AutoChef User Guide
Learn how to make the most of your AI-powered recipe management system
Getting Started
Welcome to AutoChef! Here's how to get started with your digital cookbook.
Your Dashboard
- After logging in, you'll see your recipe dashboard
- Use the navigation bar to access different features
- Your account dropdown (top right) contains profile settings and this help guide
How to Upload Recipes
Method 1: Upload Photos or Documents
- Click "Upload Recipe" in the navigation bar
- Click "Choose File" or drag and drop your file
- Select your recipe file:
- Photos: JPG, PNG (recipe cards, cookbook pages, handwritten notes)
- Documents: PDF files, Word documents (.docx), RTF files
- Mela Files: .melarecipes for bulk import
- Click "Upload and Process"
- Wait 10-30 seconds for AI to extract the recipe
- Review the extracted ingredients and instructions
- Edit any details if needed, then click "Save Recipe"
💡 Photo Tips: Use good lighting, ensure text is readable, maximum 15MB per file
Method 2: Paste Recipe Text
- Go to "Upload Recipe"
- Scroll down to the "Recipe Text" section
- Paste your recipe text (from websites, emails, etc.)
- Click "Process Recipe"
- AI will organize the text into ingredients and instructions
- Review and edit as needed
- Click "Save Recipe"
Method 3: Multi-Page Recipes
Perfect for cookbook recipes that span multiple pages
- Click "Upload Multi-Page Recipe" in navigation
- Select multiple images (ingredients page, instructions page, photos)
- Enter a recipe title (optional)
- Click "Process Multi-Page Recipe"
- AI will combine all pages into one organized recipe
- Review the combined result
- Edit and save as needed
How to Manage Your Recipes
Viewing Recipes
- Go to "Recipe Book" to see all your recipes
- Click any recipe card to view the full recipe
- Use the recipe page to see ingredients, instructions, and cooking details
Editing Recipes
- Open any recipe from your collection
- Click the "Edit Recipe" button
- Modify any field: title, ingredients, instructions, cooking times, notes
- Upload new photos if desired
- Click "Save Changes"
Managing Favorites
- On any recipe page, click the heart icon to mark as favorite
- To view favorites: go to "Recipe Book" and check "Show Favorites Only"
- Favorites appear with a red heart icon
Deleting and Recovering Recipes
- Open the recipe you want to delete
- Click "Delete Recipe" button
- Recipe is soft-deleted (not permanently removed)
- To recover: go to your account dropdown → "Recently Deleted"
- Click "Restore" to bring back any deleted recipe
How to Find Your Recipes
Using Search
- Go to "Recipe Book"
- Use the search bar at the top
- Search by:
- Recipe name (e.g., "chicken pasta")
- Ingredients (e.g., "garlic, basil")
- Cuisine type (e.g., "Italian")
- Results update as you type
Using Filters
- On the "Recipe Book" page, look for filter options
- Filter by:
- Favorites: Show only starred recipes
- Cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Asian, etc.
- Diet Tags: Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free
- Cooking Time: Under 30 minutes, quick dinners
- Combine multiple filters for precise results
- Clear filters to see all recipes again
How to Generate New Recipes
Using the AI Recipe Generator
AutoChef's AI can create completely new, personalized recipes based on your preferences. Perfect for meal planning, trying new cuisines, or working with ingredients you have on hand.
Getting Started
- Navigate to "Random Recipe Generator" in the main menu
- Choose your recipe mode:
- Single Recipe: Generate one focused recipe based on your preferences
- Fusion: Create creative combinations by blending multiple cuisines or cooking styles
- Set your preferences using the filter options below
- Click "Generate Recipe" to create your custom recipe
- Review the complete recipe with ingredients, instructions, and cooking details
- Save to your collection (login required) or try again with different settings
Customization Options
Cuisine & Style
- Italian: Pasta, risotto, pizza, traditional sauces
- Mexican: Tacos, enchiladas, salsas, traditional spices
- Asian: Stir-fries, curries, noodle dishes, rice bowls
- Mediterranean: Fresh herbs, olive oil, seafood, grains
- American: BBQ, comfort food, fusion dishes
- Indian: Curries, tandoor, vegetarian specialties
- French: Classic techniques, sauces, pastries
- International Fusion: Creative combinations
Meal Types
- Breakfast: Quick starts, weekend brunches, healthy options
- Lunch: Work-friendly, light meals, salads
- Dinner: Family meals, date nights, entertaining
- Snacks: Healthy bites, party appetizers
- Desserts: Sweet treats, celebration cakes
- Beverages: Smoothies, cocktails, warm drinks
Dietary Preferences & Restrictions
Plant-Based Options
- Vegetarian: No meat, includes dairy and eggs
- Vegan: 100% plant-based, no animal products
- Pescatarian: Fish and seafood allowed
- Plant-Forward: Mostly plants with occasional meat
Health-Focused
- Low-Carb: Reduced carbohydrate content
- Keto: High fat, very low carb
- Paleo: Whole foods, no processed ingredients
- Low-Sodium: Heart-healthy, reduced salt
Allergy-Friendly
- Gluten-Free: No wheat, barley, rye
- Dairy-Free: No milk, cheese, butter
- Nut-Free: Safe for nut allergies
- Egg-Free: No eggs in any form
- Soy-Free: No soy products
Fitness Goals
- High-Protein: Building muscle, satiety
- Low-Calorie: Weight management
- Post-Workout: Recovery-focused nutrition
Time & Skill Management
Cooking Time
- Under 15 minutes: Quick snacks, simple breakfasts
- 15-30 minutes: Weeknight dinners, lunch prep
- 30-60 minutes: Weekend cooking, family meals
- 1-2 hours: Special occasions, slow cooking
- 2+ hours: Holiday meals, advanced techniques
Skill Level
- Beginner: Basic techniques, minimal equipment
- Intermediate: Some experience, standard kitchen tools
- Advanced: Complex techniques, specialized equipment
Cooking Methods
- One-Pot: Minimal cleanup
- No-Cook: Perfect for hot days
- Grilling: Outdoor cooking
- Baking: Oven-based recipes
Ingredient-Based Generation
Include Specific Ingredients
Enter ingredients you want to use up or build around:
- Main Proteins: "chicken thighs, salmon, tofu"
- Vegetables: "zucchini, bell peppers, spinach"
- Pantry Staples: "quinoa, canned tomatoes, coconut milk"
- Fresh Herbs: "basil, cilantro, rosemary"
Exclude Ingredients
List ingredients you don't want or can't use:
- Allergies: "peanuts, shellfish, dairy"
- Dislikes: "mushrooms, olives, cilantro"
- Unavailable: "specialty spices, expensive cuts"
Pro Tips for Better Results
🎯 Be Specific: The more detailed your preferences, the better the AI can tailor recipes to your needs.
🔄 Experiment: Try the same settings multiple times - the AI generates different recipes each time!
📝 Save Favorites: When you find a great generated recipe, save it immediately and add your own notes.
🛠️ Customize After: Generated recipes are starting points - edit ingredients, adjust cooking times, or add your own twist.
💡 Seasonal Cooking: Try generating recipes with seasonal ingredients for fresher, more affordable meals.
🍽️ Meal Prep: Generate multiple recipes with similar prep times and cooking methods for efficient meal planning.
Troubleshooting Generation
Problem: Recipe doesn't match my preferences
Solution: Try being more specific with filters, or generate again - each attempt creates a unique recipe.
Problem: Ingredients I don't have or can't find
Solution: Save the recipe and edit it to substitute similar ingredients, or use the "exclude ingredients" filter next time.
Problem: Recipe seems too complex for my skill level
Solution: Select "Beginner" skill level and shorter cooking times for simpler recipes.
Problem: Not enough variety in generated recipes
Solution: Try mixing different cuisine types, or use fewer filters to give the AI more creative freedom.
Understanding AI Credits
How Credits Work
AutoChef uses AI credits to manage the cost of AI operations:
- Image Processing: 3 credits per photo/document
- Text Parsing: 2 credits per recipe text conversion
- Recipe Generation: 2 credits per random recipe
Credit Limits by Account Type:
- Free: 20 credits per month
- Friends & Family: 100 credits per month
- Admin: Unlimited credits
Credits reset every month on your account anniversary date.
Checking Your Credits
- Go to your account dropdown → "Profile"
- View your current credit balance and usage history
- See when credits will reset next
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Upload Problems
Problem: "File too large" error
Solution: Compress your images or split large documents into smaller files. Maximum: 15MB per file.
Problem: Poor text extraction from photos of handwritten notes or small text
Solution:
- Mobile uploads are now optimized: The system automatically detects mobile uploads and preserves higher quality for better text reading
- Text content detection: Images with filenames containing words like "note", "recipe", "handwritten", "page" receive special high-quality processing
- Best practices: Use good lighting, ensure text is clearly readable, hold camera steady, and get close enough to make text large in the frame
- File naming: Name your files descriptively (e.g., "recipe_notes.jpg", "handwritten_ingredients.png") for automatic quality optimization
Problem: Multi-page recipe processing fails or produces jumbled results
Solution:
- Individual processing: Each image is now processed separately and then combined, reducing errors and improving reliability
- Better error handling: If one page fails, others will still be processed
- Upload in order: Upload pages in the correct sequence for best results
- Page quality: Ensure each page is clear and readable - blurry pages will be noted in the final recipe
Problem: "Insufficient AI credits" message
Solution: Wait for monthly credit reset or consider upgrading your account tier.
Problem: Image quality seems degraded after upload
Solution:
- Automatic optimization: Images are automatically optimized for storage and AI processing
- Text preservation: Text-heavy content receives minimal compression to preserve readability
- Mobile optimization: Mobile uploads get special handling to maintain quality
- Large images: Very large images (>10MB) may be compressed more to meet processing limits
Account Issues
Problem: Can't log in
Solution: Use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page to reset your password.
Problem: Missing recipes
Solution: Check "Recently Deleted" in your account dropdown - recipes may have been accidentally deleted.
Mobile Usage Tips
- Use your phone's camera to take photos of recipes directly in the app
- The interface is touch-optimized for easy browsing on mobile
- All features work the same on mobile and desktop
Report an Issue
Contact Support
Found a bug or need help? We're here to assist you!