ChefTalk.com  ›  ChefTalk Cooking Forums  ›  Food and Cooking Forums  ›  Food & Cooking Questions and Discussion  ›  Do you use a computer as your No. 1 recipes book?
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread

Do you use a computer as your No. 1 recipes book?

Poll Results: Do you use your computer as your No. 1 cookbook?

 
  • 30% (6)
    Yes, the computer is my No. 1 source for recipes
  • 70% (14)
    No, I will always prefer a hard copy cookbook
20 Total Votes  
#1
Rating: 0
8/17/09 at 10:59pm
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Post Count: 2
Hi,
I wanted to know if we are on a track of saying good bye to cookbooks or not... :lips:
So my question is:
Do you use a computer as your No. 1 recipes book?
Export to Wiki
#2
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 3:48am
  • Joined: February 2007
  • Location: Central Kentucky---where the bluegrass meets the mountains
  • Post Count: 3,060
Of the two I will always opt for a cookbook over the computer. Having had numerous problems with them through the years, I just don't trust computers.

Then, two, I'm the type of person for whom if it isn't on a piece of paper it doesn't exist. There's no way I could follow a recipe off a monitor.

It surely would be a terrible thing to die of low cholesterol!

Export to Wiki
#3
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 5:38am
  • Joined: March 2002
  • Location: SLC UT
  • Post Count: 4,337
most of the things I ccok most often are on my computer. But I use books plenty of times too. Probably close to 50/50 for me.

Phil

The Cake is a Lie!

Export to Wiki
#4
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 5:57am
  • Joined: August 2008
  • Location: Schenectady, NY
  • Post Count: 116
I tend to use both although lately it seems I've been leaning towards recipes online. If I see a recipe I'd like to try I'll bookmark it. If I use it I'll print it and put it in my binder for future reference. There's just too much info out there for the average home chef to ignore and depend on cookbooks alone.

That being said, I do use books more for my baking and would never want to have part with my collection of hardcovers.

Willie
Export to Wiki
#5
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 9:50am
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Location: Windsor, ON
  • Post Count: 6
Personally, online is my backup cookbook.

First I consult my handwritten book of recipes from my family, previous jobs and previous features I have made etc., then I consult my hard copy books and only as a last resort do I check the web
Export to Wiki
#6
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 10:08am
  • Joined: December 2008
  • Location: UK
  • Post Count: 216
I will split pure research (recipes/technique etc.) between computers and books.

If I want a relaxing, non task orientated, read about food/chefs etc. then at the moment I elect 100% for books. Partly because it suits my eyes better, but also because I tend to lean into monitors I think, whereas with books I can sit in a fashion that allows me to lean back and feel more relaxed.

Possibly portable technology like e-readers will bridge that gap for me in the not too distant future.
Export to Wiki
#7
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 1:51pm
  • Joined: September 2008
  • Location: Saint Eustache, Quebec
  • Post Count: 94
A mixture of both. I use computer for work for day to day admin of recipes, costing etc. I do R&D through internet, cookbooks, and chat rooms. (Ha Ha!)

I could not live without my books though. What happens when the power goes out? For this reason, I have a hard copy of all recipes.

Jason Sandeman

Real Food Through Solid Technique

Export to Wiki
#8
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 2:28pm
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Location: Fond du Lac, WI
  • Post Count: 3,367
I have to agree with most people here. I'm pretty much 50/50 any more though there is nothing like sitting down and reading a good cookbook cover to cover.

From Man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the World-Saint Arnoldus
http://www.onceachef.com/

Export to Wiki
#9
Rating: 0
8/18/09 at 8:50pm
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Post Count: 44
computers have their place but no computer will ever replace having a fresh issue of Art Culinaire in your hands. period.
Export to Wiki
#10
Rating: 0
8/19/09 at 6:22pm
  • Joined: July 2002
  • Location: Bellingham, WA
  • Post Count: 965
Books but also magazines. I tear out loads of interesting-looking recipes from magazines (Food and Wine, Gourmet, Saveur, etc.). Although I use the computer every day, I prefer hard-copies when it comes to any amount of reading over a forum response-length.
Sometimes, when I am using a recipe from a magazine, I will check their website for corrections and for comments by other users.

But I will always prefer the feel and look of a book.

Emily

______________________

"If you are not killing plants, you are not really stretching yourself as a gardener." -- J. C. Raulston, American Horticulturist

Export to Wiki
#11
Rating: 0
8/19/09 at 6:37pm
  • Joined: June 2007
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Post Count: 1,730
Yonatan, are you the same person who was asking people if they would pay for recipes? As in if they would be ready to get their credit card out for a recipe? If so, I forgot the name you used, but you said you were kicked out of another site for spamming. The name had "Nathan" in it. Who are you? And why is this poll your first post here with this name?
Export to Wiki
#12
Rating: 0
8/19/09 at 6:49pm
  • Joined: June 2007
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Post Count: 1,730
My response to that person was that I won't consider paying for a recipe online unless it's from someone well known or if I tasted something I just "have" to have the recipe for. Now I can't find that thread--seems to have disappeared.
Export to Wiki
#13
Rating: 0
8/19/09 at 10:13pm
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Post Count: 2
Thanks for answering my poll!
No, I am not the same guy which you saw asking about a paying for receipts by credit card.

The poll i sent is because i have an idea that will change the need of using books and wanted to see, before i start working on it, if people are into it.
Infact i built a survey which is more focused on the answers i am looking for.

spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dHRCSGZnQ21rT0o4OXdhREZqcFh YZUE6MA..

(copy paste the URL to your browser)

So if you have the time, i would be happy if you could answer it too.

Thanks a lot for the help!
Yonatan.
Export to Wiki
#14
Rating: 0
8/19/09 at 10:15pm
  • Joined: June 2007
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Post Count: 1,730
Cool we got a 2nd post
Export to Wiki
#15
Rating: 0
8/24/09 at 8:50pm
  • Joined: August 2008
  • Post Count: 177
The computer is my recipe source usually.

And its helped me create a few amazingly bad meals.

Never trust a recipe with zero reviews :)
Export to Wiki
#16
Rating: 0
8/24/09 at 9:03pm
  • Joined: June 2007
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Post Count: 1,730
I'm not going to fill out a survey if I have no idea who you are. Sorry. And what is your new idea?
Export to Wiki
#17
Rating: 0
8/25/09 at 2:05pm
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Location: Hamilton, ON Canada
  • Post Count: 526
For me, it's a mix of both. My husband made something for me in Super Card to store my recipes in so I've been gradually entering the ones that are cutout from magazines etc, but I do have a big cookbook collection too that I will use on a regular basis.
Export to Wiki
#18
Rating: 0
8/25/09 at 2:30pm
  • Joined: March 2005
  • Location: Illinois
  • Post Count: 886
I'm about 99-1, with 99 of my recipes from the Internet (include suggestions from the very helpful members of cheftalk) and 1% of recipes from cookbooks.

I'm going to pick up an EEE top so I have easy touch screen access to recipes online in the kitchen:
Newegg.com - ASUS Eee Top ETP1602-BK-X0045 All-in-one PC 15.6" 16:9 Wide Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) 1GB DDR2 160GB Intel GMA 950 Windows XP Home - Desktop PCs
Export to Wiki
#19
Rating: 0
8/25/09 at 3:17pm
  • Joined: October 2001
  • Location: Chicago, IL USA
  • Post Count: 3,155
I use cookbooks there is something about having a well worn book. I would suspect if in the future there are more practical (color) readers that adapt well to a kitchen environment I would use those (I am thinking of something like a kindle idea but expanded).

Thanks,

Nicko 
ChefTalk.com Founder

Export to Wiki
#20
Rating: 0
8/25/09 at 3:47pm
  • Joined: August 2007
  • Location: Scotland
  • Post Count: 1,319
Just counted my recipe books. 126. I can find most things there i need. And just as important, I enjoy them very much.

I do use the internet too, but mostly cos i'm just interested in the food of other countries and dont have enough info in my books
For example. I have 2 Lebanese books but cant find a Kubze flat bread recipe One actually says we dont include this recipe as its so easy to buy it This would be when i go online

"If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?" Jo Brand

Export to Wiki
#21
Rating: 0
8/28/09 at 11:38am
  • Joined: August 2009
  • Location: N. Dallas
  • Post Count: 9
It really depends on what I am going to cook. If its cajun, I have the Prudhomme's L.K. book or if bread the B.B.A. Or if its something from home I have the J.L.M. Memphis cookbook.

I don't own any Indian, Asian, Jamaican, or Mexican cookbooks. I love the food, so when I have the taste for it the internet is the way to go for me.

60/40 Cookbook basically.
Export to Wiki
#22
Rating: 0
9/5/09 at 2:43am
  • Joined: September 2009
  • Post Count: 16
Searching for recipes on the internet is much more convenient and at the same time practical than buying a recipe book at the store. It's much more faster. Just type the kind of meal you want and *snap* you have a list of recipes! :)
Export to Wiki
Forum Nav More Forums | All New Posts | New Thread
ChefTalk.com  ›  ChefTalk Cooking Forums  ›  Food and Cooking Forums  ›  Food & Cooking Questions and Discussion  ›  Do you use a computer as your No. 1 recipes book?