Recipe Develo-wha?
O.k., so I’ve never really had one of those jobs that people could define on their own. Doctor, lawyer, you know the type. Of all things though, saying you’re a recipe developer really leaves people scratching their heads. It certainly wasn’t on my high school guidance councilor’s radar.
The truth is, if you’re not in the food business, you’re likely to search for a good recipe in cookbooks, magazines and websites. In the biz, you call a recipe developer. Why? To make sure that your product is highlighted in those recipes that end up in cookbooks, magazines, websites, hangtags–anywhere a consumer might look to figure out what they’re serving for dinner. Of course, with all of these recipes inundating the media today ( and consumer generated ones on top of those) it’s difficult to tell a good recipe from a faulty one. Or is it?
Here are the top five things to look for in a well-developed recipe.
1. Does the recipe highlight your product in a way that other ingredients may not work as well? pe.
A great example of this is the basic Rice Krispie Treat recipe. Sure, you could use other cereals to make these classic bars, (and they have), but nothing is quite like that airy crunch of the original Krispie mix.
2. Is this recipe steeped in the familiar?
We are not a society of cooks or people who take lots of time to cook. If a recipe looks too strange, most will move on.
3. Does this recipe have a unique twist?
Whether it is simply the addition of your product or a spin that few people have tried before, giving your recipe an unusual flair keeps it from falling flat.
4. Is the recipe as short as it can be?
No one has time for extra work. The best recipes for the average consumer have minimal prep work and simple, fresh ingredients that do not require numerous herbs, spices and sauces for added flavor.
5. Does the recipe require the consumer to spend more than 30 minutes in the kitchen to prepare?
Sure, there are enthusiasts that spend days in the kitchen perfecting dinner, but most of us(even people like me who love to eat) have a 30 minute limit. This does not include passive cooking time like roasting or simmering. The best bet is to set active prep times to 30 minutes, so people will be sure to use your recipes over and over again.
I’m curious where other people to go to find reliable recipes. Feel free to fill me in.
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I find that Epicurious.com has good recipes, especially if you read the comments section…always has tips about how the recipe works or doesn’t work. I’ve gotten a few of my favorites from that site.
By the way, speaking of rice krispy treats, I recently tried a new recipe that I saw on tv, using brown puffed rice, honey and peanut butter instead of the marshmallow puffy stuff. I threw in a few choc chips too…it was delish.