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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Isriam on May 18, 2015, 02:55:05 PM

Title: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: Isriam on May 18, 2015, 02:55:05 PM
I'm looking for an application (ios/android/web) that I can upload my pantry contents, expiration dates, and quantity.  Looks pretty popular on the app store, but I want a additional benefits.  I want it to suggest recipes using these ingredients.  I'd think this is already on the market, but I've not found one that gives me the three things I am really looking for.

Any ideas for something like this?  I've looked into a few like groceryiq or dinner spinner and they all seem to cater to one concept or the other, not all.

Panty Organization
Recipe based on Pantry
Shopping list based on recipes/pantry contents
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: BuckeyeFinance on May 18, 2015, 02:59:22 PM
That's really taking it to the next level. I'd be interested in testing something like this out though I don't really require the recipe generation aspect. It would be nice to be able to see what is expiring soon and quantity of items on hand. It might all end up being more work than it's worth though.
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: Sibley on May 18, 2015, 03:03:21 PM
Check to see if any of the bigger recipe websites have an app.
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: Isriam on May 18, 2015, 03:04:23 PM
I'm trying to cut my grocery budget, because so much of it goes to waste.  If I knew exactly what I could cook with what I have on hand, I could cut back on a lot of that waste.  Thats really my goal here.  I can find organization apps, and recipe apps, but none that do both.
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: prfrazier on May 18, 2015, 03:20:31 PM
There is a site called supercook.com that will come up with recipes based on what you have on hand. For example, if you have eggs, cheese and leftover roast beef it will show you recipes for quiches, omlettes, fried beef sandwiches, etc.

The site lets you enter all the pantry items and refrig/freezer products you have on hand.

I've used it once and it helped me find something to cook besides my usual run of the mill recipes.
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: Isriam on May 18, 2015, 03:28:20 PM
There is a site called supercook.com that will come up with recipes based on what you have on hand. For example, if you have eggs, cheese and leftover roast beef it will show you recipes for quiches, omlettes, fried beef sandwiches, etc.

The site lets you enter all the pantry items and refrig/freezer products you have on hand.

I've used it once and it helped me find something to cook besides my usual run of the mill recipes.

That is almost what I'm looking for.  It just doesn't have a pantry tracking app!  If you type in your ingredients, it will give you recipes which is great.  I want to track my groceries once when I purchase, not purchase and then cooking :)  Surely someone would make/sell this app eventually!

I'm wanting to create a meal calendar for planning so absolutely no food goes to waste except left overs.  There is no point in shopping once a week only to forget you purchased something for a meal in your mind and it spoil because you forgot.
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: swick on May 18, 2015, 03:28:43 PM
I use Plan to Eat (http://www.plantoeat.com/ref/y0ycnpcikm). They have lots of mobile functionality, but I'm not 100% sure on those since I don't have a fancy phone that uses apps.
I wrote a review ages ago here:http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/fire-drill!-skip-this-week%27s-grocery-shop/msg35756/#msg35756 (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/fire-drill!-skip-this-week%27s-grocery-shop/msg35756/#msg35756)

It's been a couple of years and I still use it for my recipe organization/meal planning/shopping list/freezer pantry inventory. You can get a free trial to test it out and see if you like it.
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: zippy on May 18, 2015, 08:32:03 PM
I use an app called Paprika. It has a place for recipes that either you can enter yourself, or you can pull from the internet (it fills in the info for you). You can add those recipes to either your "meal plan" calendar or to a grocery list.

It does also have a Pantry list, but I don't think you can ask it to find recipes with those ingredients. I've thought about that type of app too, though - I'd love something like that. Though I do normally only shop for what we're eating that week (except some shelf-stable basics).
Title: Re: Pantry/Fridge inventory app
Post by: Learner on May 19, 2015, 11:08:02 AM
I've considered making an app like that myself, but there are some inherent issues.  Adding the data is tricky (scan barcodes for products? manual input? pictures?), and inventory management is a nightmare (how much flour did you use?  What about cinnamon, etc, How do you add left-overs back into the inventory?). 

It was my knee-jerk reaction to address the same problem.  We ended up building a weekly(ish) plan and largely cook from scratch.  Might be feasible if you just buy products and use the entire product every use, although that'd get expensive for other reasons.  One caveat to the meal plan - leave flex to account for leftovers and unplanned stuff.  Sucks to have food go bad because kids got sick and there was lower time for cooking, etc, etc.