Recipes are more than just lists of ingredients and instructions; they embody the essence of culture, tradition, and personal experience.
And recipe quotes are more than just words; they encapsulate the essence of cooking and the joy it brings to our lives.
These quotes serve as guiding principles, humorous observations, and motivational reminders that elevate cooking into a richer, more meaningful experience.
Examining these quotes provides a window into the philosophy behind cooking and reveals how words can inspire and connect us through food.
Additionally, recipe quotes can carry a sense of humor and humility. The choice of using recipes or not reminds us that cooking should be a pleasurable experience, and it encourages us to approach it with a sense of fun and enjoyment.
It also serves as a gentle reminder that not everything needs to be taken too seriously, and mistakes in the kitchen can often lead to unexpected and delightful results.
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- “I feel a recipe is only a theme,
which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation.”
– Madame Benoit 1904-1987
2. “Cookery is not chemistry, It is an art.
It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.”
-X. Marcel Boulestin 1878-1943
3. “The dangerous person in the kitchen is the one
Who goes rigidly by weights, measurements,
thermometers and scales. I would say once more
that all these scientific Implements are not of much
use, the only exception being for making pastry
and jams, where exact weights are important.” -X Marcel Boulestin 1878-1943
4. “A home cook who relies too much on a recipe is sort of like a pilot who reads the plane’s instruction manual while flying.” ~Alton Brown
5. “I can cook to please people, but it’s quite conventional. I make a good sponge cake. I find it hard to follow recipes.” ~Anna Chancellor
6. “This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” ~Julia Child 1912-2004
7. “A cookbook is only as good as it’s worst recipe” ~ Julia Child 1912-2004
8. “Recipes tell you nothing. Learning techniques is the key.” ~ Tom Colicchio
9. “A recipe is a story that ends with a good meal.” -Pat Conroy 1945-2016
10. “Most of the World’s great dishes were created
by people who could not read and write.” -Rupert Croft-Cooke 1903-1979
English Cooking 1960
11. “One certainly cannot learn the technical details of cookery entirely from books, but if the cooks of the past had believed that written recipes were unnecessary, we should now be in a sad plight indeed.” -Elizabeth David 1913-1992
12. “I learned to cook by watching and helping my mother in the kitchen. I also learned by trial and error. Even though I’m big on recipes, I love to make up my own dishes and when you take a risk in the kitchen, you learn a lot about food!” ~Nina Dobrev
13. “Correct measurements are absolutely necessary to ensure the best results.“
-Fanny Farmer, 1857-1915
The Boston Cooking School Cookbook, 1918
14. “Never measure until your recipe is complete and you have read it carefully. Then, using the proper measuring utensils, measure accurately.” -Fanny Farmer 1857-1915
15. “If everyone is defining a problem or solving it one way and the results are subpar, this is the time to ask, What if I did the opposite?
Don’t follow a model that doesn’t work. If the recipe sucks, it doesn’t matter how good a cook you are.” ~Tim Ferriss
16. “Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.” – Guy Fieri
17. “A recipe is supposed to be a formula, a means
prescribed for producing a desired result,
whether that be an atomic weapon,
a well-trained Pekingese, or an omelet. ” -M. F. K. Fisher 1908-1992
18. “Don’t be afraid to adapt new ingredients into your own techniques, and traditional ingredients into new recipes.” ~Jose Garces
19. “When I wrote ‘Barefoot in Paris,’ I wanted to make simple recipes that you could make at home that tasted like French classics.” ~Ina Garten
20. “I measure everything because I always think that if I’ve spent so much time making sure this recipe was exactly the way I want it, why would I want to throw things into a pot?” ~Ina Garten
21. “I do a lot of recipe creation. Translation: cooking tempting dishes that must be eaten.”
-Ruth Glick
22. “I carried recipes in my head like maps.” ~Joanne Harris
23. “Recipes don’t work unless you use your heart!” ~Dylan Jones
24. “A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.” ~Thomas Keller
25. “Google ‘broccoli casserole’ and make the first recipe you find. I guarantee it will be disappointing.” –Christopher Kimball
26. “I’d say I’m a good cook. I have a lot of German recipes that I can make – schnitzel, meatballs and things with cabbage. I love cabbage.” ~Heidi Klum
27. “I already enjoy cooking. I like different flavors and putting different things together and really like taking normal recipes to a higher level.” ~Queen Latifah
28. “Your own destiny, create your own recipe.” -Nelly
29. “America ships tons of sugar cookies to Denmark and Denmark ships tons of sugar cookies to America. Wouldn’t it be more efficient just to swap recipes?” ~Michael Pollan
30. “I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and say to myself well, that’s not going to happen” ~ Rita Rudner
31. “Are we going to measure or are we going to cook? ” -Mimi Sheraton 1926-2023
32. “And when I cook, I never measure or weigh anything. I cook by vibration. I can tell by the look and smell of it. Most of the ingredients in this book are approximate. …Different strokes for different folks. Do your thing your way.”
-Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor 1937-2016
Vibration Cooking 1970
33. “If you learn a recipe, you can cook the recipe.
If you learn the technique, you can cook anything.” ~Michael Symon
34. “I try a different cookie recipe every time I bake.” ~Devon Windsor
36. “Real cooking is more about following your heart than following recipes.”
–Unknown.
Recipe quotes offer more than culinary advice—they provide wisdom, inspiration, and a sense of connection.
These quotes enrich our understanding of cooking as both a personal and communal experience through their reflections on practice, simplicity, creativity, and humor.
They remind us that the kitchen is a place where passion meets practicality, tradition mingles with innovation, and simple acts can lead to profound moments of joy and connection.
