Cook Up a Storm with iOS 18.4’s New Recipe Library and Cooking Mode

Apple’s New iOS 18.4 Recipe Feature: A Game-Changer for Cooking

Overview

Apple's latest update to the News app with iOS 18.4 introduces a significant enhancement for cooking enthusiasts. The update adds over 70,000 recipes and a specialized cooking mode, offering a clean, ad-free interface that outshines typical web-based recipe searches.

Key Features

• Massive Recipe Library: Subscribers to Apple News+ or the Apple One Premier bundle gain access to an extensive collection of recipes, with ongoing updates.
• Food Section in Following Tab: A dedicated Food section within the News app provides easy navigation and search capabilities.
• Filtering Options: Users can filter recipes by difficulty, cooking time, dietary preferences (e.g., vegan), and meal type (e.g., breakfast, dinner).
• Saved Recipes: Save favorite recipes to a personal catalog for future reference.

User Experience

Recipe Layout

Each recipe is presented in a consistent format:

• Overview: A top photo, cook time, and yield information.
• Ingredients List: Clearly listed ingredients.
• Step-by-Step Directions: Detailed instructions with related dish recommendations.

Cooking Mode

• Enhanced Interface: The cooking mode displays large, readable directions on the screen, with features like tappable links to start timers.
• Cross-Device Compatibility: Optimized for both iPhone and iPad, with potential future integration into Apple’s ‘HomePad’ product.

Comparison to Web-Based Recipes

The ad-free, organized layout in Apple News significantly improves the user experience compared to the often cluttered and ad-ridden web recipes.

Conclusion

While there are several recipe management apps available on the App Store, Apple's integration of a vast and growing recipe library with a clean, visually appealing interface makes iOS 18.4’s food features a top choice for cooking enthusiasts.