What Makes a Great Cookbook?

Books make wonderful gifts, but before you invest in pricey cookbooks have a think about what makes a great cookbook – here’s my top 3 tips.

2022 has been a big year for cookbooks, and for the Lambs’ Ears Cookbook Club. The club has explored some excellent cookbooks, but I’ve had many more than that pass across my desk. Some have been good, some have been great – so I was thinking, what makes a great cookbook?

There’s lots of different reasons to love a cookbook, and purchases will vary depending upon our individual preferences.

Things like the style of cooking (baking, desserts, formal cuisines, simple family meals), culinary tradition likings, and dietary influences will dictate why we buy a specific cookbook. Fortunately for cookbook publishers, our needs will vary, meaning that more than one type of cookbook is probably (definitely, in my case) going to find a way onto our shelves.

Gorgeous photos are generally a must these days, but it takes more than good looks when it comes to what makes a great cookbook. There’s a variety of features that go into the production of  cookbooks, but there are three important things that I look for when choosing my favourite cookbooks. These are totally non-negotiable when selecting a genuinely good, reliable cookbook.

1.  Presentation – a good cookbook needs to be well laid out and to tempt the reader. It needs to be an invitation and an inspiration to cook. Home cooks should be able to find the kinds of dishes they want to cook easily and, once found, any recipe headnotes should be in the voice of the author. Headnotes should also explain any special tips, variations, special ingredients, or personal significance for the author.

2.  Clear, concise instructions set out in an easy-to-follow procedure. Unless a cookbook is actually a technical manual, recipe instructions should be laid out in a step-by-step manner and in simple language. There should be no assumptions that the reader will understand unfamiliar terms, ingredients and techniques. These things should be included in individual recipe notes, or in some kind of glossary – ideally with some tips on finding any slightly unusual ingredients. All expected outcomes should be clearly described  – the colour, texture, aroma etc. Explain everything. 

3.   Recipes that actually work. Actually, recipe testing could really be all three of my selection criteria. There’s no point in buying a gorgeously produced cookbook, full of stunning photos and mouthwatering recipes, if those recipes can’t be reliably replicated. It’s surprising how many cookbooks these days overlook this basic point. For any publishers who might be reading this, it should absolutely be your holy grail – ensure your authors have tested, tested, tested.

Of course, there are loads of other considerations when it comes to what makes a great cookbook. Things like including correct measurements, suggesting or explaining equipment, and great art work are all factors – but if you look for the three points above before investing in anything pricey, you won’t regret it.

Stay tuned, because next week I’ll share a list of some of my top cookbook picks from 2022 – both Australian and international – just in time for last-minute gift giving! ?

(If you would like to join us in the Lambs’ Ears Cookbook Club, check out my original post here, or just click on the “Cookbook Club” link at the top of the page.)

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