How to use Springpad as the ultimate recipe app!
We’ve always been proud of how useful Springpad is for saving and organizing recipes and now, with the addition of our mobile apps, there are far more ways to use Springpad in the kitchen!
Save recipes using the clipper
When you come across a recipe on your favorite website or food blog, just Spring It! Once the Springpad Clipper is installed in your browser’s bookmark bar, you can save recipe with one click – we’ll even grab the ingredients, provide a link back to the original recipe and allow you to add photos from the site.
Pro Tip: There are 5 ways to add recipes to Springpad.
Create shopping lists
When you’re viewing your recipe on Springpadit.com, you can easily create a Shopping List from the ingredient list. When viewing the recipe, click on “Add to Shopping List” under Quick Links
Pro Tip: If you’re planning to make lots of recipes, create a new shopping list from the first recipe & add the other ingredients to the same list.
Access shopping lists on your phone
With our Android app, iPhone app, or mobile web app you can access your shopping list while you’re at the store. Check off items as you purchase them, and add new items as you think of them – it all syncs!
Pro Tip: If you organize your list by grocery department, you’ll save time at the store. Drag & drop to reorder within a Shopping List on Springpadit.com, on the iPhone app or the iPad app. (Not available on Android app)
Find your recipes when you’re ready to cook
Everything you save to Springpad it organized by category and is searchable within My Stuff. Bring your iPad or laptop right into the kitchen to reference your recipes while you cook. Follow the link back to the original source for the full instructions.
Pro Tip: Attach cooking notes or modifications that you make as you cook (like “used dried parsley instead of fresh – tasted great”). They’ll be there for you next time.
Share recipes with your friends
It’s easy to share things in Springpad! When your friends ask for the recipe that you made the last time they visited, you’ll know just where to find it.
Pro Tip: Control the privacy of your notes in Springpad and only make the things that you want to share public.
33 Responses to “How to use Springpad as the ultimate recipe app!”
Leave a Reply
David says: Not working….
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11219
Tried this recipe. What am I doing wrong? SpringIt is only pulling it up as a plain bookmark.
stephanie says: Worked fine for me David. I pulled up your recipe and hit Spring it on my toolbar (you have to add Spring It to your web browsers toolbar first)..then click save this recipe (big blue bar)….hit done editing if you don’t have anything you want to add and it will say..Done – this recipe is now in your Springpad!
David says: Sweet! Worked this time. I am on a different computer, maybe the other was buggy. Thanks Springpad- you rock!
Mary says: I use Springpad for all my cooking, and I’m recruiting my friends, too. I’d LOVE to see the menu-planning app available to view on the iPhone. Even better would be if we could export our weekly menu to a calendar app (like iCal), so I can easily remember what I’m supposed to cook for dinner tonight.
Also, any way to use the very awesome bar code reader with the pantry app? I’d use the pantry app if it weren’t such a bother to add items.
This might be totally crazy, but it would be awesome to be able to bar code scan an item that you’ve just run out of at home and have it automatically added to your shopping list.
Thanks for the great app!
-
Hey Mary – I suggest setting up a List called “pantry items I need”, then use the mobile app to add things to the list. You could also have a simple shopping list within that list for items that you just want to type in!
Rob says: I tried using Springpad for a recipe today. Either I’m doing something wrong, or this part of Springpad needs to be improved:
First I tried typing my recipe. A relatively BIG window for ingredients and a tiny tiny window for directions. Editing in that small window was hopeless, so I ended up editing in Notepad and copying it into Springpad. Really shouldn’t be necessary, should it?
When I’ve finished editing my recipe, I can see it, but the edit window needs to be BIGGER!
Then, when I wanted to do the actual cooking, I brought my Android phone into the kitchen.
For different reasons, I prefer to look at the recipe in ‘portrait mode’ on my phone. But the headlines “Ingredients” and “Directions” have kind of their own ‘column’ which takes up about 1/3 of the screen, leaving only 2/3 of the width of the screen for the actual text.
Now, for the ingredients, that’s not a big deal, but for the directions 2/3 of the width of the screen is just not enough.
I’ll think twice, before using the recipe-part of both the Android-application and especially the website, if these things are not improved, and use an ordinary note instead.
Otherwise, thank you for at great application.
-
Hey Rob – As I read your comment, my head was bobbing up & down. You are totally right! We’ll see what we can do.
You might consider adding your feedback to our user forum to see if other folks agree with you http://getsatisfaction.com/springpartners
Lea says: I have been using SpringPad as my meal planner faithfully the last year and I love it. But now I can’t find how to use the new springpad as a meal planner and shopping list. Am I missing something? Please tell there me there is a way to list the meals for the week and then a shopping list that you create from the ingredients that you don’t have.
Thanks!
Debbie says: Lea, you are not alone! I have spent hours trying to figure this out and I just got spring pad. The menu planner looks nothing like the videos. Example: I have no dates in my menu planner 
I added a recipe, it doesn’t show in menu planner. If I figure it out in the next few hours, I will come back and let you know
-
Debbie and Lea – we love using the board for meal planning, check out an example here: http://blog.springpadit.com/2010/10/coming-soon-to-springpad-the-board/
Sydney says: I LOVED using the Favorite Recipes app to organize my recipes – by main ingredient, course, etc. I can’t see how to actually USE that organization in the new springpad though. Is there a way for me to see my “Baked” recipes where “Chicken” is the main ingredient? Am I totally missing something?
DBNemesis says: Hi, I just tried to add a recipe from BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tandoori_breast_of_squab_58130) and it only let me add it as a bookmark. Not a huge problem, as I cut and pasted it in myself.
I tried to add it by clicking Springit! on my browser & it just didn’t like it.
veronica says: Katin, I like the layout of your recipes page – how can I format my own account to look like yours: http://springpadit.com/katinlee/Recipe
At the moment i can sort recipes only by tag, and the recipes frame is smaller than the actual browser window. I’d like to be able to also sort by cuisine, main ingredient, etc.
Also, it would be great if you could post the solution as a help topic. our help pages are quite difficult to navigate.
Other than that, a very useful site!
-
Hi Veronica – that page is Katin’s public page sorted by recipes, if you put your own username in the link where it says katinlee you’ll see your public recipe page, it only shows items you’ve marked as public though.
Jay says: I’m having the same issue as DBNemesis.
I’m trying to clip the following recipe http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/blueberrymuffins_67846
But it will only ever appear as a bookmark. I also tried the link David provided above – same result – analyses the page as a bookmark not a recipe.
I’m using Chrome 8.0.552.224 with the SpringPad extension. Have tried it on two different PC’s (same Chrome version), but not with any other browsers.
This is the only thing that’s stopping me migrating completely from Evernote, so any help/advice would be appreciated
Jan says: Hi,
Having the same issues as Jay & DBNemesis: can’t save recipe other than as a bookmark. As a result cannot use quick links to get a shopping list.
I did click on the Salmon Burger recipe in your example. But cannot replicate it.
Having trouble getting the Clipper onto Chrome. So would want to add a recipe via “look it up”. Why doesn’t this work?
Could you please add the following websites so that we can spring recipes from them?
http://www.cookinglight.com
http://www.duncanhines.com/recipes
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes
Thanks so much!!!
Debbi
-
Hi Debbie -
Cookinglight.com recipes are all found on Myrecipes.com and that site does work with our clipper.
Taste of Home should already work.
I added King Arthur Flour and Duncan Hines but Duncan Hines is not working ideally with our clipper so it may or may not clip correctly.
Laura says: I don’t see a way to add a photo if it isn’t picked up initially by the clipper. SparkPeople.com is a great source of recipes, and I love the thumbnail photo option in the notebook, but there’s no way to manually add a missed photo?
Thea says: Hey,
I have been finding that many websites I use to get recipies don’t work with springpad googlechrome app. They only come up as bookmarks. Some of the websites are:
http://www.theamazingavocado.com/
I’d absolutely LOVE this program if the recipes worked a bit smoother
-
Hi Thea – sorry about that, we have to add websites to be recognized by the program individually, we’ll add those sites as soon as we can.
Damian says: I would also like to have FoodNetwork.ca supported.
What is the best way to 1) see a list of recipe sites that work and 2) request that new recipe sites be added?
-
Damian – Check this list out for some of our supported sites: http://blog.springpadit.com/tag/springpad-supported-sites/
If you come across others you’d like to be recognized with the clipper just email feedback@springpartners.com
I’ll add your site to be recognized.Adrila – I’ll add your site as well.
Look it up scans other sites to find results – for products it searches amazon.com and pricegrabber, for movies it searches netflix, for places it searches local.yahoo.com and yelp.com and for recipes it searches google “keyword: recipes”.
Adrila says: Hi. Could you add http://www.maangchi.com please? Desperately need Korean recipes at my fingertips.
Also, is the Look It Up feature not supposed to be robust? It doesn’t seem to bring up that many results whenever I search for something.
Wendi 
Tanvi says: Hi, I have the app installed on my iphone and the springit in my favorites. I could easily add the link to the recipe, but I would love if the recipe gets uploaded instead of the link. Also, i could not make the shopping list at all. The only purpose behind having this app was to organize my recipes.
Thank You,
(it is a great app otherwise)
-
Hi Tanvi –
We are constantly adding new recipe sites to our supported list – feel free to send us the site you were clipping from & we’ll support it – feedback@springpartners.com.
As for creating shopping lists from recipes, yes, the recipe does need to be a recipe to do that (not a bookmark). Sorry for the trouble!
Kat says: please add a section to add the nutrional info please!!!
Lisa says: I love this app, got it to store all my web recipes in one place- BUT I’m doing something wrong- when I go to the “view full website” feature for a recipe I can’t get back to my spring pad, at least not for a good 15 minutes. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your feedback – I LOVE this app, and I’m sure I will be using more than anything as soon as I figure this out! Thanks!
Lisa says: Let me add to my post – SOMETIMES it has a bar on top that will let me go back, but sometimes it just goes to the full website with no back button – I know I’m doing something wrong here, but I’m always so flustered when in the midst of cooking ( with 3 little guys in my “way”) that I can’t figure out what it is. It happens on my iPhone and iPad.
-
Hi Lisa – Sorry you are having trouble! Can you share one of the springpad recipes that takes you to the browser without letting you go back? Thanks! devin@springpartners.com
Nancy says: Hello,
Looks like your clipper is pretty much unchanged since I used it over a year ago. Either fails to see recipes on websites or doesn’t capture all ingredients. Sorry just can’t trust Springpad. Back to evernote. Will check back in a year. Pretty disappointing that this software hasn’t really progressed that I see. Also, runs slow in the web interface still. Two thumbs down.
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Not working….
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/11219
Tried this recipe. What am I doing wrong? SpringIt is only pulling it up as a plain bookmark.
Worked fine for me David. I pulled up your recipe and hit Spring it on my toolbar (you have to add Spring It to your web browsers toolbar first)..then click save this recipe (big blue bar)….hit done editing if you don’t have anything you want to add and it will say..Done – this recipe is now in your Springpad!
Thoughtful ideas.
Sweet! Worked this time. I am on a different computer, maybe the other was buggy. Thanks Springpad- you rock!
I use Springpad for all my cooking, and I’m recruiting my friends, too. I’d LOVE to see the menu-planning app available to view on the iPhone. Even better would be if we could export our weekly menu to a calendar app (like iCal), so I can easily remember what I’m supposed to cook for dinner tonight.
Also, any way to use the very awesome bar code reader with the pantry app? I’d use the pantry app if it weren’t such a bother to add items.
This might be totally crazy, but it would be awesome to be able to bar code scan an item that you’ve just run out of at home and have it automatically added to your shopping list.
Thanks for the great app!
Hey Mary – I suggest setting up a List called “pantry items I need”, then use the mobile app to add things to the list. You could also have a simple shopping list within that list for items that you just want to type in!
I tried using Springpad for a recipe today. Either I’m doing something wrong, or this part of Springpad needs to be improved:
First I tried typing my recipe. A relatively BIG window for ingredients and a tiny tiny window for directions. Editing in that small window was hopeless, so I ended up editing in Notepad and copying it into Springpad. Really shouldn’t be necessary, should it?
When I’ve finished editing my recipe, I can see it, but the edit window needs to be BIGGER!
Then, when I wanted to do the actual cooking, I brought my Android phone into the kitchen.
For different reasons, I prefer to look at the recipe in ‘portrait mode’ on my phone. But the headlines “Ingredients” and “Directions” have kind of their own ‘column’ which takes up about 1/3 of the screen, leaving only 2/3 of the width of the screen for the actual text.
Now, for the ingredients, that’s not a big deal, but for the directions 2/3 of the width of the screen is just not enough.
I’ll think twice, before using the recipe-part of both the Android-application and especially the website, if these things are not improved, and use an ordinary note instead.
Otherwise, thank you for at great application.
Hey Rob – As I read your comment, my head was bobbing up & down. You are totally right! We’ll see what we can do.
You might consider adding your feedback to our user forum to see if other folks agree with you http://getsatisfaction.com/springpartners
I have been using SpringPad as my meal planner faithfully the last year and I love it. But now I can’t find how to use the new springpad as a meal planner and shopping list. Am I missing something? Please tell there me there is a way to list the meals for the week and then a shopping list that you create from the ingredients that you don’t have.
Thanks!
Lea, you are not alone! I have spent hours trying to figure this out and I just got spring pad. The menu planner looks nothing like the videos. Example: I have no dates in my menu planner
I added a recipe, it doesn’t show in menu planner. If I figure it out in the next few hours, I will come back and let you know
Debbie and Lea – we love using the board for meal planning, check out an example here: http://blog.springpadit.com/2010/10/coming-soon-to-springpad-the-board/
I LOVED using the Favorite Recipes app to organize my recipes – by main ingredient, course, etc. I can’t see how to actually USE that organization in the new springpad though. Is there a way for me to see my “Baked” recipes where “Chicken” is the main ingredient? Am I totally missing something?
Hi, I just tried to add a recipe from BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tandoori_breast_of_squab_58130) and it only let me add it as a bookmark. Not a huge problem, as I cut and pasted it in myself.
I tried to add it by clicking Springit! on my browser & it just didn’t like it.
Katin, I like the layout of your recipes page – how can I format my own account to look like yours: http://springpadit.com/katinlee/Recipe
At the moment i can sort recipes only by tag, and the recipes frame is smaller than the actual browser window. I’d like to be able to also sort by cuisine, main ingredient, etc.
Also, it would be great if you could post the solution as a help topic. our help pages are quite difficult to navigate.
Other than that, a very useful site!
Hi Veronica – that page is Katin’s public page sorted by recipes, if you put your own username in the link where it says katinlee you’ll see your public recipe page, it only shows items you’ve marked as public though.
I’m having the same issue as DBNemesis.
I’m trying to clip the following recipe http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/blueberrymuffins_67846
But it will only ever appear as a bookmark. I also tried the link David provided above – same result – analyses the page as a bookmark not a recipe.
I’m using Chrome 8.0.552.224 with the SpringPad extension. Have tried it on two different PC’s (same Chrome version), but not with any other browsers.
This is the only thing that’s stopping me migrating completely from Evernote, so any help/advice would be appreciated
Hi,
Having the same issues as Jay & DBNemesis: can’t save recipe other than as a bookmark. As a result cannot use quick links to get a shopping list.
I did click on the Salmon Burger recipe in your example. But cannot replicate it.
Having trouble getting the Clipper onto Chrome. So would want to add a recipe via “look it up”. Why doesn’t this work?
Could you please add the following websites so that we can spring recipes from them?
http://www.cookinglight.com
http://www.duncanhines.com/recipes
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes
Thanks so much!!!
Debbi
Hi Debbie -
Cookinglight.com recipes are all found on Myrecipes.com and that site does work with our clipper.
Taste of Home should already work.
I added King Arthur Flour and Duncan Hines but Duncan Hines is not working ideally with our clipper so it may or may not clip correctly.
I don’t see a way to add a photo if it isn’t picked up initially by the clipper. SparkPeople.com is a great source of recipes, and I love the thumbnail photo option in the notebook, but there’s no way to manually add a missed photo?
Hey,
I have been finding that many websites I use to get recipies don’t work with springpad googlechrome app. They only come up as bookmarks. Some of the websites are:
http://www.nigella.com/
http://www.theamazingavocado.com/
http://www.bhg.com/recipes/
I’d absolutely LOVE this program if the recipes worked a bit smoother
Hi Thea – sorry about that, we have to add websites to be recognized by the program individually, we’ll add those sites as soon as we can.
I would also like to have FoodNetwork.ca supported.
What is the best way to 1) see a list of recipe sites that work and 2) request that new recipe sites be added?
Damian – Check this list out for some of our supported sites: http://blog.springpadit.com/tag/springpad-supported-sites/
If you come across others you’d like to be recognized with the clipper just email feedback@springpartners.com
I’ll add your site to be recognized.
Adrila – I’ll add your site as well.
Look it up scans other sites to find results – for products it searches amazon.com and pricegrabber, for movies it searches netflix, for places it searches local.yahoo.com and yelp.com and for recipes it searches google “keyword: recipes”.
Hi. Could you add http://www.maangchi.com please? Desperately need Korean recipes at my fingertips.
Also, is the Look It Up feature not supposed to be robust? It doesn’t seem to bring up that many results whenever I search for something.
Could you add http://www.the17daydiet.com to the list as well?
Hi, I have the app installed on my iphone and the springit in my favorites. I could easily add the link to the recipe, but I would love if the recipe gets uploaded instead of the link. Also, i could not make the shopping list at all. The only purpose behind having this app was to organize my recipes.
Thank You,
(it is a great app otherwise)
Hi Tanvi –
We are constantly adding new recipe sites to our supported list – feel free to send us the site you were clipping from & we’ll support it – feedback@springpartners.com.
As for creating shopping lists from recipes, yes, the recipe does need to be a recipe to do that (not a bookmark). Sorry for the trouble!
please add a section to add the nutrional info please!!!
I love this app, got it to store all my web recipes in one place- BUT I’m doing something wrong- when I go to the “view full website” feature for a recipe I can’t get back to my spring pad, at least not for a good 15 minutes. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your feedback – I LOVE this app, and I’m sure I will be using more than anything as soon as I figure this out! Thanks!
Let me add to my post – SOMETIMES it has a bar on top that will let me go back, but sometimes it just goes to the full website with no back button – I know I’m doing something wrong here, but I’m always so flustered when in the midst of cooking ( with 3 little guys in my “way”) that I can’t figure out what it is. It happens on my iPhone and iPad.
Hi Lisa – Sorry you are having trouble! Can you share one of the springpad recipes that takes you to the browser without letting you go back? Thanks! devin@springpartners.com
Hello,
Looks like your clipper is pretty much unchanged since I used it over a year ago. Either fails to see recipes on websites or doesn’t capture all ingredients. Sorry just can’t trust Springpad. Back to evernote. Will check back in a year. Pretty disappointing that this software hasn’t really progressed that I see. Also, runs slow in the web interface still. Two thumbs down.