AI in Cooking — Recipes, Ideas, and Cutting Down on Food Waste
“Every time I open the fridge, the same leftovers are sitting there and I have no idea what to do with them.” If this sounds familiar, AI can be your new kitchen assistant.
What do I make with these ingredients?
The classic question. Tell AI what’s in the cupboard, and it suggests a meal:
“I have half a pack of tofu, broccoli, soy sauce, rice, and eggs in the fridge. What do I make with this?”
You get back a ready-made recipe — usually several options.
Weekly meal plan
AI creates a meal plan in a minute:
“Make a weekly meal plan for 2 adults. No specialty dishes, just basic home cooking. Keep in mind that Thursday is busy. All ingredients should be available at a regular grocery store.”
Special diets
Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, FODMAP — AI can adapt recipes:
“I’m vegan and allergic to nuts. Suggest 5 weekday meals that are easy to make in under 30 minutes.”
Fighting food waste
“What can I make with old bananas, besides a smoothie?”
“I have ham and cream that are two days old in the fridge. What do I make?”
AI helps you find uses for food that’s still safe to eat but might otherwise get thrown away.
Baking and treats
Baking requires precision, but AI helps:
“I don’t have any eggs. What can I use instead in bread dough?”
“I want to make chocolate chip cookies, but with only 5 ingredients. Recipe?”
Shopping list
When the meal plan is ready, ask for a shopping list:
“Make a shopping list for the week’s meal plan and sort it by section: produce, dairy, dry goods, meat.”
Tips
- Mention amounts — “a couple of carrots” gives a more precise answer than “carrots”
- Mention your equipment — “no oven” or “just one pan” keeps suggestions realistic
- Ask for alternatives — if the recipe doesn’t sound great, ask for another option
How to get started?
Take a photo of the fridge contents (ChatGPT and Copilot can read images) or write down what you have. Ask “What do I make with this?” and see what happens.
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