Cook Thru Support
Get in touch
The quickest way is from the app: go to Settings → Report an Issue. It adds your app and device details for you. If a scan went wrong, use Report a Scan Problem instead.
Or email philstech@icloud.com. Cook Thru is made by one person, so thanks for your patience.
Scanning
How do I get the best scan?
Lay the book or page flat in good, even light and fill the frame with the recipe. If the recipe spans two pages, scan both in the same session. Scan a photo of the dish too if you'd like it as the recipe's picture. Afterward you can fix anything in the editor before saving.
Can it read handwritten recipe cards?
Not reliably yet. Cook Thru works best with printed pages. Neat printing sometimes works, but cursive usually doesn't.
Do I need Apple Intelligence?
No. Scanning works on every supported iPhone and iPad. On devices with Apple Intelligence turned on, Cook Thru uses Apple's on-device model to organize the recipe, which handles unusual layouts better.
Importing
How do I save a recipe from a website?
In Safari, tap the Share button and choose Cook Thru. You'll see the recipe in the editor before you save it. If a page doesn't import cleanly, turn on the Cook Thru Safari extension and select just the recipe.
Can I move my recipes from Paprika or Mela?
Yes. Export your recipes from Paprika (.paprikarecipes) or Mela (.melarecipe / .melarecipes), then in Cook Thru's Library tap + → Import from File.
Siri
Say “Cook Thru” at the end of your request. Replace the words in brackets with your own recipe, ingredient, or timer name.
Open a recipe
- “Cook [recipe] in Cook Thru”
- “Open [recipe] in Cook Thru”
- “Start [recipe] in Cook Thru”
Ingredient amounts, while you're cooking
- “How much [ingredient] in Cook Thru?”
- “How much [ingredient] do I need in Cook Thru?”
- “What's the [ingredient] amount in Cook Thru?”
Timers
- “How long on [timer] in Cook Thru?”
- “How much time is left on [timer] in Cook Thru?”
- “When is [timer] done in Cook Thru?”
You'll also find these in the Shortcuts app, where you can add them to your own shortcuts.
Sync and devices
Which devices does Cook Thru run on?
iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Scanning is available on iPhone and iPad.
My recipes aren't showing up on another device.
Check that both devices are signed in to the same Apple Account and that iCloud is on for Cook Thru. A new device can take a few minutes to sync the first time.
Can I back up or share my recipes?
Yes. Share a recipe or a collection as a .cookthru file. Anyone with Cook Thru can open it.