Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Self

BlissMark may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

No time to shop? These websites will help you whip up a meal with what’s on hand

Scott Harris
By

One of the main reasons people don’t cook? Time, or a lack thereof. That could be to shop, to actually prepare the meal, or both. And yet, plenty of time-crunched people still like and want to cook. That has led to a whole universe of solutions designed to make cooking more convenient, from grocery delivery to meal kit services to portable blenders.

Is shopping your Achilles’ heel? Always finding yourself one grocery trip short of having everything you need for dinner? There’s a new group of websites and apps designed specifically for you. All you do is tell the site what you have on hand, pass along a few preferences, and the site formulates the perfect recipe based on what’s already in your kitchen.

Recommended Videos

These sites make mealtimes more efficient, effective (and maybe even less expensive). We’ve found our top three and reviewed each one. All three are free to use and well-equipped to rid you of your culinary rut.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Super Cook

Super Cook is an absolute dynamo. Select the ingredients, which are easy to find under several broad category headings — dairy, protein, fruit, even condiments — and see what the site returns.

Related

It becomes something of a game to see what the site can come up with when you enter, say, canned tuna, oregano, and peanuts. If there’s a recipe out there that fits what you have, Super Cook will find it.

You can also tailor results based on diet (vegan, gluten-free, etc), meal type, or style of cuisine. Super Cook also puts the experience into a free app available for Android and Apple devices.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Tonight’s Recipe

This site works in two ways. First, enter an ingredient in the site’s search bar and watch the results pop up. It’s like a miniature Google for recipes. For example, a search for “tomatoes” yields more than 7,000 recipe ideas.

Second, the site curates simple recipes from around the web for its Recipe of the Week. Every recipe centers on kitchen staples like chicken, beans, pita bread, and other common items.

With two ways to explore, this site is likely to stimulate your creative instincts and steer you away from the same old, same old.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

My Fridge Food

This site appears to rely more heavily on its app than on its website, but the site does offer a taste of its functionality.

Rather than a search bar or broad categories, scroll through a list of pre-determined ingredients and check the boxes that match what you have in the fridge.

It doesn’t provide as many ingredients or recipe possibilities as the other two sites, but it definitely stays true to the concept of maximizing what you already have in your fridge. After all, beer and ramen are two of the possible ingredients listed. Young bachelors, rejoice. The site also brings a sense of humor to the party, further establishing it as the site of choice for people living on a tight budget but still want to have a little fun.

Everyone is busy these days, and cooking sometimes suffers, either because of a lack of ingredients, a lack of motivation, or a simple lack of time.

Any of these three websites can help you get back on track and make the most efficient use of the ingredients you’ve already bought. In some cases, it might even save you a trip to the store — and the expenses that go along with it.

And who knows? You might even learn a thing or two about how to cook outside the box, with no recipes needed. Creativity is an essential item in any cook’s toolbox, and these sites could help you stimulate growth in that area. Bon Appetit.

BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Scott Harris
Scott Harris
Contributor
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
5 awesome products to help you get started bullet journaling
a journal, pencil, and coffee on a desk

Wondering what a bullet journal is and where to begin? If you are looking for a delightfully fun, relaxing, and unique way to keep track of your appointments, thoughts, and even goals, look no further! We have the scoop on bullet journaling, how keeping one can help you stay organized and alleviate stress, and five awesome products to help you get started.
First things first – just what is a bullet journal?
Look at it as a way to keep track of, well, YOU! A bullet journal is so much more than a diary. It is whatever you want it to be really. That’s what makes it so special. A bullet journal can be as artsy or straightforward as you’d like and can contain pages for drawing, goals, to-dos, and notes. You can include calendar pages, keep a food and exercise log, and track your mental health. This is a wonderful, fun way to stay responsible for yourself.
How can keeping a bullet journal help you?
If you find yourself wishing for a way to express yourself or long to be more organized, keeping a bullet journal may be your answer. Toss out that unintelligible jumble of sticky notes and take a look at these awesome products that are designed to inspire creativity and help you get organized once and for all. 

Whether you’re just beginning or have been keeping a bullet journal for years, these fantastic products can help you get organized so you have time to focus on the most important aspects of life – those things that are instrumental to your well-being. 

Read more
Are green tea supplements worth it? What you need to know
a flatlay of supplements on a green background

Supplements of all kinds have been trending during the COVID-19 pandemic as people looked for new ways to boost their health, and green tea has been no exception. Consumers shelled out about $141 million for green tea supplements in 2020, according to one report.
Though these supplements are emerging, drinking green tea for health is nothing new. It has caffeine, which can boost energy and memory. Drinking green tea may also help the body break down fat and lower the risk for heart disease, according to research.
However, will taking a green tea dietary supplement really help, or should you stick to drinking it?
We did the research and can now spill the tea.

What are green tea supplements?
Like the beverage, a green tea dietary supplement is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. The supplements contain significant amounts of polyphenols, or antioxidant-rich compounds, and caffeine.
They generally do not require a prescription, but a primary care physician or complementary and alternative medicine practitioner, such as a licensed acupuncturist, may recommend taking one. You can find them in tablet form at your local pharmacy, supplement aisle of a grocery store, and health food stores. They are also readily available online.

Read more
4 best no-nut butters that will help you forget peanut butter
Sunflower seed butter in a bowl

We think of nut allergies as predominantly affecting children, but only about 20-25% of children outgrow them as they age. The rest go on to live their lives with this allergy. And while nuts impact allergy sufferers to different degrees of severity, avoidance is always the best course of action, which of course means no more peanut butter. If you or your child are allergic to nuts, there are lots of peanut butter alternatives that aren’t made from any kind of nut. Here are four of the best no-nut butter options to choose from.

Sunflower seed butter
For anyone with a nut allergy, sunflower seed butter is the closest you can get to the real deal. It has a nutty and salty flavor. If you enjoy snacking on sunflower seeds, you’ll love this tasty spread. The butter also has a smooth spreadable texture, just like peanut butter but a little thinner. The PB substitute is made from roasted, ground sunflower seeds, usually mixed with a little sugar, salt, and oil.

Read more