Question 1

How do I add a recipe?

Accepted Answer

Two ways: paste a link from a recipe website, or enter the recipe manually. We'll pull out the recipe details so you can review them before saving.

Question 2

Can I add a photo to a recipe?

Accepted Answer

Yes — once a recipe is saved you can use Add My Photo to keep a picture of your finished dish with it. It's private to your account.

Question 3

Do I need an account?

Accepted Answer

No, but signing in lets your saved recipes, shopping list and avoidances follow you on every device.

Question 4

Who is Basil?

Accepted Answer

Basil is Recipe Curveball's chef mouse mascot.

Question 5

Where is my shopping list?

Accepted Answer

Open the Shopping List from the menu. You can also add ingredients to it directly from a recipe.

Question 6

What is “What Can I Make?”

Accepted Answer

You can enter the ingredients you already have and Recipe Curveball will help you find matching recipes. You don't need every ingredient—after you choose a recipe, we can suggest dependable substitutes for missing or avoided ingredients when they're available.

Question 7

Where do my substitutions show up?

Accepted Answer

Every substitution you choose appears in My Version — in the ingredient list and the directions.

Question 8

How are substitutes chosen?

Accepted Answer

Recipe Curveball looks at the ingredient and how it's used in that recipe, then finds substitutes that make sense for it.

Question 9

What if I don't have the suggested substitute?

Accepted Answer

Tap What else you got? and tell us what you do have. We'll check whether it works in that recipe.

Question 10

Why does Recipe Curveball sometimes say “Leave It Out”?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes an ingredient isn't essential to the recipe and the best option is simply to leave it out. Recipe Curveball will only suggest this when the recipe should still work without it.

Question 11

Why does Recipe Curveball sometimes say “No Good Substitute Found”?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes there just isn't a good replacement for an ingredient in that particular recipe. Instead of suggesting something that may not work, Recipe Curveball will tell you when it can't find a good substitute.

Question 12

Why can the same ingredient have different substitutes in different recipes?

Accepted Answer

The best substitute depends on the recipe. Recipe Curveball looks at how the ingredient is being used and what else is in the recipe before suggesting one.

Question 13

How do Allergies & Avoidances work?

Accepted Answer

Ingredients you save here are flagged in recipes and kept out of substitute suggestions.

Question 14

Is a suggestion guaranteed safe?

Accepted Answer

No. Recipe Curveball isn’t a medical or nutritional professional. Always check product labels and ingredient lists before using a substitute.

Question 15

What do you store?

Accepted Answer

Your account email, saved recipes, shopping list and avoided ingredients. See the Privacy Policy for the full detail.

Question 16

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Go to Your Profile and choose Delete Account. This permanently removes your account and its data.

Question 17

A recipe link didn't import

Accepted Answer

Some sites block automated reading. Try the printer-friendly version of the recipe, or use another source for the same recipe.

Question 18

An ingredient wasn't flagged

Accepted Answer

If something you avoid wasn't flagged in a recipe, double-check that it's saved in Allergies & Avoidances. If it is and still wasn't flagged, please let us know.