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Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know so you can use Sidechef like a pro

What is SideChef?

SideChef is a free mobile app with over 16,000 step-by-step Smart Recipes. With SideChef, you can filter by dietary preferences, ingredients on hand, cuisine, or cook time to find the perfect recipe for you. SideChef allows you to meal plan, shop for groceries, connect to your smart oven, and cook incredible recipes every time.

What is a Smart Recipe?

A SideChef Smart Recipe allows you to connect to smart appliances in your kitchen. With a Smart Recipe, cooking instructions are sent from the app directly to your appliance, giving you one less thing to do while you cook. Smart Recipes are also shoppable, meaning an AmazonFresh cart can be populated with the ingredients you need with one tap of a button.

Can I use SideChef on my Smartphone and Tablet?

Yes, you can download SideChef for free from the Google Play store or Apple App Store.

What is “step by step” mode?

Step-by-step mode breaks down your recipe into simple steps, with a corresponding photo or video for each step. You can advance through each step at your own pace using voice commands, and benefit from in-app timers when the recipe queues specific cook times.

How do I save my own recipe to SideChef?

Here's how to save your own recipe to the SideChef app:

  1. Go to My Saved Recipes
  2. Tap on CREATE RECIPE
  3. Follow the on screen instructions and input a recipe title and add at least one ingredient
  4. Tap on DONE

How do I share meal plans and shopping lists with others?

At this time, we do not support sharing meals plans or shopping lists.

How do I save a recipe to my cookbook?

To save a recipe to your cookbook, open the recipe, click the white “save” button on the bottom left, select cookbook, and select which cookbook you’d like to save the recipe to.

How do I save recipes to my meal plan?

To save a recipe to your meal plan, open the recipe, click the white “save” button on the bottom left, and select “meal plan”. A calendar will appear. Select the date you want to cook that recipe, and the corresponding meal type. You can then access your meal plan from the bottom navigation bar of your home scroll.
Alternatively, you can start from the meal plan calendar, select a date, select a meal type, and then search for an appropriate recipe.

How do I create a grocery list?

To access your grocery list, select “Grocery” from the bottom navigation bar on your home scroll. Click “ADD” on the top right and name your grocery list. Click “Add you items” to search for ingredients and specify quantity.
Additionally, you can add ingredients directly from the recipe you’d like to make. Open up the recipe you’d like to get ingredients for, scroll down to the ingredients section, adjust your serving size, and click the “ADD TO SHOPPING LIST” button. Review the ingredients and uncheck any that you already have available at home. Click the “CONFIRM” button at the bottom, and select a shopping list. Those ingredients can now be found on your shopping list.

How do I delete a recipe from my Cookbook or Meal Plan?

Simply go to your Cookbook or Meal Plan and swipe left on the recipe you would like to delete, and then find the “Delete” button.

How do I grocery shop with AmazonFresh?

To order your groceries through AmazonFresh, select “Grocery” from the bottom navigation bar. Select the grocery list you’d like to order. Click the “SHOP amazon” button located at the bottom right of your screen. Items will be recommended for each ingredient on your shopping list. Make your selection, add to cart, and hit the arrow on the bottom right to scroll to your next item.

How do I connect my smart appliance to SideChef?

From the “Recipes” screen, click the circle icon on the top right that displays your photo to view your account. Scroll down to “My Appliances” and tap “APPLIANCES.” Tap “Add New” and select your oven brand on the next page. Follow the instructions on the next screen to link your account.

Why should I join SideChef Premium?

SideChef Premium gives you access to exclusive recipes from top Culinary Experts. All recipes in SideChef Premium are tested by our in-house culinary team. This means that we guarantee all instructions are clear, corresponding photos and videos are of the highest quality, and the recipes themselves are delicious.

What are your subscription offerings and how much do they cost?

We offer a monthly subscription for $4.99 USD. You can also purchase an annual subscription for $49.99 USD.

How do I activate SideChef Premium?

Activating SideChef Premium is easy, all you have to do is:

  1. Log into the SideChef app and click into the SideChef Premium promotion banner (on the Explore Tab) OR any SideChef Premium recipe or technique video.

  2. A SideChef Premium payment page will appear. Select either a monthly or annual subscription.

  3. Your App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) will automatically open up a payment screen.

    1. If you have already set up your payment method within your App Store / Google Play store, you can simply confirm the payment.

    2. If you have not yet set up any payment method within your App Store / Google Play store, you will be asked to do so.

Do you offer a free trial?

Yes, we offer a 7-day free trial.

Why do I have to give my credit card information for a free trial?

By having a payment method on file, we can ensure you won't have an interruption in your access to SideChef Premium after the free trial. You are always free to cancel your subscription within the trial period.

How do I sign up on desktop?

  1. Go to www.sidechef.com/account/signup/
  2. Set up your account or log in with an existing account
  3. Select the desired subscription plan
  4. Enter your payment information
  5. Click “Activate my subscription”

How do I redeem a promo code?

Any promotion or discount codes must be applied directly on the SideChef website.

  1. Go to www.sidechef.com/account/signup/
  2. Set up your account or log in with an existing account
  3. Select the desired subscription plan
  4. Enter your payment information
  5. Enter the code in the Promo Code field and click “Apply”
  6. Click “Activate my subscription”

Why did my subscription auto-renew?

Our SideChef Premium subscriptions auto-renew so you never get locked out from all your favorite recipes. You can cancel your subscription at any time.

Can I pause my subscription?

No, you cannot temporarily pause your subscription, but please see below on how to cancel.

How do I cancel my subscription?

If you purchased your subscription via Apple App Store:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Scroll down to "iTunes and App Store"
  3. Tap Your AppleID Email 
  4. Select "View AppleID" (You may be asked to log in)
  5. Tap "Subscriptions"
  6. Select the SideChef subscription
  7. Tap "Cancel Subscription" to disable it from auto-renewing at the end of the current billing cycle


If you purchased your subscription via Google Play:

  1. Open the Google Play Store
  2. Tap Menu (3 small horizontal lines) and then Subscriptions
  3. Select the SideChef subscription
  4. Tap Cancel subscription
  5. Follow the onscreen instructions

How do I reactivate my subscription?

If you purchased your subscription via Apple App Store:

  1. Tap the Settings app icon and then tap "iTunes & App Store."
  2. Find your Apple ID at the top of the screen and tap it.
  3. Tap "View Apple ID." You may need to enter your password or use Touch ID or Face ID to log into your account.
  4. Tap "Subscriptions."
  5. Look for the list of expired subscriptions at the bottom of the screen. Tap SideChef.
  6. On the subscription page, tap the subscription option you want and then confirm your choice. You'll now be re-subscribed.

If you purchased your subscription via Google Play, you’ll have to resubscribe through the standard activation method (see above)

Do you offer family sharing?

At this time, all subscriptions are for individuals only.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

You can cancel your subscription at any time, however you will not be refunded. Your subscription will end at the completion of your next billing cycle.

How do I become a SideChef Culinary Partner?

Please reach out to alexis@sidechef.com if you’re interested in becoming a SideChef Culinary Partner.

How many of my recipes will be published to SideChef?

During the onboarding process, you can decide how many recipes you want to publish.

Do I have to create new recipes to become a SideChef Culinary Partner?

No. We do not require our partners to create new recipes. Many of our partners share recipes that already exist in their recipe archives.

Will I still own my recipes?

Yes. Our aim is not to gain ownership of your content, but to serve as the home cooking platform to showcase your delicious recipes and allow everyone to cook with confidence.

Do I get attribution for the content I share on SideChef?

We understand the importance of safeguarding intellectual property, therefore, we always provide full credit and a link back to the original blogger’s site on every recipe.

Is a partnership with SideChef exclusive?

No. A standard SideChef Content Partnership does not require any exclusivity, and we will never share your recipes without your permission.

What do I need to do to publish my recipes on SideChef?

Once you’ve become a SideChef Culinary Partner, we have a very straightforward process to get your recipes published. Simply select recipes that you would like to publish or we can select our favorites. From there, our Content Team will transform your recipes into our Smart Recipe format.

Who can I reach out to if I have questions about my existing partnership with SideChef?

You can reach out to sandie@sidechef.com for any questions regarding your partnership. We look forward to hearing from you.

What is the Recipe Rewards Program?

The SideChef Recipe Rewards Program is a revenue share program that provides our partners the opportunity to earn recurring income from the recipes they share on SideChef. Please contact us at contentpartnerships@sidechef.com for more information.

What type of content are you looking for?

We are looking for writing that feels authentic, approachable, and fun. This includes pieces on food sustainability, the science of food, the history of food, food trends, food culture “hot takes,” personal essays on food, profiles on chefs & food-growers, etc. We generally handle cooking tip articles in house, so please do not send any such pitches. We also are not looking for traditional restaurant reviews.

How can I submit a pitch?

To submit a pitch, please send pitches to alexis@sidechef.com with the subject line labeled [PITCH], with the topic and/or hook of the story. Please include:

  • 2-3 links to past writing samples, ideally in the same style you hope to write for us
  • Topic you want to write about
  • What you hope the piece will teach or answer for readers
  • Format - is this a personal essay, a profile, an interview, a recipe with an extended headnote, or a series of illustrations?
  • Any photography or art that will need to be included (and how you will provide!) as well as samples 

What is the SideChef Affiliate Program?

The SideChef Affiliate Program is a recipe-based affiliate program that lets you create a single, shoppable link that holds all the ingredients in your recipe. When a user follows your link, they can easily order all the ingredients needed to re-create your recipe, from one of our grocery partners.

Who is the SideChef Affiliate Program for?

For creators who share exciting recipes with their audiences and want to turn those recipes into revenue. Application is open to all and approval will be based on content quality, channels, audience, and more.

How can I apply to be part of the SideChef Affiliate Program?

Apply to become a SideChef Affiliate by visiting https://sidechef.tapfiliate.com

What does “Recipe-Based” mean?

Instead of creating an affiliate link for each ingredient separately, we let you create one single Shoppable Link that holds all ingredients needed, so that they can all be shopped together and at once.

What are Shoppable Links?

A Shoppable Link is a single affiliate link that holds all ingredients needed, so that they can all be shopped together and at once, from one of our grocery partners.

Where can I use Shoppable Links?

Shoppable Links can be shared anywhere you can share a website link (URL): On your blog or website, your Instagram story, your newsletter, your YouTube description, and more.

How can I see my commissions?

After being approved, you can login to your SideChef account and access your Affiliate Dashboard from your profile.

When will I get paid?

Affiliates are paid out on a quarterly basis, provided that they have reached the $100 commission threshold.

How will I get paid?

We will pay you via PayPal.

Do you provide backlinks to my site or blog after I create a recipe on SideChef?

Yes, when creating a Shoppable Link, you will have the option to insert an original source URL for your recipe, that links back to your site. This is a do follow link and will show to users on the recipe page.
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