# Zest: Meal Planner & Recipes — Organize Recipes, Plan Meals > Learn cooking concepts and skills through interactive recipes and educational videos. (iPhone/iPad app by Culi, Inc..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zest-meal-planner-and-recipes/id1595938390 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Culi, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1595938392) - Category: Food & Drink, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.70/5 from 3,710 App Store ratings · 340 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 17+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 196 MB - Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), European Spanish - Released: 2021-12-24 - Data updated: 2026-08-26 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zest-meal-planner-and-recipes/id1595938390/reviews.md ## What is Zest? Tired of cooking the same 3 meals on repeat? Zest integrates a mind-blowing cooking education into your routine. Learn to cook with us through step-by-step explanations of foundational cooking concepts in fewer than 10 minutes and dishes that bring the concept to life. Our recipes are created by two former Michelin star chefs, distilled by a home chef, and cooked by you, the superstar home cook that you are (or will be). We don't assume any prior culinary knowledge. We meet you where you are and help you improve. Stop copying traditional recipes - start learning from Zest. We've cooked those delicious Bon Appetit dinners. But when we took away the recipes we felt like lost puppies. Zest is designed to teach you the how's and why's of cooking. So when the recipe is gone you can confidently navigate the kitchen. The promise: Taste improvement after one dinner with Zest. FEATURES: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS We've all tried cooking a TikTok recipe. You rewatch the video 13 times to figure out what the hell is going on. Zest embeds videos throughout recipes so you can click into content when you need it. No more pausing and restarting. Learn at your own pace. CONCEPT VIDEOS Watch a short video on a new concept at your own pace and then cook recipes that reinforce what you've learned. We dive into topics like the science of tasting and the basics of seasoning, sautéing, roasting and more! SKILL VIDEOS Don't know how to dice an onion? Don't be embarrassed, we got you covered. Skill videos are linked in each recipe to guide you along, so you don't have to watch Gordon Ramsey on YouTube (we love his accent too). CURATED MENU Choose a menu to fit your preferences. Tired of wasting produce? Search for dishes including what’s already in your fridge. Got allergies? Compile safe recipes in your menu to find them when you’re ready to get cooking. GROCERY LIST Shop your menu with our automated grocery list. Plus, utilize our helpful tips while you shop. Don't know what a neutral oil is? We got you covered. PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS Rate the recipes you cook, so we can recommend similar ones. Feedback? Technical Issues? Killer ideas you want to contribute to make our app better? Email us at support@zestapp.co. We're always here to help and would love to chef up new ideas together! End User Licensing Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ## Key features - Step-by-step recipe instructions with embedded videos - Short concept videos explaining cooking fundamentals - Skill videos for specific techniques - Curated menus based on preferences and ingredients - Automated grocery list generation - Personalized recipe recommendations ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Zest Encore Offer $29.99 · 2mo | $29.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited | $9.99 | per month | | Zest Unlimited Annual | $99.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited - Monthly | $9.99 | per month | | Zest Unlimited - Annual | $59.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited | $79.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited | $12.99 | per month | | Zest Unlimited | $79.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited | $44.99 | per year | | Zest Premium | $12.99 | per month | | Zest Premium | $29.99 | per year | | Zest Premium | $79.99 | per year | | Zest Premium | $79.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited | $59.99 | per year | | Zest Unlimited | $34.99 | per year | **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Zest Forever. | $399.99 | one-time | ## Chart rankings - #41 in Top Grossing · Food & Drink (US App Store) ## What do users think of Zest? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 👍 Helpful videos and instructions - 👍 Engaging and entertaining - 👍 Streamlined grocery shopping - 👍 Teaches cooking fundamentals - 👍 Confidence-building for beginners - 👍 Wide variety of recipes **Cons** - 🔒 Paywall locks most content - 💰 Subscription is too expensive - 🐛 Frequent app crashes - 🐛 Inability to progress in lessons - 🐛 Measurement issues - 🐛 Lack of accessibility features **Commonly reported bugs** - Login issues with non-US phone numbers - Recipes disappearing after updates - Inability to save progress **Most requested features** - Dietary preference filters - Pantry management and recipe suggestions - Ability to add own recipes - Captions for instructional videos - Metric unit support - Free access to more content ## Recent user reviews (10 of 340) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zest-meal-planner-and-recipes/id1595938390/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Adds incorrect directions *2026-08-10, version 9.13.0* This app makes up steps that are not in the imported recipes. It would be one thing if they were accurate, but it invents nonsensical steps. I suspect it’s using some sort of AI to be helpful, but it actually takes extra time to verify that the recipe import hasn’t added incorrect steps. ### 2/5 — L’idée est bien, mais l’exécution… *2026-07-21* Le principe est bien, j’ai donc décidé de partir sur la version payante. Pour le prix je trouve ça inadmissible d’avoir une traduction aussi mauvaise du contenu que l’on importe. J’ai fini par annuler mon abonnement même s’il se termine dans un an, et de supprimer l’application car l’expérience utilisateur est vraiment nulle. J’utilise désormais une autre application beaucoup plus complète. **Developer response:** hi, could you email us at support@zestapp.co? We would love to talk to you about what we can improve. ### 2/5 — Log in *2026-07-14* You guys are not so important that it requires an account to use the app. ### 5/5 — Amazing cooking app *2026-07-01, version 9.10.2* I love this app so much, i’m vegetarian so sometimes coming up with recipes can be challenging as sometimes i lack the creativity, but this app helps so much to bridge the gap. I’ve made multiple meals from this app that i never thought id be able to cook on my own, but this app lays it all out for you and makes it seem simple. highly recommend to everyone , even if you’re not vegetarian, just to come up with new and creative ideas to use things you already have. ### 1/5 — Frozen *2026-06-27, version 9.10.2* I cannot progress past the add recipe tutorial ### 1/5 — Super confusing *2026-06-25, version 9.10.2* The recipe was really hard to follow and not worth it. It made changing the serving amount very difficult and tedious. ### 3/5 — freemium *2026-06-24, version 9.10.1* I really enjoy the overall idea of the app, especially the culinary lessons and the quizzes which help you learn how to cook with out needing external help - for example, if your dish was too spicy, you’d learn that by adding dairy, it would make it milder! However, the free version of the app only really provides a folder and search tool for recipes, rather than being educational. Overall, the app would be so much better if its best qualities weren’t behind a paywall (in my opinion). ### 5/5 — ITS SO GOOD BUT HEAR ME OUT *2026-06-07, version 9.10.1* IT LITTERALLY GIVES U ALL OF THE RECIPES AND THE RECIPES ARE TRUE BUT GUYS YOU HAVE A DAILY LIMIT IF U ARE USING THE FREE VERSION YOUR DAILY LIMIT IS 3 I MEAN THATS REALLY ENOUGH TO ME BUT 5 COULD BE BETTER ### 4/5 — 4 *2026-06-04, version 9.10.1* Useful but something that need to be added to make it better ### 4/5 — zest is a good app but.. *2026-05-25, version 9.10.0* it’s good but u have to pay to know how much calories etc ## Frequently asked questions about Zest ### What does Zest do? Zest is a cooking app that integrates culinary education into your routine. It teaches you foundational cooking concepts and skills through step-by-step instructions, concept videos, and skill videos, helping you become a more confident home cook. ### What are the key features of Zest? Key features include step-by-step recipe instructions with embedded videos, short concept videos explaining cooking fundamentals, skill videos for specific techniques, curated menus based on your preferences, automated grocery list generation, and personalized recipe recommendations. ### How much does Zest cost? The app is free to download and use, but it offers in-app purchases. This means you can access basic features for free, with the option to purchase additional content or features. ### Who is Zest for? Zest is designed for home cooks of all skill levels, from beginners who have no prior culinary knowledge to those who want to deepen their understanding of cooking. It aims to help anyone improve their cooking abilities and confidence in the kitchen. ### Can Zest help me plan meals and shop? Yes, Zest offers a curated menu feature where you can choose dishes based on your preferences, dietary needs, or ingredients you already have. It also provides an automated grocery list generator to simplify your shopping trips. ## Version history (last 5 of 5) ### 9.13.0 — 2026-08-05 What's new in 9.13.0? A brand new recipe page! ### 9.12.1 — 2026-07-21 Just a quick bug fix in this one! ### 9.12.0 — 2026-07-20 What's new in 9.12.0? - Faster start up times for the app mostly ### 9.11.0 — 2026-07-09 1. We fixed scrolling. So much scrolling. 2. Loma's eyes sparkle now ### 9.10.3 — 2026-07-04 Oh just fixing some bugs ## Apps similar to Zest | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Tasty: Recipes, Cooking Videos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tasty-recipes-cooking-videos/id1217456898) | 4.9 (432,673) | Free | Food & Drink | | [America's Test Kitchen](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/americas-test-kitchen/id1365223384) | 4.9 (17,261) | Free | Food & Drink | | [NYT Cooking: Quick Tasty Meals](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyt-cooking-quick-tasty-meals/id911422904) | 4.9 (543,858) | Free | Food & Drink | | [SideСhef: Easy Cooking Recipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidehef-easy-cooking-recipes/id905229928) | 4.7 (1,654) | Free | Food & Drink | | [EveryPlate: Cooking Simplified](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/everyplate-cooking-simplified/id1471311837) | 4.7 (67,950) | Free | Food & Drink | | [Mealime Meal Plans & Recipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mealime-meal-plans-and-recipes/id1079999103) | 4.8 (53,803) | Free | Food & Drink | ## Related topics [zest cooking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zest-cooking) · [zest](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zest) · [zast](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zast) · [zestappcooking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zestappcooking) · [zestapp](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zestapp) · [cooking recipes videos](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cooking-recipes-videos) · [food planner recipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/food-planner-recipes) · [zestr](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zestr) · [zesty](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zesty) · [zestt](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zestt) · [spice rack to go](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/spice-rack-to-go) · [zestay](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zestay) · [how to cook](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/how-to-cook) · [xtrachef](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/xtrachef) · [cooking lessons](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cooking-lessons) · [cooking app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cooking-app) · [cooking planit](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/cooking-planit) · [learn how to cook](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/learn-how-to-cook) · [culinary recipes](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/culinary-recipes) · [apts cooking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/apts-cooking) --- *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 2026-08-26.*