Grandma's Cookbook

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are my cookbooks stored?

Everything is stored locally on your device — in your iPhone or iPad's Application Support folder. Nothing is uploaded to the cloud or any server.

Will I lose my cookbooks if I delete the app?

Yes — deleting the app removes all cookbooks, page images, and transcriptions stored by the app. Before deleting, use the Share PDF button inside any cookbook to save a copy of its heirloom PDF to your Files app or share it by email or AirDrop.

How do I back up my cookbooks?

Open any cookbook, tap "Share as PDF," and save the PDF to iCloud Drive, your Files app, or share it with yourself via email or AirDrop. If your device backs up to iCloud or iTunes, the app data will be included in that backup automatically.

The scanner isn't opening — what do I do?

The scanner requires camera permission. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera → Grandma's Cookbook and make sure the toggle is on. Then return to the app and try again.

The import button isn't showing my photos — what do I do?

The photo importer requires photo library access. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Photos → Grandma's Cookbook and select "All Photos" or "Selected Photos." Then return to the app and try again.

The automatic text recognition got some words wrong — can I fix them?

Yes — that's exactly what the "Fix Up This Page" editor is for. Open any cookbook, tap a page, and you'll find a full text editor where you can correct the transcription, add family notes, and tag keywords. Text recognition handles printed and clear handwriting well; for old cursive you may need to type more of it yourself, which is why the original photo is always kept beside the transcript.

How do I turn a scanned page into a recipe I can cook from?

Open the page and tap "Make it a recipe." The app splits the text into an editable ingredient list and steps. From there you can scale the servings, enter Cook Mode, and build a shopping list. The original page photo stays attached.

How does serving scaling and unit conversion work?

On any recipe, use the serving stepper or the ½×/1×/2×/3× buttons and every ingredient quantity updates instantly. The Kitchen Reference tab has an offline unit converter (cups, tablespoons, grams, ounces, milliliters), an oven-temperature table (°F/°C/gas mark), and 60+ ingredient substitutions. All of it works with no internet.

What is Cook Mode?

Cook Mode is a big-text, step-by-step cooking view that keeps your screen awake while you cook. If a step mentions a time like "simmer 15 minutes," you can start a countdown timer right from that step.

How do I make a shopping list?

Open a recipe and tap "Build Shopping List," or open a cookbook and tap "Shopping List" to combine all its recipes. Duplicate ingredients merge together and the list is grouped by grocery aisle. Tap items to check them off, and use the share button to send the list.

What is the Keepsake Book?

Inside any cookbook, tap "Keepsake Book" to generate a print-ready, typeset PDF with a cover page, a table of contents, and one nicely laid-out recipe per page. You can share it via AirDrop, email, or Messages, or AirPrint it to make a real family cookbook.

Can I share a cookbook with family members?

Yes — open any cookbook and tap "Share as PDF." This generates a beautiful heirloom PDF with all the pages that you can share via AirDrop, iMessage, email, or any other app on your device.

Does the app require internet access?

No. Grandma's Cookbook works completely offline. All scanning, text recognition, recipe scaling, unit conversion, Cook Mode, shopping lists, and PDF building happen on your device with no internet connection required. There is no account and no subscription.

How do I delete a cookbook?

Open the cookbook from the shelf, then tap the trash icon in the top-right corner. This permanently deletes the cookbook and all its saved pages.

How to Get the Best Scans

1. Lay the cookbook flat on a light-colored surface with good even lighting — avoid harsh shadows across the page.
2. Hold the phone directly above the page, parallel to it, rather than at an angle.
3. Let the scanner auto-detect the page edges before tapping the shutter.
4. If a page is hard to read, scan it anyway — then open the page editor and use the "Fix Up the Words" field to correct the transcript yourself.
5. For very old or faded pages, try scanning near a window with natural daylight for the clearest result.