Quick answer: You can import recipes from a PDF by scanning it in CookBook. Use Automatic for the quickest results, or Manual if you want more control. Manual mode lets you scan up to 5 PDF pages into a single recipe.

Import a recipe from a PDF (Automatic)

1. Tap Add on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Select Scan recipe image.
3. Choose Automatic (AI).
4. Select PDF.
5. Pick your PDF file.
6. Choose the page you want to scan.
7. Tap Scan recipe.
8. Review the preview (title, ingredients, instructions).
9. Tap Save to add it to CookBook, or Delete to try again.

Automatic mode is best when the PDF is clean and the recipe is mostly on one page.

Import a recipe from a PDF (Manual, up to 5 pages)

Use this if your recipe spans multiple pages or the automatic scan misses sections.

1. Tap Add on the bottom navigation bar.
2. Select Scan recipe image.
3. Choose Manual.
4. Select PDF.
5. Pick your PDF file and choose the first page.
6. Tap the Add page button and add more pages as needed (up to 5).
7. Tap Select Text and choose what you’re selecting (Title, Ingredients, Instructions, etc.).
8. Drag the selection box to highlight the correct area on the page.
9. Repeat selections for each page and each section you need.
10. Tap Scan.
11. Review the preview, then tap Save.

Tip: If ingredients or instructions are in two columns, you usually need two separate selections (one per column).

Tips for best results

• PDFs with clear text work best.
• Scanned PDFs (photos saved as PDFs) may need a little cleanup after import.
• Make sure the recipe page is well-lit and not skewed if it originated from a scan.
• Make sure you select ingredients and instructions as separate blocks.

Can I bulk import PDFs?

Bulk PDF imports aren’t automated yet, but if you have a large number of recipes, you can check out our bulk import page here.

Updated on: 14/06/2026