Scan a Recipe from Photo (iOS)

Have a recipe in a cookbook, on a handwritten card, or in a screenshot? Cookonut on iPhone and iPad can scan the image and turn it into a structured, editable recipe. You can snap a photo with your camera or pick an existing image from your photo library.

How to Scan a Recipe

1. Open Cookonut and go to the Recipes tab
2. Tap the + button
3. Choose Scan recipe
4. Select one of the options:
   • Take Photo — opens your iPhone or iPad camera to snap a picture
   • Choose from Library — opens your photo library to select an existing image
5. After selecting or taking the photo, tap Import
6. Wait while Cookonut reads and processes the image

Cookonut needs camera and photo library access on iOS. If prompted, tap Allow to grant permission. You can manage these permissions later in the Settings app under Privacy.

Tips for Taking Good Photos

The clearer your photo, the better the import:

• Lay the page flat — avoid curved cookbook pages that distort text
• Use good lighting — natural light works best; avoid harsh shadows across the page
• Shoot straight on — hold your iPhone directly above the page, not at an angle
• Fill the frame — get close enough that the recipe text is large and readable
• Keep it steady — tap to focus and hold still to avoid blur

What Works Best

Cookonut handles many types of images on iOS:

• Cookbook pages — lay the book flat for best results
• Handwritten recipe cards — clear handwriting works surprisingly well
• Screenshots — of recipes from apps, websites, or messages
• Magazine clippings — printed text is easy to read

Multiple Pages

If your recipe spans two cookbook pages, try to capture both pages in a single wide photo. If that’s not possible, import page one, then edit the recipe to add the remaining steps and ingredients manually.

Credit Usage

Each photo import uses 1 credit from your monthly pool. Free plan users get 10 credits per month; Premium users have unlimited imports.

Review Before Saving

After scanning, review the extracted recipe on the preview screen. Check that all ingredients were captured with correct quantities, make sure steps are in the right order, and add any missing details like prep time, cook time, or servings. When everything looks good, tap Save.