# Handy CookBook — user reviews > 111 indexed App Store user reviews of Handy CookBook by Carlo Alberto Mazzi, rated 3.90/5 from 21 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-cookbook/id295451612/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handy-cookbook/id295451612.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 12 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 3 ## What do users think of Handy CookBook? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface - 💾 Simple personal recipe storage without pre-loaded recipes - 🌐 Web-based interface for easy recipe entry via computer - 📸 Ability to add custom photos to recipes - 🔄 Automatic recipe scaling based on serving size - 📧 Easy recipe sharing via email - 🛒 Integrated shopping list functionality - ⚙️ Customizable recipe categories - 🚀 Fast search and retrieval of recipes - 💪 Responsive developer with good customer support - 📱 Works offline without internet connection **Cons** - 🐛 Fraction handling issues when entering recipes - ❌ App crashes on newer iOS versions - 📱 No cloud sync between devices - 🔌 Unreliable WiFi connection for PC-to-device sync - 💾 Data loss after device reset or iOS updates - ⚠️ Poor backward compatibility with newer iOS versions - 🚫 Limited customer support contact options - 📋 Recipes stored locally only, not backed up to cloud - 🔧 Inconsistent app performance across devices - ⏱️ Time-consuming manual recipe entry on device **Commonly reported bugs** - Fractions not properly saved when entering recipes - App won't open on iOS 13 and later - Unable to add ingredients in some versions - App crashes on iPhone 4 and 3G - Web interface connection times out during import - Recipes lost after device reset or software upgrade - Weird syntax appears when editing fractional quantities - App won't update on older devices - WiFi connection between PC and device unreliable - Ingredient amounts display as 'nan' instead of values - Inability to add recipes on some iPhone/iPad combinations **Most requested features** - Cloud synchronization across multiple devices - iPad version of the app - Apple Watch support - Automatic backup to cloud storage (Dropbox, iCloud) - Nutritional information fields - Weekly meal planner integration - Landscape view option - Ability to add ingredient preparation notes (diced, chopped, etc.) - Support for multiple recipe categories per dish - Metric measurement units built-in - Export to PDF format - Ability to edit categories from web interface - Prevent device sleep while cooking - Improved shopping list organization by category - Direct printing support (AirPrint) - Bulk ingredient entry/copy-paste functionality - Source/attribution field for recipes - Optional ingredient support - Separate ingredient and instruction sections for complex recipes ## Newest reviews (15 of 111) ### 3/5 — Update again please *2024-10-07* Love the app. But you lose the fraction when entering a recipe. ### 3/5 — Jan Lowder *2022-11-19, version 2.6.3* I have used Handy Cookbook successfully for years Today as I am starting my prep for Thanksgiving , it has balked at every turn I can pull up a recipe but can’t do anything such as edit, print, copy, send to email or anything I am frantic as all of our family recipes are here and no where else HELP ### 3/5 — Good tool but lacks sharing *2019-05-04, version 2.6.3* I use this app constantly on 2 different iPads. I have family recipes on both but the app doesn’t allow sharing. Recipes reside on each individual device instead of in the cloud where you’d be able to log on and see them on any device. This why I rated it at 3 stars, other than that it would be 5 stars. ### 3/5 — What happened? *2019-02-16, version 2.6.3* I LOVED this app until I purchased my new iPad. Now I too have a problem with my fractions. What gives?!! Extremely annoying but I have over 1,000 recipes in this app. Until this happened, I would have given this a 5 plus rating. Please help us out Carlo with a bug fix. ### 3/5 — Like the app, but the latest version has a bug. *2018-08-12, version 2.6.3* The latest version doesn’t work properly on the iPhone 8.When I enter a recipe, the fractional amounts are not placed into the recipe properly. It requires going into edit each of the entries to get it correct. This is the case whether I type in the entries or use voice dictation. When you go into edit the entry, there is some weird syntax that shows up. The fractional quantities for teaspoons, cup, etc. are not there. ### 4/5 — Great! *2018-06-27* This is a great little app wish there was apple watch support ### 2/5 — Update problem *2017-09-18* The latest version will not update on older devices. ### 4/5 — Update please *2017-04-28* Love this app. Have many recipes saved but I'm getting the message that the app must be updated. It won't work eventually. ### 5/5 — Un outil a decouvrir *2016-12-15* J'adore, très apprécié et facile d'utilisation, à découvrir. J'attend les dernières mise-à-jour pour le ios10. ### 5/5 — My recipes in my pocket. Perfect!! *2014-05-17* I like that I can keep my own recipes in my pocket. This app makes it easy to change the quantity of a recipe. It is user friendly and you can easily email your favorite recipe to a friend from within the app. ### 5/5 — Excellent recipe app - Update *2014-01-17* I've tried all the more "popular" ones and still come back to Handy CookBook. It might be missing an import recipe feature, but with everything else it has it still is the only one I use. ### 5/5 — Still loving this App! *2013-04-14* New version is just as good as the previous ones! I love this app! ### 4/5 — Excellent App *2013-01-03* It does what it says and more. Lovely interface and easy to use. Please provide ability to print directly from the App (air print for example) and then it will be five stars. Please also allow the option of creating one or any number of PDF recipes rather than the whole recipe book. ### 4/5 — Hmnnnn what happened to the settings icon and import that was on the iphone? *2012-11-27* I loved Handy CookBook for the iPhone and now that I've purchased an iPad, I was hoping to import recipes. There used to be an icon to connect with the computer but that's gone. Please update this great product! ### 4/5 — Great App *2012-08-24, version 2.1* I gave it only 4 stars for one issue I experienced and I hope it can get resolved. On two occasions my iPhone had a major crash and had to be reset and I also did a software upgrade which required a full backup, installation of software and restore and all my recipes were gone. The last time with the upgrade I was really disappointed because I had just loaded several family recipes that I now have to re-find and reload them. I hope I can still get them. If this was fixed it would be a five star for me. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Handy cookbook CRASHED *2025-01-03* List ALL my recipes of 30 years! No way to contact the people! ### 1/5 — It WAS Great for Chefs *2020-02-04* This app was great, I’ve used it since version 1.0 I think. With iOS 13 onwards it won’t even open… and I now have no way to recover my recipes from a decade of professional kitchen work. Such a disappointment to lose recipes I’ve picked up from people like Gordon Ramsey, Pierre Kaufman, and Marco Pierre White firsthand. ======= Original Review ====== As a chef I love to have a recipe book always to hand. And have been looking for an easy to use app since I got my iPhone last year. This 1 really does the trick My only complaint would be I'd like it to deal with larger numbers of servings (some of my recipes start at 40-50 people!) and that I need a way to back this up, I'd hate to think of the hours I'd lose (since I've copied all my cookbooks into it!!) Thanks again for a brilliant and simple app! ### 1/5 — Pffff *2018-04-25* C’est dont ben compliqué Pourquoi j’ai payé pour ça...?? ### 1/5 — Hard to use *2013-10-18* This has to be one of the worst cook book apps I've tried. Really awkward and certainly not user friendly. I bought it for the promised export to PDF functionality, which can't be open on the device. Totally pointless and I'm deleting it. ### 1/5 — Shockingly awful!!! *2011-07-18* Shocking game! Very dissatisfied DO NOT BUY! Crashes always on the iPhone 4 3G!!!!!!!! Hate it ### 1/5 — Piece of ..... *2010-01-25* Dont bother with this one. The five stars must be from the developers friends. I really wanted to like it, but the constant timing out when I am trying to import is horrible. I can't be bothered. Horrible ### 1/5 — No good *2009-08-16* No good if ya can't cook ### 1/5 — Doesn't work with iPod Touch *2008-12-28* My mistake for not checking the requirements before purchasing, but com'on, what could there possibly be about a recipe database that prevents it from working on an iPod Touch??? ### 1/5 — Useless! *2008-11-23* This application is totally useless - it did not work at all, it wouldn't even allow me to add the list of ingredients. I do not recommend it! ### 2/5 — Handy Cookbook *2020-02-07, version 2.6.3* I love the cookbook, but just tried to add a recipe and when I tap to add ingredient, nothing happens. I am unable to add any ingredients. I don’t see how to get any support on this question. I was able to add steps. Please help! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Best Ever Cook Book !!! *2020-11-16* This is a great little cook book that allows you to store all your favourite recipes & cocktails. I have purchased numerous other cook books in the past and this is by far my favourite. Even does a google search for a picture to place upon your recipe. You will see what I mean once you purchase this book :)) Att dev !!! Only one issue !!! When adding 1/2, 1/4 measurements when writing a recipe there is an error ### 5/5 — Over a year and I still use it every week *2020-05-07, version 2.6.3* I was looking for a blank slate that I could mold to my own style. I file recipes oddly - by genre, ingredient, holidat and daypart (crazy but it works). and I have my own shorthand for ingredients and measurements. so, any app that forced me into a box was no good. and, I wanted easy backups and flex ability to share/output. I tried a bunch and they all failed. this is simply one of the best apps I have - it does exactly what it promises, extends my recipes easily back to other formats, ties the PC in if that's how I want to load/edut a recipe. easy to backup, edit and update. I took 4 thick paper files of recipes - pulled the very best (my go-to list) and loaded them. I also load new, untried recipes on the fly and delete them when they stink - update them with my alterations. I liberally add notes to everything. now, we add photos. this has made me a better home cook and everything is accessible when I travel. freaking amazing. ### 5/5 — Something happened *2019-01-04, version 2.6.3* I do looove this app. But, lately it won’t let me add recipes on my iPhone or iPad. I’ve tried emailing Carlos; but, I don’t think he’s received them because I’ve had no response. What I have on my app works beautifully, but, I need to add more recipes. I hope he will find a way to show me how to fix it! ### 5/5 — Love the app -- so happy for the update! *2017-12-25, version 2.6.3* I have 224 recipes in this app. Love the layout, how easy it is to add & categorize recipes... In addition to using it at home, I use it at the grocery store to remind me of ingredients I might not have or for something I just feel like making. When the warnings about the app not working with iOS 11 kept coming up, I frantically looked for an alternative & didn't install 11. Everything else seems to want to give you their recipes, while I want to keep mine. Thank you for updating (although I still haven't moved to 11)! Please keep this useful app available! ### 5/5 — Merci *2017-10-11* Merci pour la mise à jour! J'aime mon livre de cuisine! ### 5/5 — What a welcome relief! *2017-09-29* I have been so concerned that apple kept telling me that this app will not work with future iOS updates that I have hung on to an iPad that is too old for anything newer than iOS 9.something just to ensure access to this app (and one other from elsewhere but that's nothing to do with cooking). I'm really happy to see that it has now been updated and I'm now off to tell the friends to whom I recommended this app a long time ago. Thank you for keeping this current. ### 5/5 — Great App *2017-09-14, version 2.6.3* I have loved using this App for years. Thank you for the great app! It is wonderful being able to carry my recipes with me wherever I go! ### 5/5 — Handy Cookbook *2017-09-13, version 2.6.3* Great update! Have added all family recipes to new cookbook. I use this app almost daily. ***** This app will no longer work with the next iOS update. I hope it is updated. I would hate to lose all my recipes. Please let us know your plans . Cheers! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ### 5/5 — Un outil très utile *2017-04-29* J'utilise cette application régulièrement et j'y conserve toutes mes recettes et je l'adore ! Cependant j'aimerais bien savoir si le développeur va adapter cette application si simple à utiliser aux prochaines versions de IOS. ### 5/5 — Love! *2016-12-28, version 2.6.1* I love this app. I needed an app to sort and sort my own recipes. I have been using this app for years. It is one of my most used apps. I can see where some may struggle with entering recipes but make a little effort to learn how to copy and paste from web pages and it is easy enough. Look at the support page for instructions on how to use your computer to enter recipes. My only fear is that this app has not been updated for a couple of years and I'm afraid my extensive collection is in danger of getting lost to an out of date app. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*