RecipePad ($2.99) is a great application that allows you to record all of your favorite recipes on your iPad. You can even import recipes from MacGourmet or YummySoup. Flipping your iPad to landscape mode allows you to view each step of your recipe while you’re cooking. The beautiful user interface and extensive functionality make this a must-own for all the chefs out there.
The app is not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing. The background replicates a wooden countertop, the text is a script font, and the paper appears to curl as you flip through recipes. You can take a photo of your dish, and when you enter landscape mode, the photo is subtly faded through the index cards. Everything simply looks great.
You can add new recipes, either by manually entering them in or by importing your recipes from third-party apps, such as MacGourmet or YummySoup. When entering the recipes manually, there are fields that guide you as to what information to include. In each step, you choose the ingredient; add the quantity, units (tablespoon, quart, etc.), and time. You can also set the difficulty of the recipe so others can decide if it’s something they’re capable of cooking. You also have the ability to email each recipe.
Once your recipe is completed, you can flip the iPad to landscape mode to have one step at a time displayed on virtual index cards. If a specific step includes a timer, you’ll see that displayed at the top of the screen. You also have iPod controls at the bottom of the screen, so you can listen to your favorite songs while you cook. To get to the next step, you’ll need to tap the screen, and slide to the next card. However, if your hands are dirty, you might not want to touch your nice iPad screen. So, the app includes a handy feature that allows you to tap the countertop to go to the next step. The iPad picks up the vibration and noise from your tap, and it automatically slides to the next step. It’s a great idea, but doesn’t always work as well as you’d like. It seemed like I had to really hit the counter hard to get it to work, even after setting it to the highest sensitivity level.
RecipePad really is a gorgeous and highly functional application that’s useful for amateur and professional chefs alike. It’s a must-own for anyone who enjoys cooking.
