The Ranking Process

Why I Think We Need to Rank Recipes

Let's be honest, most cookbook reviews are just a bunch of flowery words and vague impressions. "Oh, this dish was delightful!" they gush. "The flavors just sang!" But what does that really mean? Does "delightful" translate to "worth the $25 of specialty ingredients?" And does "sang" mean it took 3 hours to achieve that symphony of taste? Not in the Books to Bowls kitchen! 

Forget flowery language and vague impressions – I'm all about the cold, hard data. To ensure my reviews aren't just a bunch of foodie jargon, I meticulously track every recipe in a Google Spreadsheet, complete with ingredient costs, cooking time chronologies, and a brutally honest flavor rating system. Because let's face it, "delightful" is subjective, but a spreadsheet doesn't lie – it's either a winner or it's not. 

By documenting every single step, I can objectively analyze each recipe and provide you, my dear reader, with unbiased recommendations that won't leave you feeling disappointed or deceived."

And here's the best part: this spreadsheet isn't just for my amusement (though it is quite entertaining). It's a treasure trove of information for you! 

Take a Peek at Each and Every Recipe

I've meticulously documented key details like cooking time, ingredient costs, and required equipment, giving you a clear picture of what to expect from each recipe before you even crack open the cookbook. No more sifting through endless pages of vague descriptions. I've done the legwork for you, so you can make informed decisions about which cookbooks are worth your hard-earned cash.

Look at How Each Cookbook's Recipes Stack Up

It is also important to look at the data 1,000ft up so that you can see the whole picture. Here we can quickly see which rankings a cookbook's recipes typically fall into and how it compares to others. 

How About Just Breakfasts?

Not all recipes are created equal. Breakfast is typically less expensive and less labor intensive than dinner/lunch. If breakfast is what is most important to you then you can quickly see which cookbooks are going to give you the best breakfast recipes.

Only Care About Lunch and Dinner?

If you're like me, most of your breakfasts are smoothies, so you really don't care for the breakfasts or most of your energies are directed to making lunch/dinner. This will help you know which cookbooks to direct more of your attention.

Maybe You Want to Build Your Own?

If these spreadsheets have you excited in ways you can't put into words or you want to make a copy of it yourself then you are in luck!

If you click on this link (or the long-winded link below for my special freaks *cough* Jake *cough*) you can make your own copy of these spreadsheets by copying them over to your own Google Sheets. Yes, you have the full permission of Books to Bowls to copy and use at your pleasure. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t74lgB_km1Wf-GU6HAiIaHjTXldGB6UsZEZAqhOMZzE/edit?usp=sharing

My only ask is that if you somehow have access in a way that lets you edit MY version directly, please don't and let me know immediately in the comments. It has been a lot of work putting that together. 

How Does a Recipe Get Ranked?

Don't be mad. I can't tell you EXACTLY how I rank each recipe. That's my little secret. But I can give you a sneak peek as to what is going on in my head when I try recipes without revealing my 'secret sauce' weighting algorithm. 

To rank recipes there are several factors that are considered, all of which come from my spreadsheet that you can see above. The factors with the biggest weights are, does it taste good, and would I make this for friends and family? Secondary criteria include dirty dish counts, effort levels, ingredients cost and availability, recipe layout, and other similar factors.

After weighing them based on their individual traits there are five tiers that a recipe can fall into:

• Tier 1: Must-haves: Recipe Royalty
• Tier 2: Above Average Finds: Solid Swallows
• Tier 3: Average: Your Kitchen Staples.
• Tier 4: Boring: Bland Bunch
• Tier 5: Bad: Culinary Crimes

Tier 1: Must-haves: Recipe Royalty

Definition: These are the recipes that are considered absolute classics, game-changers, or essential additions to any kitchen. They are consistently reliable recipes, innovative techniques, or profound insights into culinary traditions. They are the recipes you'll reach for time and time again.

Keywords: Classic, Essential, Foundational, Groundbreaking, Innovative, Masterful, Timeless, Must-Have, Indispensable, Definitive

Example: "This recipe is a triumph. It's a true kitchen staple. Something I would serve someone I really wanted to impress."

Tier 2: Normal but really good: Solid Swallows

Definition: These are reliable and enjoyable recipes that are clearly well-tested, and very much worth the effort put into making and cleaning up after it. They might not be groundbreaking, but they consistently deliver delicious results and are a great resource for everyday cooking.

Keywords: Reliable, Solid, Dependable, Consistent, Practical, Well-Tested, Enjoyable, Trustworthy, Go-To

Example: "This is a Solid Swallow – a great recipe for everyday meals. It is easy to follow and always turn out delicious."

Tier 3: Average: Your Kitchen Staples

Definition: Average does not mean bad in any regards. They are perfectly fine for basic cooking but won't necessarily excite or inspire you. Think of this as your everyday, low effort meals. These recipes are neither particularly inspiring nor disappointing. They offer a decent meal, but they lack the spark or originality of higher-tier cookbooks. This is still a good place to be for a cookbook, but maybe buy it used instead of new. 

Keywords: Average, Decent, Ordinary, Adequate, On par, Run-of-the-Mill, Standard

Example: "This recipe is pretty average. The dish is okay, but there's nothing particularly special about it. It doesn't really stand out."

Tier 4: Boring: Bland Bunch

Definition: These recipes are dull, uninspired, and lack creativity. The dishes may be bland, repetitive, or left me feeling confused. They offer little to no culinary inspiration and are likely to not be made again.

Keywords: Boring, Bland, Uninspired, Dull, Unimaginative, Repetitive, Lackluster, Unexciting, Tedious

Example: "This recipe is definitely part of the Bland Bunch. The dish is uninspired and lack flavor."

Tier 5: Bad: Culinary Crimes

Definition: These recipes are fundamentally flawed, featuring poorly written, inaccurate instructions, or unappetizing results. They are not only unhelpful but can actively lead to cooking disasters. Ideally there will not be many of these as a cookbook has to go through quite a process in order to be published. 

Keywords: Bad, Terrible, Awful, Flawed, Poorly Written, Inaccurate, Unreliable, Disastrous, Misleading, Culinary Crime

Example: "This recipe commits serious Culinary Crimes. The instructions are a mess, the flavor is awful, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone."

Aaaaaaaand Viola A Recipe is Ranked

The final step is very simple. I average out all the ranked recipes in a cookbook and it receives its final rating. That isn't the end-all be-all as I will pop a cookbook into a higher or lower category if its a pain finding ingredients or I hate the recipe layout. These things are important, and I do try and explain why I rank cookbooks the way I do when I post about them. 

Also, cookbook rankings are not set in stone. If I initially call a cookbook average but revisit it enough and am impressed by new recipes, I will update it to Solid Swallow or vice versa. I don't think it will happen often, but maybe I will get lucky/unlucky choosing what to try. You never know. 

Remember, these are just my opinions, and my culinary journey is entirely personal. It is okay to disagree with me. Ultimately my goal is to explore, experiment, and try things to help some people save some money and time by pointing out what are my favorites. Any recipe can bring you joy in the kitchen and at the table, even if I personally don't like. 

And that is pretty much it. So there you have it – a glimpse into the mind of a recipe-ranking enthusiast. Now go forth and try some yourself! And if you happen to stumble upon a true 'Must-Have' or a particularly egregious 'Culinary Crime,' please do share your findings. The culinary world needs to know!