OnlineBookClub.org

Do you buy cooking books or do you look for recipes online?

I stopped buying cooking books and look for recipes online.

I have a few cookbooks that I bought because they teach a lot of basics as well, such as how to clean and cut fish, etc.

If I'm just making something one time and need a recipe, I usually look online. Or, if I've made something a million times and still can't remember the proper ratios, and need a quick reminder. xD
I usually choose cookbooks by how often I think I'll use the recipes. I hope that they'll become something like textbooks -- the more I go over them, the more I can learn the material and do it without looking, as if I had to take a test.

katiesquilts wrote:I have a few cookbooks that I bought because they teach a lot of basics as well, such as how to clean and cut fish, etc.

If I'm just making something one time and need a recipe, I usually look online. Or, if I've made something a million times and still can't remember the proper ratios, and need a quick reminder. xD
I usually choose cookbooks by how often I think I'll use the recipes. I hope that they'll become something like textbooks -- the more I go over them, the more I can learn the material and do it without looking, as if I had to take a test.

I also got a few cookbooks, but I stopped using them.

gali wrote:

katiesquilts wrote:I have a few cookbooks that I bought because they teach a lot of basics as well, such as how to clean and cut fish, etc.

If I'm just making something one time and need a recipe, I usually look online. Or, if I've made something a million times and still can't remember the proper ratios, and need a quick reminder. xD
I usually choose cookbooks by how often I think I'll use the recipes. I hope that they'll become something like textbooks -- the more I go over them, the more I can learn the material and do it without looking, as if I had to take a test.

I also got a few cookbooks, but I stopped using them.

Because you don't use the recipes, or because you don't need them anymore?

katiesquilts wrote:

gali wrote:

katiesquilts wrote:I have a few cookbooks that I bought because they teach a lot of basics as well, such as how to clean and cut fish, etc.

If I'm just making something one time and need a recipe, I usually look online. Or, if I've made something a million times and still can't remember the proper ratios, and need a quick reminder. xD
I usually choose cookbooks by how often I think I'll use the recipes. I hope that they'll become something like textbooks -- the more I go over them, the more I can learn the material and do it without looking, as if I had to take a test.

I also got a few cookbooks, but I stopped using them.

Because you don't use the recipes, or because you don't need them anymore?

Both. I now search for new recipes online.

I will search for new recipes online, both because I needed to curb my book purchases and because I found I wasn't really using most of the cookbooks I already had on hand. But I must say I am a sucker for cookbooks with gorgeous photographs...that's usually what hooks me with cookbooks. Having said that, my most often-used cookbook is Veganomicon, and it only has photos in the center of the book!

I own a few cookbooks, but, like Gali, I don't use them too much. For some reason, cookbooks have a lot of recipes that are either hard to make or have ingredients that are expensive or hard to find. I find a lot of good, easy recipes I like on cooking websites and blogs. One of the best things about internet recipes is there are often comments from people who tried the recipe and tweaked it a bit.

bookowlie wrote: I find a lot of good, easy recipes I like on cooking websites and blogs. One of the best things about internet recipes is there are often comments from people who tried the recipe and tweaked it a bit.

I agree with you on this point...I like seeing other people's comments/suggestions on the online recipes that they've already made. This is a definite advantage over traditional cookbooks.

I have a couple recipe books that I rely on. They are ones that have recipes for basic foods with background on each item. I find I'm more intrigued if there is some sort of a dialogue, rather than just a recipe. Lately, I have been relying on Pinterest/online recipes because the reviews are typically helpful, there's more diversity, and the online versions are free

I wish I used cookbooks. I have so many but I find it so much easier to just have my laptop open and on the counter while I am cooking. I also usually don't know what to make and in cookbooks they only have a few options for certain recipes. When I do use a cookbook and try to find something I generally don't have the ingredients I need and am not wanting to run to the store, whereas I usually can find a recipe online with whatever is in my kitchen.

I really wanted to say cookbooks, but I can't, which kind of makes me sad. Cookbooks are so traditional that it seems a shame that they could really (eventually) disappear

I usually look online whenever I need to bake anything but recently I bought a baking book and thought it was so cute. I actually like having the books rather than looking online, I think its a cute accessory to have at home and there are so many different recipes I have never heard of before which the book introduced me to.

HarneetB wrote:I actually like having the books rather than looking online, I think its a cute accessory to have at home and there are so many different recipes I have never heard of before which the book introduced me to.

You brought up a good point when you said that the books introduce you to new recipes. When you look for recipes online you have to search for them, which means you usually only get recipes related to things that you already know about. But with cookbooks you can "browse" multiple recipes without having to narrow any down!

I have about 30 cook books that cover almost everything from desserts to comfort foods. However, I have found that even though I have so many cook books, I have been looking recipes up online in an increasing manner.

Christmas is an exception. I will use my cook books when making my Christmas baked goods. There is just something about the use of a book rather than a computer that I like and feel as though I am sticking more with tradition.

Sasha

I am from a small town and part of a big Dutch family which means there are a lot of family and community cookbooks on my shelves. I also enjoy Pioneer woman cookbooks. If I can't find what I am looking for in the books there are a million recipes online just waiting for me to find them.