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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Nov 1, 2017 12:42:53 GMT -5
So: huge disclaimer, I am NOT doing this as a official representative of the company I work for. It is not official market research. I am simply gathering opinions and ideas. Also I'm not going to be explicit about where I work, if you figure it out, don't tell  There is a new app in development. I've been asked to join the team for meetings and give ideas and also learn what's coming. It's still in the brainstorming phase. What would you like to see in a baking app? How about from a company that makes bakeware, decorating tools/accessories, etc and also has a huge variety of recipes and projects? Do you currently use any and what do you love or hate about them? Thought you might all like the chance to give your 2 cents... |
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Baron von Costume
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Post by Baron von Costume on Nov 1, 2017 12:48:36 GMT -5
As someone who's really really bad at cake decorating despite being a good baker I think simple animations of how to do some of the fancier things would be good. Like of the building block type things. Often when I look at a video the demo person just doesn't do a good job of doing a slow close up of things.
That said, I should get off my ass and do a proper decorating course either via large company or the various knock off ones stores do here. It seems like a pretty chill way to spend a january afternoon even if I'm sure I'd almost certainly be the only dude my age there.
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Post by The Sensational She-Hulk on Nov 1, 2017 12:55:05 GMT -5
I would say conversions for measurements! I have a lot of them memorized, but it would be handy to have a conversion widget, or even just a table.
I'd also suggest ingredient substitutions.
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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Nov 1, 2017 12:57:28 GMT -5
I would say conversions for measurements! I have a lot of them memorized, but it would be handy to have a conversion widget, or even just a table. I'd also suggest ingredient substitutions. We do get a moderate amount of "what is this in grams!" so if there's an easy way to convert recipes, definitely. (Honestly right now a bigger problem is getting our recipes into an easy to read/follow format because right now they are terrible.) |
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Post by 🔪 silly buns on Nov 1, 2017 13:07:25 GMT -5
I don't know if I would download an app for cooking needs, but I would visit a website regularly.
I like the websites that ask for ingredients and then give you recipes, tho they involve sifting through a lot of useless recipes that only ask for one of the items you listed, requiring me to go out and buy more stuff, instead of using all or only the ingredients you listed. I also like recipes with simple natural ingredients.
Bakeware - something easy to clean that is a solid color and not made in China or other country with suspicious labor practices that is also known for having poisonous chemicals in the dishware they make. Also, I'm poor so it would be great if the bakeware was reasonably priced. I usually shop at Marshall's for kitchen and cooking ware.
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Gumbercules
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Post by Gumbercules on Nov 2, 2017 14:30:14 GMT -5
Conversions, definitely.
Since this is an app, I don't know how easy it would be to do, but maybe a swipe left/right picture for each step. Or if not picture, then the text of that step of the recipe. When using my phone to look at a recipe, I'll often lose my place and have to scan for where I left off, which can be tough when I'm at a spot where I'm constantly stirring something or need to add something to the pan immediately.
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Gumbercules
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Post by Gumbercules on Nov 2, 2017 14:33:27 GMT -5
Last week (or maybe 2 weeks ago) people were talking about the necessity of timers, since phones can do that. Maybe the app can have an easy access timer. Hit a tab on the app that opens/closes the timer screen with a dial pad, and you can enter the time you want, then go back to the recipe.
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Gumbercules
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Post by Gumbercules on Nov 2, 2017 14:34:54 GMT -5
Thermometer on the app. Just put your phone/tablet in the center of the cake in the oven, and it'll notify you when it's done.
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Post by Pedantic Editor Type on Nov 2, 2017 14:41:00 GMT -5
Last week (or maybe 2 weeks ago) people were talking about the necessity of timers, since phones can do that. Maybe the app can have an easy access timer. Hit a tab on the app that opens/closes the timer screen with a dial pad, and you can enter the time you want, then go back to the recipe. I have to say Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything app has built-in timers and while I haven't used them, it's a great idea. I LOLed at your thermometer suggestion. |
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Post by Jimmy James on Nov 2, 2017 16:54:32 GMT -5
Last week (or maybe 2 weeks ago) people were talking about the necessity of timers, since phones can do that. Maybe the app can have an easy access timer. Hit a tab on the app that opens/closes the timer screen with a dial pad, and you can enter the time you want, then go back to the recipe. There might be a bit of guesswork, but you could have a timer that scaled appropriately if you had a different size pan- say I use a 9" cake tin when the recipe says 10", I can tell it the size and it will add an extra minute or two for the thicker cake. You could even give it feedback, so it could adjust a specific user's times up or down if it learned your oven ran hot or cold*- I learned that my electric one in Atlanta always needed ten more minutes, but the gas one in my new place is usually on time or fast. *potentially problematic if you say, go home for Thanksgiving and use a different oven than usual. |
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moimoi
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Post by moimoi on Nov 2, 2017 22:43:11 GMT -5
Along with measurement conversions, how about a tool that will re-calculate the amount of ingredients you need for a recipe based on the number of servings you want to make? I often double or halve recipes, but in the process sometimes the wet/dry ratio is off.
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Post by Delicious Waffle on Nov 6, 2017 15:59:35 GMT -5
As someone who lives a mile high (woo!) I would sincerely appreciate more people including high altitude directions for recipes whenever possible. Especially for baked goods it can make a big difference and you really don't see it as much as you might expect even in things from national brands. So even having something like a calculator for that would be amazing and I would sing your apps praises from the highest mountains.
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