I Used NYT Cooking’s New AI-Powered Recipe Modifier, and It’s Actually Pretty Good
The New York Times has added a beta feature to its Cooking app that helps readers swap ingredients or adjust recipes to suit their needs. It mostly hits the mark.
Commentary on NYT's AI Recipe Modifier received a mixed response. The Times introduced an AI-powered feature allowing subscribers to modify recipes in an iOS-only beta. Many angry comments poured in, threatening to cancel subscriptions and asking how to turn it off, before commenting was shut off after four days. NYT executive communications director Jordan Cohen stated that the site and app had 514 million visits in 2025, and YouTube had over 1.4 million subscribers.
Despite skepticism, the author tested the new AI feature and found it to be surprisingly effective. The AI helped adjust ingredient quantities and made substitutions based on available equipment or dietary needs. The modifications were clearly marked in red-orange text, and the AI provided helpful warnings when necessary. The author's experience with the AI feature was positive, particularly when making chicken and dumplings using a popular recipe.
The AI suggested a reduction in cooking time and added butter to the roux, which made sense for the user. Overall, the author believes NYT Cooking's measured approach to integrating AI into recipe modification works well, with minimal impact on the editorial team.
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