Importing Recipes from Websites

FourFork can automatically import recipes from thousands of websites, saving you time on manual entry.

How to Import a Recipe

1. Click "Create Recipe" from your profile or main navigation
2. Look for the "Import Recipe from URL" section
3. Paste the full URL of the recipe page
4. Click "Import Recipe"
5. Wait while FourFork extracts the recipe information
6. Review and edit the imported recipe before publishing

What Gets Imported

The recipe importer extracts:

• Recipe title
• Description
• Ingredient list with quantities and units
• Step-by-step instructions
• Prep time and cook time (automatically parsed from ISO8601 duration format)
• Servings
• Recipe images (when available)
• Source URL for attribution
• Cuisine type (if specified)

Supported Websites

FourFork supports recipe imports from:

• Major recipe sites (AllRecipes, Food Network, Serious Eats, etc.)
• Food blogs using standard recipe formats
• Any site with structured recipe data (Schema.org JSON-LD markup)
• Sites with NEXT_DATA structured content

How the Importer Works

Structured Data Parsing

The importer looks for:

1. JSON-LD (linked data) in <script type="application/ld+json"> tags
2. NEXT_DATA from Next.js-powered sites
3. Standardized Recipe schema with proper markup

Intelligent Ingredient Parsing

The importer automatically:

• Handles fractions: Converts unicode fractions (½, ¼, ¾) and text fractions (1/2, 1/4)
• Parses quantities: Handles mixed numbers (1 ½), ranges (1-2 cups), and decimals
• Extracts units: Recognizes all standard cooking units
• Identifies ingredients: Separates ingredient name from quantity and unit
• Extracts prep notes: Automatically detects preparation instructions like "diced", "chopped", "minced"
• Splits compound ingredients: "Salt and pepper" becomes two separate ingredients
• Handles packaging info: Recognizes can/jar sizes like "(15 oz) can tomatoes"

Example:

• Import text: "1 ½ cups finely chopped onions"
• Parsed as:
  • Quantity: 1.5
  • Unit: cup
  • Ingredient: onions
  • Prep notes: finely chopped

Duration Parsing

Automatically converts:

• PT30M → 30 minutes
• PT1H30M → 90 minutes
• Handles hours and minutes in ISO format

After Importing

Review the imported recipe carefully:

1. Ingredients: Check that quantities and units were extracted correctly
   • Fractions should be converted to decimals
   • Units should be standardized
   • Prep notes should be in the correct field
2. Instructions: Verify steps are in the correct order and complete
3. Images: Add additional images if desired
4. Details: Set cuisine, dietary tags, difficulty, and other metadata
5. Attribution: The source URL is automatically included for proper credit
6. Timers: Add timer information to steps that need it

Common Issues

Recipe didn't import correctly

• Some websites have non-standard formatting
• You can manually edit any field after import
• Complex ingredient lists may need adjustment
• Unicode characters might need cleanup

Missing information

• Not all sites include all fields (e.g., prep time, difficulty)
• Add missing information manually
• Set appropriate cuisine and tags

No recipe found

• The URL might not contain structured recipe data
• Some sites block scrapers or require authentication
• Try copying from a different page on the site
• As a last resort, create the recipe manually

Ingredient parsing issues

• Unusual measurements might not parse correctly
• Regional units (e.g., UK vs US cups) need verification
• Very complex ingredient descriptions may need manual cleanup
• "To taste" measurements might import oddly

Best Practices

• Always review imported recipes before publishing
• Edit ingredient names to match FourFork's ingredient library when possible
• Verify that fractions and decimals are accurate
• Add your own notes or modifications
• Include original source for proper attribution
• Update any incorrect conversions or measurements
• Check that "and" ingredients were split correctly (e.g., "salt and pepper")
• Verify that prep notes are in the right field

Privacy & Copyright

• Imported recipes must include attribution to the original source
• The source URL is automatically saved and displayed
• Respect copyright - add your own twist or commentary
• Don't import recipes marked as proprietary or copyrighted
• Give credit to the original creator

Technical Notes

The importer uses advanced parsing to handle:

• Mixed fractions (1 ½, 2 ¾)
• Unicode fraction characters (½, ⅓, ⅔, ¼, ¾, ⅛, ⅜, ⅝, ⅞)
• Quantity ranges (takes the lower number)
• Mojibake character encoding issues
• Complex ingredient lists with multiple components
• Parenthetical information (can sizes, product details)
• Comma-separated prep notes

This makes FourFork one of the most accurate recipe importers available!