10 food and cooking apps you need in your life

Many South Africans are pressured for time and are always on the search for ways to do things better, more quickly and more efficiently – not least when it comes to food shopping and preparation.

The digital landscape across all industries continues to evolve to meet consumer demands – and food is no exception. Food is today’s hottest social currency and mobile apps are helping to make eating, cooking and enjoying food easier than ever before.

Whether you are an avid cook or just looking for some helpful advice, Stephen Billingham, president of the South African Chefs’ Association, recommends these top 10 apps to help you save time and money.

“No matter your level of culinary skill, there’s always room to improve your systems and processes,” he says.

1. The South African Food Recipe app – Gone are the days of writing a list of ingredients before hitting the grocery store. You can do away with cookbooks and access the ingredients and recipes while doing your shop. The app boasts hundreds of recipes.

2. The Kitchen Calculator Converter – The recipe converter helps you to convert between the most common measuring units used in cooking and baking. It allows you to change the number of servings the recipe yields.

3. The BraaiNation app – This is a must-have for every South African. The innovative app effectively transforms your Apple or Android into the much-anticipated BraaiPhone. You can now master the art of braaiing anything from delicious lamb chops  to crispy braai bread simply by following the tips and recipes on your phone.

4. rShopping List – This grocery list app notifies you every time you are near a store registered on your shopping list that you’ve noted contains items you need. The location search is powered by Google Maps, so you don’t even need to manually key in the address.

5. MealBoard – This helps you streamline planning and shopping by helping you to plan meals, create your shopping list and track items in your pantry. You can simply import recipes and add them to your weekly calendar, making your life that much easier.

6. Clean and Green – Eating clean is easy when you have a plan. This app provides you with clean recipes that emphasise green food.

7. Allthecooks – With over 230 000 recipes and a vibrant community of cooking enthusiasts, Allthecooks is perfect for those who love cooking and sharing ideas. Categories include children’s recipes, healthy eating, mains, desserts, baking, drinks, sides, soups, stews, pasta dishes and much more.

8. Thyme – What sets this app apart from your phone timer is that it lets you keep and manage time separately for every burner on your stove and oven.

9. SideChef – Makes learning to cook fun and simple for any skill level by giving you step-by-step instructions, photos and voice commands.

10. FoodKeeper – The app provides advice on storing foods and beverages to maximise freshness. It empowers consumers to select methods to extend shelf life.

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