Characteristics of A Recipe

Analyse recipes (Websites)
The websites that post recipes of different dishes are simple yet visually attractive. It is very
important that the target audience gets a detailed idea of the recipe through the tile. That is
why the titles of these recipes are mostly very descriptive, specific, creative, yet short and
simple. The title is also responsible for an efficient search mechanism on the internet, that is
why more emphasis is laid on that. Enticing and key relevant words are used in most of the
titles. Title plays an important role of making the audience visualize the final dish, and that is
why it can either invite the people in out. In the title, adjectives that describe the recipe or the
dish are used, for example ‘Ein einfaches Rezept’, ‘homemade’, ‘Schneller Teller’, ‘quick
peanut potatoes’ etc. The title informs the target audience about all they need to know about
the recipe.
There is also a subtitle after the main title for some recipes, that describe the ingredients or
the recipe in detail. Most of the recipes are mainly divided into two parts, the ingredient list
and the preparation method. Before mentioning the ingredients and the procedure a short
introduction about the dish is given. It is a recipe description, that gives the readers an idea
about the recipe, the background information or the history of the dish, health benefits, main
ingredients, taste, flavor, aroma texture, technique etc.
Sometimes the writer expresses his/her personal take on the recipe, through this description
or introduction. An effective description gives the reader a snapshot of the key ingredients
and encourages the readers to actually try out the recipe. The introduction of the recipes is
often seen to be very welcoming and intends to catch the reader's attention by displaying the
qualities of the dish being cooked in short paragraphs. At times recipes can seem intimidating
to cook if bombarded with multiple requirements and procedures and can hamper the
commitment of the reader to consider cooking the recipe. A pleasing introduction ensures that
the reader is engaged in reading the recipe until the end and is not overwhelmed by the
existing complexity.
The preparation time as well as the cooking time or the inclusive time required is mentioned
at the beginning of the recipe so that the readers can plan accordingly. It gives them a clear
idea of how much time they actually need before they can get the meal to the table. The
number of servings as well as the serving size is provided. The desired serving size is
mentioned using words like tablespoons, teaspoons, cups, ounces grams, etc. The number of
servings per recipe is also mentioned. Some websites also provide a dynamic serving
calculator that allows the reader to easily scale the recipe up or down. Along with this the
nutritional information or nutrition per serving is also specified. It helps the readers prioritize
their health and dietary needs. This is either mentioned at the beginning or at the end of the
recipe. The level of difficulty is also stated at the beginning, for example difficult/ tricky/
easy etc. The ingredients list, which is the most important part of the recipe is also mentioned.
In some of the recipes the ingredients are listed in the order that they will appear in the
recipe, but in some of them there is no specific sequence. The exact amount of the ingredients
required and the state of ingredients (frozen, fresh, thawed, canned) is specified along with
the complete name of the ingredient. For the vegetables or fruits the knife cuts are also
mentioned, for example- chopped onions/tomatoes, diced cucumbers, julienne carrots etc.
Some recipes follow the uniform abbreviations for units of measurement, while some spell it
out. The amount is stated using terms like teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, galloons, ounces,
pounds, quarts, grams, liters, etc.
In some recipes the instructions or the procedure match the ingredients list. The instructions
are short, simple and concise. The instructions in the procedure are ‘to-the-point’ and any
additional or unnecessary information is avoided in the steps. The procedure is described in
the easiest way possible so that the target audience can accomplish the steps effortlessly. The
directions are mentioned as explicitly as possible. It contains the key information like oven or
stove temperature, duration of marinating, specifics about doneness, etc. The recipes capture
all the steps thoroughly while also remaining concise at the same time. It is clear and
uncluttered. The right amount of information is provided through a simple language without
meandering and jargon. The cookware, utensils or bowls used are indicated according to the
steps. We all know that in this social media era people often really do eat with their eyes.
Good quality, appetizing pictures of the end product or the dish are offered by all the
websites. Some of the websites have posted the pictures which correspond to the step-by-step
instructions, so that it is easier for the people to understand the process better. For almost all
of the recipes the procedure or the directions are given in points with the intent that the
readers can figure out the steps gradually and work on it. Effective step-by-step instructions
are precisely structured. Either numerals or bullet points are used to distinguish the steps.
Serving suggestions are mentioned at the end of the procedure. Additional information such
as food and beverage pairings, possible substitutions is also specified which can be very
helpful for the readers.
All the websites share a very distinct theme of having subtle pastel colors as the highlight
which is complemented by a neutral shade of white which makes these websites very user
friendly to go through and read. Recipe writing is indeed an art that ends in a good meal.

Characteristics of A Recipe

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Analyse recipes (Websites)

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