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How to Create an Organized Recipe Collection

December 21 // 6 Comments // 5 Minute Read

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The trick to recipe organization is to find a system that works for you. These three methods are the most popular options out there, and are guaranteed to turn your recipe clippings into a deliciously organized collection!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

The trick to keeping recipes organized is to find a system that works for you. These three methods are the most popular options out there, and turn your recipe clippings into a deliciously organized collection! #recipeorganization #howtoorganizerecipes #recipebook #recipebinder

Recipes seem to attract disorganization. Hand-written cards passed down from grandma, folders full of magazine tear-outs, dozens of cookbooks from your bridal shower….oh, and hundreds of recipes you’ve probably saved on Pinterest and then totally forgot about.

Let’s face it—there are more recipes out there then you could ever make in a lifetime, yet we somehow hang on to them all…just in case. Because….SOMEDAY.

When my own collection spilled out onto another shelf in my kitchen, I knew it was time to do something. Thankfully, I love fixing messes and putting everything in order, so I was actually excited to tackle this project. Although I have to admit—hundreds of recipes can be a little overwhelming!

I eventually created The Printable Recipe Binder Kit to wrangle my own recipes into submission, but the truth is, a pre-designed kit isn’t going to work for everyone. That doesn’t mean you should give up though. If you want seamless meal planning and cooking time in the kitchen, an organized recipe collection will help immensely.

In this post, I’m going to teach you exactly how to start and complete your own recipe organization project, all while finding a solution that works for YOU. As you’ll quickly find out, there are dozens of options to choose from—the key is finding one you’ll love and use long-term!

1. Declutter Your Recipe Collection

The first step in any organization project is to pare down what you currently have. This eliminates overwhelm and turns your remaining recipes into a much more manageable project. This means you should:

  • Be ruthless and get rid of any cookbooks you don’t use. This one was painful for me because I love my cookbooks! But I felt so much better knowing they weren’t taking up precious cabinet space anymore.
  • Comb through all loose pages and make two separate piles. One for recipes you know you won’t make {for instance, if they have ingredients you never buy}, and one for recipes you would like to try in the future. When in doubt, throw it out. Remember, we’re trying to minimize the clutter!

BONUS TIP: For cookbooks you want to keep, place an index sheet inside the front cover, with a list of pages you reference. Or, mark those pages with a cute page flag instead.

2. Organize Your Recipes

Now it’s time to get your recipes in order. I cannot stress this enough, but the most important aspect of recipe organization is finding a system that works for you! 

There are a lot of options out there, but you want an organizational system that works the way your brain works. Otherwise, you’ll have to do the whole thing over again in a few months—yuck. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before trying anything:

  • Do you like using technology {phones, tablets, or computers} in the kitchen? If yes, then an e-solution might be your best option. If not, then you shouldn’t even consider them. Even though they look fancy and work well for others, it’s not going to be something that works for you.
  • Are you inspired by pretty things? For some, function in the kitchen is the most important. It doesn’t matter if the recipes are a combination of cards, clippings, printouts, and pages, just as long as they are organized. For others, it may be more important to have everything look coordinated and pretty. Depending on which side you fall on, your preferred system will be different.
  • How much time are you willing to spend? This is common hangup with any organizational adventure. You want to get organized, but are overwhelmed by the time it might take. Remember, you want a system that fits your personality. Time is a factor, but shouldn’t be the only one.

Now let’s look at some recipe organization solutions…

Pinterest:

In today’s digital age, we really don’t really NEED cookbooks anymore. There are more recipes you can get for free on the internet than you could get in any collection of cookbooks. Not only that, but you can find most of these recipes in one spot—Pinterest!

The key to rocking a Pinterest recipe catalog is to create boards that makes sense to you. It doesn’t matter whether you organize by “Main Dish” “Side Dish” and “Desserts”, or “Beef” “Chicken” and “Cookies”. Pick categories that you’ll know instantly where to look when you create your weekly meal plan.

One of the cool NEW things with Pinterest is their “Tried it” button. Whenever you click on that button, it’s a reminder that you have tried that recipe, and you’ll be able to see any comments you had about it.

Other digital recipe organization solutions are:

  • Evernote – Although not specifically created for recipes, you can still “clip” recipes from the internet or type in your own. Organize each recipe into Notebooks based on type of dish, and access on any device!
  • Plan to Eat – Plan to Eat is an app that helps you meal plan AND stores all your recipes. Once your recipes are imported, you can drag and drop each recipe into a calendar and plan a whole month’s worth of meals.
  • Paprika – This app is specifically made to store and curate your recipes. It will even generate a shopping list for you!

The Printable Recipe Binder Kit:

I’m not someone who’s going to use my iPad in the kitchen {at least not very often} and I very much want my organization methods to look neat and cute. That’s why I created The Printable Recipe Binder Kit.

I’m able to print off recipe cards that look beautiful, then copy my recipes over to them. I can also enter them in on my computer if I don’t want to write by hand. Not only do I have an ADORABLE binder that has all my favorite recipes organized, I’m much less overwhelmed when I sit down to do my meal planning!

If you want to learn more about The Printable Recipe Binder Kit and see photos of what it looks like inside, head on over to this introductory post for more information.

A Simple Recipe Notebook:

If the Printable Recipe Binder sounds like too much work, and you’d rather have a physical notebook over a digital one, then your solution is to buy a notebook, a package of sheet protectors, divider tabs, and a glue stick.

You’ll want to grab your stack of favorite recipes, whether they are from a magazine, cookbook, or 3×5 card, and glue them onto sheets of paper. Slip these papers into sheet protectors, and organize by category. It’s a simple solution and should only take you a few days to finish, especially since you aren’t creating an entirely new system…you’re just organizing what you already have.

This is the system I first used because it was super easy to do. But I have to say I’m in love with The Printable Recipe Binder Kit because it just looks so pretty, and pretty gets me every time!

3. Have a system for new recipes going forward

Once your recipes are organized, you’ll need a system in place for any new ones you want to add to the list. The last thing you want to do is surround yourself with a cluttered mess again. This is where the “want-to-try” Recipe Folder comes in!

This folder holds all looseleaf cards and printouts you want to hang onto, so you can easily incorporate them into your Weekly Meal Plan rotation. I usually add 1-2 new recipes a week so it’s not too overwhelming. If the recipe is “meh”, I throw it away. But if it gets raving reviews and is something I’ll make again, I add it directly to my Recipe Binder.

Whatever you do, avoid creating yet another recipe pile. Take 3-5 minutes to type or write out your recipe right away, then toss your looseleaf paper in the trash. One of the keys to staying organized is doing those quick tasks now versus later!

I’ll be honest—organizing your recipes isn’t always a quick project, and I think that’s why so many of us tend to put it off.

But it’s so worth it. I know exactly where to find all my favorite recipes, and an organized system inspires me to be much more creative in the kitchen. Chaos might be the easiest solution now, but organization is much better long term!

Which recipe organization solution is your favorite?

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Lindsey says

    January 19 at 12:16 pm

    I love the idea of having a separate folder for recipes you want to try! That’s genius!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 23 at 11:31 am

      I’m not sure I’d go as far as genius. 😉 But, thank you!

      Reply
  2. Holly says

    January 19 at 9:48 pm

    I will cook using a recipe on my smart phone in a pinch but I really prefer using a recipe card. The tricky thing for me is I don’t want to write it out on the card until I’ve made it a few times and consider it a “keeper.” I like your idea of creating a process for going forward.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      January 23 at 11:30 am

      Thanks, Holly! No matter what system works best for you, having that process in place for trying new recipes and then merging them into your permanent collection is the key to keeping everything organized.

      Reply
  3. Amy says

    February 4 at 12:04 pm

    I am very impressed. Thank you, this gives me a lot of good ideas. I had no idea about these apps.😊

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      February 6 at 11:08 am

      You’re welcome! There are so many great options out there.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣ ⁣ “I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣ ⁣ Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣ ⁣ I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣ ⁣ Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣ ⁣ ➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣ ➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣ ➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣ ➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣ ➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣ ➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣ ⁣ What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣ ⁣ You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣ ⁣ See, we’re all different! ⁣ ⁣ Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣ ⁣ Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣ ⁣ What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣ ⁣ I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣ ⁣ But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣ ⁣ As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣ ⁣ Why? ⁣ ⁣ No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣ ⁣ And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣ ⁣ There are too many good ones out there anyway. Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣ ⁣ This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣ ⁣ Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣ ⁣ What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
⁣
T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣ ⁣ These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣ 2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣ 3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣ ⁣ That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣ ⁣ What planners/journals are you using for 2021?

Self-care is just as important as making your famo
Self-care is just as important as making your famous sugar cookies this holiday season. 🍪⁣ ⁣ Because let’s be real. ⁣ ⁣ That Hallmark-esque Christmas magic disappears the moment disagreeable family members annoy you. Or when you feel irritable over too many late nights and little-to-no sleep. Or when expectations over meals and traditions and social activities fall short and leave you feeling disappointed. 😬⁣ ⁣ But instead of dwelling on these stressful moments and using them as an excuse to completely disconnect from reality (as I’m often tempted to do!), view them as an opportunity for you to respond with poise. 💞⁣ ⁣ ➕ Journal your feelings. ⁣ ➕ Go for a walk. ⁣ ➕ Prioritize what’s essential. ⁣ ➕ Remember to breathe.⁣ ➕ And try not to eat your feelings…okay?⁣ ⁣ Here’s your permission slip if you need one: You don’t need to do or participate in everything! Take a time out when you need it. 🙌⁣ ⁣ That’s the best way you can protect your emotional well-being over the next few days.⁣ ⁣ Merry Christmas, friends! 🎄


I know you’re ready for this year to be over. 🙋‍♀️ The last twelve months brought so many hard things into our lives—relationships were lost, our country became more broken and divided than ever, and oh yeah, we walked through a pandemic too. 🦠 🤯 No biggie, right? Ha! 😅 And while it’s easy to look back and wish we could skip 2020 altogether (or at least insist on a do-over), I don’t want this year to be the one where the hard overcame the good. 💕 Just as hard days don’t mean ruined days, hard years don’t mean ruined years. 2020 can still be good. 💪 For me, I want to remember the fun and exciting things we did. The adventures we had. The new shows we watched, and the books we read. The new life hacks and things I discovered that made my life easier or just brought me joy. 💞 You’ll find it all in my latest blog post (link in profile). If you still need to buy a gift for a loved one (or for yourself!), you’ll find plenty of fun and affordable ideas to fill up the rest of your gifting list. 📦 Otherwise, enjoy a stroll down the good side of 2020’s memory lane and leave your favorite things in the comments so I can try them. 👋


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