Recipe Center for Windows

Used Recipe Center for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffMay 17, 2010

This freeware application offers a wealth of recipe-management features, but the program's stability is a big issue. The Recipe Center's intuitive interface displays each recipe with ingredients, instructions, servings, and a picture, if one is available. We especially like the online function, which lets you browse Recipecenter.com and seamlessly import new recipes for free. Powerful searching makes it easy to find, for example, every recipe that calls for cheese, and you can quickly create a shopping list from any recipe or instantly resize recipe quantities based on number of servings. You'll also be able to preview and print recipes in various styles, including 3x5 and 4x6 card formats. Recipe Center offers a nice set of recipes that any cooking enthusiast would appreciate and it's offered free of charge, which makes the crashes we encountered all the more disappointing. Despite its nice set of features, the stability issues should lead most cooking enthusiasts to look elsewhere.

What’s new in version 6

Version 6 is compatible with Windows 7.

Recipe Center for Windows

Used Recipe Center for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: March 11, 2010

Latest update: May 17, 2010

Version: 6

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 10
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 62,282

Downloads Last Week: 10

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.3/5

40 User Votes

Softtonic Downloader LOADED with junk programs. BEWARE!
Isaiah61revApril 10, 2013
Pros
I have found none.
Cons
Softtonic Downloader Hidden files and programs. BEWARE!
Summary
Could not install
robert36691March 30, 2012
Pros
Unable to comment in the positive.
Cons
I never could get it to install or work.
Summary
BAM! And not in a good way...
SouthProMomMarch 29, 2012
Pros
Lots of recipes and features, including yield conversion
Cons
Buggy, crashes, options don't work
Summary
At first, this program worked fine. I was okay with the minor annoyances regarding the lack of layout support (it doesn't work) and the fact the you couldn't turn off line numbering within the procedure, but then it started giving a comon language error after the addition of every other recipe or so and completely failing to respond. I haven't tried to export my recipes out of this program yet, but will be doing so and looking for a more stable alternative. Oh, and don't bother with their email support. On the one time I did get it to work, no one ever responded. I have no motivation to purchase their "pro" version if their free version is this unusable.
Email doesn't work
HobieManFebruary 10, 2011
Pros
It came with a lot of recipes already loaded, not sure yet how good they really are
Cons
The file system is a little funky. Since it was created in Access, why didn't they keep the .db file extension?
Summary
Dont try whatsoever
SimplySamantha1979February 4, 2011
Pros
NONE AT ALL
Cons
Cant access anything on the program to try anything. BUGGY
Summary
Not worth the time it took to click on the button download. Totally corrupted. Not worth the one star you have to give the program to submit this review. ugh
The software is GREAT!!! Install problems are minor.
SERKER--2008October 23, 2010
Pros
I can put my cabinet/freezer/fridge inventory into the software, and it tells me what I can make. If I choose 7 meals at the beginning of the week, it tells me what my shopping list is for the items I might be missing. This is phenominal!!!
Cons
Because it's an older program, Vista/7 has minor problems. You have to install Net Framework 1.1 manually (since it's not included on Vista/7), and you have to find the blank database, because of the changeover from 2k/XP (Doc's & Settings) to Users
Summary
I see that others are having installation confusion for the program, and if you're "quick surfing" for a recipe program I can see why people would skip over and move on. The installation documentation, and the developer's website, show the easy steps to accomplish installing, but again--if you're 'quick surfing', you're not going to take the time. But the program's capability far exceeds the "well working" others, and the ability to backup/transfer/migrate to other machines, share them in a network environment, etc...are all features that I wouldn't expect from a recipe program. But beyond the program's software capabilities, the expectation that someone would need an inventory control system, and the ability to predict that planning ahead for shopping trips, etc, is a wonderful feature that I never quite found in other programs. The program's item list ranges from vague to anal--one CAN insert that they have a 32 oz bottle of garlic salt, and the program then has the ability to estimate when--after several teaspoons or tablespoons of use in recipes, inform the user of what they're "almost out of", and need to restock on a shopping trip. The base install includes about 200 recipes, and while some are good, some are bad, and some are just showing how this could be used to make highly expensive tasteless dishes, they exist only to show off what the true features of the software are capable of doing. The exotic chef might painstakingly gruel over all of the minute capabilities of the software--as perhaps a small restaurant owner would as well. In certain ways--if there was more of a "menu" structure--I could easily see this adapted to a POS system, or at least a very decent backend to one. But for my small rural household of 4, and my desire to plan a weeks worth of meals with only one shopping trip, it's been a very very fast lifesaver. After loading in some 20 to 30 standard meals--some often, some rare treats--I can decide a week in advance what I'm making, what I'm in the mood for, and what changes I might make in my plans, and make sure--before the trip--how much of what I'd need to make sure I was stocked for any such contingency. There are no more emergency trips to the Dollar General for a surprise can of Cream of Anything, or Sugar, or Onion Powder, while in the middle of preparing a meal. It "knows" that I can only make Sweet & Sour pork steaks three times before I'm out of soy sauce or teriyaki sauce for the marinade, so I'm not stranded on the fly. The only real "con" of this feature is--if you lived on a farm, grew your own food, etc...I'm not clear how the inventory system could prepare for those numbers. It can't count potatoes in the ground, or in the bag, but someone with more experience might know what to "expect" out of the garden, and compensate for it. But it is very nice...setting up meals, experimenting with recipes, researching and entering things I want to do, downstairs in the den on the main tower...and being able to--in the morning or afternoon, to quickly use my laptop in the kitchen--off of the wireless, and pull up short notes or lists for shopping without having to run downstairs to find everything. The networking really saves time, and is the biggest surprise--I never imagined someone would really think things through like this.
Doesn't work
tholmes43October 13, 2010
Pros
Nothing as it wouldn't work
Cons
Again can't tell as it wouldn't run..Using Windows XP Pro
Summary
Can't test it if it won't work
Barely functional on Win 7
a5a49708September 20, 2010
Pros
I love the interface and the general layout.
Cons
Almost nothing worked on it. Really annoying.
Summary
Only every third or fourth recipe responded when clicked, it was very glitchy.
Waste of Time
beccaD013September 7, 2010
Pros
There is nothing positive to say since I couldn't get it to open - as noted from previous reviewers there are various issues with opening/creating a database.
Cons
I can't believe CNET gave this 3 stars - if I could give a ZERO I would - complete waste of my time! Database issues should be addressed before EVER releasing to the public.
Summary
Should not state it works w/Windows 7!
NJmommyJune 29, 2010
Pros
This was a great program for Windows XP. It was very easy to add recipes (shelving all my paper clips and snips) & create a database on my external hard drive.
Cons
Now I have a new laptop running Windows 7 with .NET Framework 4. I cannot install the new version (same-old needs .NET F 1.1).
Summary
Having the program running great in my old desktop in my office (a lot of help that is). Also, I cannot find any way to open the recipes I have through another application since they are created (as Recipe Center does) by RCS file extension format. No matter my searches through Microsoft's site I cannot seem to bypass the issues. There is no go-around since the program takes you to the win update site to install the 1.1, which it will not do in OS 7; only checks the NET 4. Don't waste your precious time & it's not worth messing up a good thing! If anyone else has any ideas I'll gladly listen---I want my recipes back in my kitchen where they belong!

Developer’s Description

By EGS Enggist & Grandjean Software

Organize, e-mail, and print your recipes.

Recipe Center is a free tool to organize, email, and print your recipes. You may download recipes directly from the recipecenter.com Web site or import recipes from Meal Master. It can easily convert cut and pasted recipes from any recipe sites. It includes encoding of ingredient with IntelliSense, smart quantity conversions, shopping list, recipe resizing based on ingredients, spell checker, printing of recipe card.