use the browser extension:

Visit the Plan to Eat website and navigate to the recipe clipper page.
Click the link for your specific browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) to install the extension.
Navigate to a recipe you want to save on a cooking website.
Click the Plan to Eat clipper icon in your browser's toolbar.
A window will open, showing the imported recipe details. Review and make any necessary corrections or additions.
Click 'Save' to add the recipe to your digital Recipe Book.

Mobile App Options: Share Extension and Scan Photo

Adding recipes on the go is just as simple with the Plan to Eat mobile app. The mobile share extension works similarly to the browser extension, and the app also features a handy photo scanning tool.

Using the Mobile Share Extension

On your phone or tablet, find a recipe on a website via your browser.
Tap the share button (usually represented by an arrow or three dots).
Select the Plan to Eat 'Save Recipe' option from the list of apps.
The app will open and import the recipe. You can then edit and save it to your Recipe Book.

Scanning a Photo of a Recipe

Open the Plan to Eat app and go to your Recipe Book.
Tap the '+' button to add a new recipe and select 'Scan a Photo'.
Take a picture of the recipe from a cookbook or magazine, or select an existing photo from your device's gallery.
The app will use OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to pull the text, which you can then format and save.

Manual Entry and Importing from a Link

For recipes that can't be clipped easily or for your own creations, manual entry is the way to go. There are two straightforward methods for this.

Manual Entry using Paste Recipe Text

In your Recipe Book, click 'Add Recipe'.
Name your recipe and then select the 'Paste Recipe Text' option.
Copy and paste the entire recipe—ingredients, instructions, and all—into the text box.
Plan to Eat will automatically sort the text into the correct fields. Review and save.

Importing a URL

In your Recipe Book, click 'Import from Web'.
Paste the URL of the recipe you want to import into the search bar.
Click the 'Import Recipe' button that appears.
Just like with the clipper, you'll be able to review the imported data before saving.

Comparison of Recipe Adding Methods


Feature	Web Clipper	Manual Entry/Paste Text	Mobile Scan	Import URL
Source Type	Websites	Cookbooks, Docs, PDFs	Physical media	Website links
Best For	New recipes from blogs	Family recipes, unique notes	Digitizing paper recipes	Saved links, specific pages
Speed	Extremely fast	Variable, dependent on typing	Variable, dependent on image quality	Very fast
Accuracy	Generally high, but requires review	Dependent on user	Can be lower, requires review	Generally high, but requires review
Required Tool	Browser Extension	Web/App Interface	Mobile App with camera	Web/App Interface
Connectivity	Online	Can be done offline in app	Requires camera, text recognition offline	Online

Using Pinterest for Recipe Imports

For those who organize their culinary inspirations on Pinterest, Plan to Eat offers an integration feature to pull recipes directly from your boards. This is ideal for quickly migrating your saved ideas into your meal planner.

How to Import from Pinterest

Log in to your Plan to Eat account and go to your Recipe Book.
Locate the import options and find the Pinterest integration feature.
Follow the prompts to connect your Plan to Eat account to your Pinterest account.
Select the Pinterest boards you wish to import recipes from.
The recipes from those boards will be imported into your Recipe Book.

Conclusion

Plan to Eat provides a robust and flexible system for managing your recipes, no matter their origin. Whether you prefer the speedy, one-click convenience of the web clipper, the precise control of manual entry, or the portability of the mobile app, there is a method perfectly suited for your needs. By taking advantage of these tools, you can easily gather all your favorite recipes into one central, organized digital cookbook, ready for meal planning anytime.

Learn more about managing your recipes at the official Plan to Eat website.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can install the browser extension by visiting the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-Ons, or the Mac App Store for Safari and searching for the 'Plan to Eat Recipe Clipper.' Click 'Add' and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

The 'Paste Recipe Text' feature is used for manually entering recipes from sources like cookbooks, PDFs, or Word documents. You can paste the entire recipe into a single box, and the system will intelligently separate the ingredients and instructions into the correct fields.

Yes, the mobile app offers several ways to add recipes, including using the mobile Share Extension, manually entering the recipe, scanning a photo of a recipe, or importing from a URL.

After using the clipper, you will see an import window where you can review and edit all the recipe data. If something imported incorrectly, you can manually correct it before clicking 'Save'.

Yes, Plan to Eat has a specific feature that allows you to import recipes from your Pinterest boards into your digital Recipe Book.

Once added to your Recipe Book, you can organize your recipes by assigning a course, cuisine, main ingredient, and custom tags. You can also give them a star rating and search or filter to find them later.

The browser extension offers a one-click import from the website you're currently viewing. Importing a URL requires you to copy the link and paste it into a specific import field within the Plan to Eat interface.