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It has taken me a long time to have an organized recipe binder. I went through a period of cookbooks. Two of my favorites are Desperation Dinners and Cheap. Fast. Good. {I love those — I highly recommend them) but I felt like there was SO much to look for. I was also starting to get a lot of recipes from our friend the internet and wanted a way to organize those.
I came up with a recipe binder. Rocket science, right? Here are a few things that I found that helped in my binder organization.
How can you have an Organized Recipe Binder?
The best binder.
My favorite organizing guru (don’t worry I have a post to come about my favorite Youtube organizing channels) Alejandra Costello has long recommended the Staples Better Binders. We had a “basic” binder — but the edges were coming apart. My recipe binder is well used, and well loved! The better binder is reinforced with rubber’ish type material on the corners. I can tell it will last for a while of love. It has good pockets on the front and backs and the rings are well made and open easily, I really like them! I got the two inch binder. I felt like the 3 inch would be too hard to use, and if I had that many recipes, it was time to pare down.
Dividers
For a long time I just had those sad little paper dividers and there just weren’t enough of them. If you look closely in this shot, you’ll see that I have larger plastic tabs, and then the smaller old school dividers underneath. That way I was able to separate out different types of main dishes, etc. I would just say to do these according to how your family eats. Here’s how mine works:
Appetizers/sides
Dressings
Main Dishes
Casseroles
Chicken
Salads
Fish
Soup
Crock Pot
Desserts
Cookies
Breakfast
Breakfast Bread
Basic Bred
Other Bread
Recipes will go behind the large plastic tab (general ones) and then others go behind the paper tabs. It just helps me keep it extra organized and easier to find things. I do have a LOT of recipes. I enjoy cooking.
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Those plastic dividers have pockets, which makes it easy to stash recipes until I’m un-lazy enough to punch holes in them. I only put recipes that we REALLY like in the binder, and I really need to be better about punching holes in it – -but it is what it is.
I also have a pocket at the back that holds a few instruction booklets for small appliances I use often and need the instructions (like my pressure cooker).
I have a folder of recipes that I’ve torn out of magazines, and ones that I’m wanting to try soon go in the front pocket of the binder.
Again, ONLY ones that we really liked go in it. We have enough GOOD recipes, that we don’t need crappy recipes taking up space in my precious binder.
My precious….
Oh, and I don’t use sheet protectors, simply because I have too many recipes. I I would need a 3 inch binder if I used sheet protectors. I use either my cupboard recipe clips, to hold them up out of the way so they stay a bit cleaner (but you know the REALLY good ones are pretty dirty). I also made lists of recipes I liked most in my favorite cookbooks so I can still add those to our repertoire.
The whole thing supports my menu planning since the tabs in the “main dish” area are my categories for my meal plans. also, when I plan to use a recipe I put it at the front of the divider. When I’m searching for recipes, I start at the back — since those are ones we haven’t had in a while (less decisions makes for better decisions).
Anyway, that’s how I do my recipe binder. Do you have a recipe binder that you love? What could I switch around to make this more useable?
hi love your method mine is a little different I have two binders one is for tried recipes and one is for untried recipes but I need to sort by recipes like y0u do for better organization visiting from thrifty thursday thanks for sharing have a great week.
Hmm… 2 binders, that’s something I need to mull over. 🙂
Jeanettesays
Yeah I have done a similar concept to what you mention on your blog Hillary (but I do use a sheet protector, just for my instruction manuals for appliances at the back of the book). But mine is so full of recipes (mostly ones that I haven’t tried yet). I have also been contemplating starting a new cookbook as Lorraine mentioned, one for tried and one for “want to try”… great minds think alike! 🙂
Jeanette, I have a poly envelope at the back with a closure for those. It’s smart! The receipes in my binder are only goodies. 🙂 That way I don’t have to think much when flipping through. Less thinking is better for me. 😀
I also have two binders. One is a binder with torn out recipes in sheet protectors. It is divided by categories and is for the untried recipes. Then, I have a binder cookbook that has spaces to write recipes and I once the recipes are tried and loved they go out of the binder and get written into the cookbook. I like being able to write because I make sure to note any substitutions I used or want to use.
I need to work on making my recipe binder, too. I’m pondering how I will do mine (because I like sheet covers). I enjoyed reading about yous. Thanks for sharing!
I love Alejandra Costello on Youtube- – she has a recipe binder with sheet protectors — you could check for that one? She’s uber organized.
Traceesays
I use sheet protectors. I usually make more than one copy and when someone asks for a recipe, I just pull out the copies. I’m slowly retyping all of my recipes (with changes and such) and also putting a copy on a flash drive! These are priceless recipes.
I really feel like you are missing out! I use an app for recipes called Yum. It lets you cross-categorize recipes, scale them, clip them from the web with just a click and even prepares a shopping list for you. I don’t have to buy cookbooks, as I can just add the recipes I want and not worry about all the ones I don’t. It has been such a great thing for me that I have the app on all my devices. I use the app on my phone for the grocery lists, the one on my tablet for the kitchen while cooking and on the laptop for collecting recipes while browsing the internet. It’s life changing!
Ooo, that DOES sound like a great app! BUT, becuase I’m weird, I REALLy like printed recipes, and this helps me keep them in one place…. Also, I love food magazines, they’re the only kind I ever subscribe to. Great idea though!
Alysonsays
I tried to use a binder and that just didn’t work for me AT ALL. So I use an old-school recipe box.
I have a document in MS word that’s got 2 4×6 rectangles (the size of my dollar store index cards) and once we try a recipe and like it (to where it gets put into rotation) I copy & paste the instructions into my word doc (or type them if it’s from a cookbook). I use a teensy piece of tape to get the index card onto my paper template (the boxes printed without words) and run it right through my workhorse of a laser printer.
It’s the ONLY method that I actually ENJOY doing and the organization doesn’t get me bogged down (Alphabetical is my friend) and it makes me feel connected to my grandmom who passed HER recipe box down to me & my mom.
Awh, I love that you have her recipe box. I have an old rolling pin from my great grandmother. I certainly treasure it. I’m glad you found a system that works for you — that seems to be what’s most important. 🙂
Crystalsays
I love this, especially two binders (never thought of that)! I am similar, I love having them on my computer and in my online planner but I am very visual and have copies and older recipes that I don’t want t part with yet. Thanks for all these great ideas!
I should totally do that…. although it does show which recipes I use most often (or which are the most messy to cook). 🙂
Dianesays
I totally love everything I have read here.. My cookbook of collected recipes is TERRIBLE!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO much for each and every idea. I sit and try to organize and just cant.. since mine isnt on the computer. its all written, or copies. I will be able to NOW get organized!! Cant wait!!
Awh, that’s sweet of you to say. I hope that it’s helpful. Having an organized recipe book has really helped me!
Kristysays
I use sheet protectors and photo pages. This allows me to save some of the handwritten recipes from loved ones. I do love the idea of the two separate binders for tried and untried recipes. Actually getting ready to clean mine out. Thank you and blessings to all.
lorraine williamson says
hi love your method mine is a little different I have two binders one is for tried recipes and one is for untried recipes but I need to sort by recipes like y0u do for better organization visiting from thrifty thursday thanks for sharing have a great week.
Hilary says
Hmm… 2 binders, that’s something I need to mull over. 🙂
Jeanette says
Yeah I have done a similar concept to what you mention on your blog Hillary (but I do use a sheet protector, just for my instruction manuals for appliances at the back of the book). But mine is so full of recipes (mostly ones that I haven’t tried yet). I have also been contemplating starting a new cookbook as Lorraine mentioned, one for tried and one for “want to try”… great minds think alike! 🙂
Hilary says
Jeanette, I have a poly envelope at the back with a closure for those. It’s smart! The receipes in my binder are only goodies. 🙂 That way I don’t have to think much when flipping through. Less thinking is better for me. 😀
Rachel says
I also have two binders. One is a binder with torn out recipes in sheet protectors. It is divided by categories and is for the untried recipes. Then, I have a binder cookbook that has spaces to write recipes and I once the recipes are tried and loved they go out of the binder and get written into the cookbook. I like being able to write because I make sure to note any substitutions I used or want to use.
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says
I need to work on making my recipe binder, too. I’m pondering how I will do mine (because I like sheet covers). I enjoyed reading about yous. Thanks for sharing!
Hilary says
I love Alejandra Costello on Youtube- – she has a recipe binder with sheet protectors — you could check for that one? She’s uber organized.
Tracee says
I use sheet protectors. I usually make more than one copy and when someone asks for a recipe, I just pull out the copies. I’m slowly retyping all of my recipes (with changes and such) and also putting a copy on a flash drive! These are priceless recipes.
Hilary says
That’s a cool way to have extras to hand out!
Stephanie says
I really feel like you are missing out! I use an app for recipes called Yum. It lets you cross-categorize recipes, scale them, clip them from the web with just a click and even prepares a shopping list for you. I don’t have to buy cookbooks, as I can just add the recipes I want and not worry about all the ones I don’t. It has been such a great thing for me that I have the app on all my devices. I use the app on my phone for the grocery lists, the one on my tablet for the kitchen while cooking and on the laptop for collecting recipes while browsing the internet. It’s life changing!
Hilary says
Ooo, that DOES sound like a great app! BUT, becuase I’m weird, I REALLy like printed recipes, and this helps me keep them in one place…. Also, I love food magazines, they’re the only kind I ever subscribe to. Great idea though!
Alyson says
I tried to use a binder and that just didn’t work for me AT ALL. So I use an old-school recipe box.
I have a document in MS word that’s got 2 4×6 rectangles (the size of my dollar store index cards) and once we try a recipe and like it (to where it gets put into rotation) I copy & paste the instructions into my word doc (or type them if it’s from a cookbook). I use a teensy piece of tape to get the index card onto my paper template (the boxes printed without words) and run it right through my workhorse of a laser printer.
It’s the ONLY method that I actually ENJOY doing and the organization doesn’t get me bogged down (Alphabetical is my friend) and it makes me feel connected to my grandmom who passed HER recipe box down to me & my mom.
Hilary says
Awh, I love that you have her recipe box. I have an old rolling pin from my great grandmother. I certainly treasure it. I’m glad you found a system that works for you — that seems to be what’s most important. 🙂
Crystal says
I love this, especially two binders (never thought of that)! I am similar, I love having them on my computer and in my online planner but I am very visual and have copies and older recipes that I don’t want t part with yet. Thanks for all these great ideas!
Hilary says
Crystal, I hope they’re helpful!
Eileen says
I have one sheet protector that I slip the recipe I am using into so they stay clean.
Hilary says
I should totally do that…. although it does show which recipes I use most often (or which are the most messy to cook). 🙂
Diane says
I totally love everything I have read here.. My cookbook of collected recipes is TERRIBLE!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOO much for each and every idea. I sit and try to organize and just cant.. since mine isnt on the computer. its all written, or copies. I will be able to NOW get organized!! Cant wait!!
thank you ALL soooo much!
Hilary says
Awh, that’s sweet of you to say. I hope that it’s helpful. Having an organized recipe book has really helped me!
Kristy says
I use sheet protectors and photo pages. This allows me to save some of the handwritten recipes from loved ones. I do love the idea of the two separate binders for tried and untried recipes. Actually getting ready to clean mine out. Thank you and blessings to all.
Hilary Erickson says
I love this!