Mastercook 15 Recipe PC

I have been looking for something to replace MyRecipeBox on my iPad as I need something that has cross platform support and synchs my cookbooks between devices. I had high hopes for this product, as it has been around for many years and people seem to love it. I was utterly dismayed when I installed Mastercook 15 on my PC and launched it. The UI looks like something from the 1990s. The graphics are horrendous. It is kludgy to use, and NOT intuitive AT ALL. One would think Home would take you to your library of cookbooks, allow you to add/look up a recipe, maybe show some recent recipes that were accessed/added. You know. Those things that are the MOST COMMON, REGULAR tasks that you would want to do. But no...it takes you to a screen with links to uncommon/one time activities such as download the iOS mobile app, import from previous versions, create a Group Cookbook, and tutorials. Seriously??

Premise of this software is great. However, the first year I had this all of the recipes I had hand typed into a cookbook that I created disappeared one day. Frustrating, but I figured ok - lets give this another go, it was an unfortunate mistake. Another years worth of recipes and today it happened again. I updated the program, opened it up and saw that my recipes were intact.... until I added one new recipe. Then, all of the recipes are gone and the new one I added was not even there. A completely empty cookbook again. Found the file, tried restoring to a previous version - nothing. Whoever creates this program has no idea how to design software - avoid like the plague.

Used it since it came out. My sister and I use it to swap recipes. When a Windows 10 update caused an issue Mastercook worked with Microsoft and after Microsoft issued their update, it only took Mastercook a day or so. All told was less than a week. Communications from Mastercook were prompt.

THIS IS THE BEST PROGRAM OUT THERE FOR SAVING RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS. IT IS SO SIMPLE TOUSE AND GRABBING RECIPES ON THE WEB IS A BREEZE. I HAVE OWNED ALL MASTERCOOKS PROGRAMS SINCE THEY CAME OUT YEARS AND YEARS AGO. AND I HAVE OVER 1,300 COOKBOOKS SAVED RIGHT NOW TO THIS GREAT PROGRAM. IT IS SO EASY TO SEARCH TO FIND A RECIPE ONCE YOU HAVE SAVED IT AND IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PRINT A GROCERY LIST. I LOVE TAKING A NICE READABLE PRINT LIST TO THE GROCERY STORE. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS GREAT PROGRAM. I LOVE IT!!

This is the 3rd edition I have purchased. Although I live in a retirement community where meals are provided I still wanted the new edition when I got my new computer. (I guess thats what you call it ... a new edition ... its what works with my computer). Personally, I really dont use the cookbooks that come with it as I can find just about any recipe I want on the internet BUT I have put my old tried and true recipes on a cookbook I created for them. I like and use the features of Mastercook in putting my recipes in my personal cookbook. I also like other features of Mastercook with my cookbook ... the search features ... the ability to easily put the recipe in several categories ... the ease of printing out a recipe to share ... and so on. I like having my recipes in one place, easily accessible so much so that I was willing to buy it ... again.

I am so happy to be returning to MasterCook. The program is easy to use, has everything I need, and the customer service is prompt. I needed help converting my recipe files from another recipe program to MasterCook. Pam Erickson, from customer service, has been very patient and her directions have been easy to follow.

Im still learning the ins and outs of the updated software. I was using a very old 2002 release of this program. Im finding interface between the software, app, and website to be really kind of pointless, and hard to use. Also, the recipe import tool should be much easier to use, but its very awkward. Overall, I love the software. It formats my recipes, and lets me categorize them as I need to. Im developing a cookbook system and blog, and this software is tremendously helpful. I suppose I could make do with some freeware and use Google Drive to manage my recipes, but the ease of input and auto formatting MasterCook provides is so helpful. Ive used this software for 15 years now and LOVE it.

The gift was well received .

The current version of this program is Mastercook 2020. One of the very first things it does is ask you to upgrade. Also if you want to use the online features you have to pay into a subscription service.

I love this product! So useful!