Whether you're learning to cook pasta or ???? ??? ???? ??????mastering soufflé, everybody needs a little help in the kitchen. And the right cooking app can feel like your own personal sous chef.

There are many cooking apps to choose from these days, but the best ones have thoroughly tested recipes, user-friendly designs, and genuinely useful tools like built-in timers, meal planning guides, and video tutorials.

Read on to discover your recipes for success in the kitchen.

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NYT Cooking

This app combines the New York Times' renowned food expertise with clean design and easy-to-follow recipes. It's not free, but 113 million users might be enough to convince you it's worth it for access to expert-tested recipes, guides for learning culinary skills, and culinary inspiration.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: $4.99/month or $39.99/year

The NYT Cooking app isn't free but is worth the money Credit: NYT Cooking

Epicurious

Epicurious has long been the gold standard for online recipes, and the app version is no different. In addition to tens of thousands of recipes and flexible search options, the Epicurious app has new feature called the "Smart Timer," which gives you the basic elements required to cook over 40 simple foods without a recipe.

Available on iOS only

Price: Free

Epicurious is the OG of recipe apps Credit: epicurious

SideChef

Inspired by the founder's own lack of cooking knowledge, this app is built with beginners in mind. Each recipe has detailed instructions that include photos and built-in timers for each step. Other features includes how-to videos for learning new skills, along with meal planner and grocery list tools.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: Free

Tasty

A part of Buzzfeed, Tasty uses its characteristic style for snappy and engaging videos that break down each recipe step by step. It's easy to search for dishes by cuisine, ingredient, etc. and there's even a "What's in Your Kitchen" feature that generates recipes based on what you have.

Available on iOS and Android

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Price: Free

Great recipes with Buzzfeed's typical flair Credit: Tasty

Forks Plant-Based Recipes

If you're looking for plant-based recipes, look no further than this recipe app created by Forks Over Knives. Forks Plant-Based Recipes is currently ranked #2 in the App Store's "Food & Drink" category. Users love it for its clean UX, shopping list feature, and easy instructions.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: $4.99

Forks Over Knives has received rave reviews for its plant-based recipes Credit: forks over knives

Weber Grills

If you're looking for the opposite of plant-based recipes, this one's for you. Yes, the company that makes grills has launched its own app. But it's actually useful. In addition to recipes, and grilling techniques, the app's grill guides will tell you cooking times for meat or vegetables and has a built-in timer.

Available on iOS only

Price: Free

Kitchen Stories

Kitchen Stories is for all the aspiring food influencers out there. In addition to recipes, tutorials, and shopping lists, the app has features that gives instructions on how to photograph your own recipes and share them with the app's millions of users.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: Free

Channel your inner foodie with Kitchen Stories Credit: kitchen stories

BigOven

BigOven has the same featured that come standard with many cooking apps these days, but what sets it apart are the little details that always keep the user in mind. Its grocery list tool is shareable with others, its meal planner is simple and intuitive. The app even has a "Use Up Leftovers" feature to help you with your zero-waste goals.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: Free

Tastemade

Not your typical recipe app, Tastemade is essentially an entertainment channel that makes content related to food and travel. The app has several different shows that range in concept from making meals on a budget, to documenting social change through food. Whether for utility or inspiration, it's a worthy app to have in the kitchen.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: Free or $2.99/month, $19.99/year with a premium subscription

Make Tastemade your go-to for food and travel inspiration Credit: tastemade

Yummly

As an aggregator of the top recipe sites, Yummly has over 2 million recipes. But what makes it a good app is that it doesn't feel overwhelming. The app builds recommendations based on your preferences and has lots of different search options to narrow down exactly what you're looking for.

Available on iOS and Android

Price: Free

Topics Apps & Software