Format

The type of format in which a recipe is written can vary based on how the recipe is being published (book, magazine, online, etc.), the length and difficulty of the recipe, the audience the recipe is being written for, and many other factors. There are three distinctive formats in which recipes are commonly written.

The first being the more traditional standard format where ingredients are listed in the format they are used and instructions are listed in a simple step-by-step format. This form takes up little space allowing for easy printing and allows for cooks to easily check the ingredient list. This recipe format is often used in cook books and magazines.

Another popular way for recipes to be formatted can be described as “active format” in which ingredients are listed with step-by-step instructions. This makes the recipe easy to follow; however, it is more difficult to check for ingredients needed. It also is not as convenient for printing since it takes up more space.

Narrative format is when a recipe is written in paragraph form and the ingredients are listed along with the instructions. The recipe can be hard to follow using this format making it much more useful for short recipes with few ingredients. Often times, the ingredients are listed at the top prior to the narrative of the recipe for convenience. This format is popular on food blogs.

Style

The style in which the recipe is written typically reflects who the person is writing the recipe and the audience for which the recipe is being written. There are general stylistic conventions that are almost used like instructions given in imperative sentences and putting measurements in US customary units (or whatever measurements are standard where the recipe is being published), but style can also be used in recipes just as it is in any other form of writing. Style is most evident in narrative form recipes where the person writing the recipe has more freedom to tell a story of how they prepare a meal. The Pioneer Woman blog is a great illustration of how recipes can have a particular style (http://thepioneerwoman.com).Ree Drummond uses narrative form with pictures to vividly illustrate how she prepares the recipe. She will then include a standard form of the recipe for easy preparation.

Content

There are obviously basic elements of a recipe: ingredients and instructions. However, there are additional aspects that can be added such as, how much the recipes yields, the time it takes to prepare the dish, the origin or provenance of the dish, and nutritional information. Recipes often include pictures of the prepared dish and potentially even pictures of the dish as it is being prepared.