Jason Cousineau Solutions Inc.

Get It Right the First Time — An AI Recipe Rewriter Prompt

(Written May 12, 2025 by Jason Cousineau)

Consider the pitfalls of trying a new recipe:

• Advance prep steps buried mid-recipe
  You waited until Step 8 to tell me the cream needed to be at room temperature?
  
  

• Missing or unclear equipment needs
  Wait... what the hell is a ramekin? Why wasn’t that mentioned before I started?
  
  

• Ingredients listed in separate locations
  I measured out the 4 eggs I needed for the batter — only to realize I needed a 5th one for the topping.
  
  

• Imprecise ingredient names
  “1 can of tomatoes”… There are 3 different sizes of cans, and 3 types of tomatoes for each size!
  
  

Let’s put an end to those.

While we’re at it, how about some actual improvements?

• What if the ingredients section also worked as a shopping list — telling you exactly what you need, in terms that make sense while standing in the grocery store?
  
  

• What if you could measure and set aside all your ingredients ahead of time because the recipe gave you an accurate breakdown of what goes where?
  (Perfect when kids want to help.)
  
  

• What if you got a materials list so you don’t end up puzzled when the recipe casually tells you to rice your potatoes?
  (“I thought I just needed a fork…”)
  
  

• What if the quantities were repeated inline with the instructions so you don’t have to scroll your phone or flip pages with cake-battered hands?
  
  

• What if the recipe flowed so smoothly you never had to look back or find yourself unprepared?
  Like the recipe was actually on your side, not designed to sabotage you.
  
  

• What if your recipe was truly written for you?
  Your stove doesn’t use Celsius.
  You measure margarine in milliliters, not “¼ stick.”
  You’re allergic to milk ingredients.
  The AI would know that.
  
  

The Solution

AI can take any recipe and rewrite it into something that works for an inexperienced cook the first time.

It helps you avoid pitfalls.
It prevents dirty-handed scrolling.
It saves time, prevents mistakes, and actually makes cooking more enjoyable.

Try the AI Recipe Rewriter Prompt

Copy this into ChatGPT (or any LLM assistant) and paste in your recipe.
The AI will return a cleaner, safer, easier-to-follow version designed to help you Get It Right the First Time.

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AI Recipe Rewriter Prompt

You are an expert recipe assistant.
Your job is to rewrite any recipe for maximum usability and zero surprises.
Apply these rules:

1. Clarify any divided-use ingredients in the ingredients list. List the total amount once with breakdown in parentheses. Example:
   1½ cups brown sugar (1 cup for batter, ½ cup for topping)
   
   

2. Repeat ingredient quantities inline inside each instruction step. Never refer to ingredients by name only (“add sugar”) without the quantity.
   
   

3. Add a Materials & Equipment section listing any containers (pans, dishes) and any specialty tools that may be needed before starting.
   
   

4. Add a First-Pass Readiness section noting any ingredients or actions that must be prepped before starting (e.g., softened butter, room temperature eggs, preheated oven).
   
   

5. Clarify vague or ambiguous ingredient quantities to make the ingredient list usable as a shopping list.
   For example, change “1 can of tomatoes” to “1 (28 oz) can of diced tomatoes” or prompt user to specify.
   
   

6. Consolidate any ingredients used in multiple parts of the recipe.
   List the total amount once in the ingredients list, with usage breakdown in parentheses.
   Do not create separate ingredient sections (e.g., “Batter”, “Topping”, “Filling”).
   When consolidating, show the total amount as a single value followed by breakdown. Example:
   1 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar (1 cup for batter, 2 tbsp for topping)
   Do not list separate ingredient lines for divided-use ingredients.
   
   

7. Optionally: Mention that AI can also standardize units, scale recipes, or flag allergens — but only if the user requests that.
   
   

8. Rewrite the recipe cleanly and logically so the cook never needs to scroll back up or feel unprepared.
   Prioritize clarity, precision, and ease-of-use over flowery language.

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A Note About Results

AI models are constantly evolving, and different platforms may format recipes slightly differently even when using the same prompt.

The purpose of this tool is not perfection, but exploration:
  -to see how AI can be used practically to make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable.
  -to encourage people to take an idea (like “make recipes better”) and run with it.

You are welcome to tweak this prompt, experiment with it, and make it your own.
There is no single right version.

This is a work-in-progress concept designed to push what’s possible, not to claim it’s perfect.

Where to Use the Prompt

You can use this prompt with any modern large language model (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.)

ChatGPT now allows anyone to use it without an account:
https://chatgpt.com/

Simply paste the prompt into ChatGPT and then paste in any recipe.
The AI will return a much more usable version to help you Get It Right the First Time™.