Which Cookbook to Buy? 7 Questions to Help You Choose

In a perfect world, I'd have a bottomless well of money, time and shelf space, so I could buy all the noteworthy cookbooks that come out each year.

Alas, this isn't a perfect world, which is why I'm bookmarking reviewer T. Susan Chang's list of seven questions she asks herself when rating cookbooks. I think it is going to come in handy when I'm trying to decide if a cookbook is worthy of a spot on my shelf.

Her questions consider everything from the clarity of the recipe instructions to the overall design of the book. Here is what she asks herself when reviewing cookbooks:

• Is it useful? Would an enthusiastic cook be able to find a week's worth of recipes in the book?
• Is it thoughtful? Has the author thought of the reader's needs?
• Is it new? Are most of the recipes fresh, not just the same old classics?
• Does it tell a story? Are the recipe headnotes and text a pleasure to read?
• Is it well-designed? Is it good-looking, with a design that doesn't get in the way of actually using the book?
• Is it focused? Is it more than just a random collection of recipes the author has cooked lately?
• Is it the best of its kind? If a book even comes close to a Yes on this question, it is a contender.

To qualify for her best-of-the-year list, a cookbook must have a Yes for the first three questions. The last four are a little more personal, reflecting what she looks for in a cookbook — thoughtful design, a compelling story — which also happens to be what many of us want from a cookbook.

• Check it out: The 7 Questions of a Cookbook Reviewer at Cookbooks for Dinner

• Get T. Susan Chang's recommendations: 2011's Best Cookbooks at NPR

What do you look for in a cookbook?

(Image: Faith Durand)

Comments (8)

Photography is near the top of my list. If there aren't photos of the recipes to show me what the recipe should look like, then I don't buy it. People learn differently, and I really need visuals.

Originality is my number one priority and easy to find ingredients

Along the 'does it tell a story' vein: I try to give local, my friends try to give local, that way we're exchanging books that we might not necessarily get to see on our own local bookshelves. Then, when we visit each other, we have a wealth of restaurants or wineries or shops to visit.

My favorites are local collaborations.

My school's PTA put one together in the 70s with recipes submitted by "Mrs. John Doe (Jane)." What a throwback! It was recently reprinted and it is still the go-to book.

The Memphis Junior League has killer cookbooks. Not only are they collections good food, but usually good anecdotes.

I'm always looking for proportion of vegetarian/vegan recipes (high) and proportion of those recipes that contian seitan, tempeh, and/or mushrooms (low).

I agree with cbreynolds: it's got to have good photography.

I never realized how important layout of cookbooks were until I downloaded a few cookbooks to a kindle I just received. I love reading on the kindle but absolutely hate- hate- hate how recipes appear on an e-reader........
I can do without photographs but good layout is paramount.
I also love a little history behind the recipe and what makes it unique.

Like other commenters, pictures are a priority for me! The pictures give me a goal and let me know what it should look like. I often find it hard to make a new recipe if I can't picture the final product in my head.