Complete User Guide

Master every feature of OttoChef AI with our comprehensive step-by-step guide. From your first meal plan to advanced cooking techniques.

Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with OttoChef AI in 5 simple steps

Create Your Account

Sign up with your email and complete the welcome survey to set your initial preferences including family size, dietary restrictions, and favorite cuisines.

Pro Tips:

Be specific about allergies and dietary restrictions
Family size affects recipe scaling and shopping lists
You can always update preferences later in Settings

Set Your Meal Preferences

Configure your default meal preferences, including which meals to include (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts), cuisine preferences, and maximum prep times.

Pro Tips:

Start with 3-4 days for your first meal plan
Include only meals you actually want to plan
Set realistic prep time limits for your schedule

Create Your First Meal Plan

Click 'Create Meal Plan' and walk through the three-step wizard: pick a direction (start from a one-click preset like One-Pot Weeknights, or from scratch), choose who's eating and when, then fine-tune the details. Otto may ask a quick clarifying question before generating.

Pro Tips:

Presets are the fastest way to a great first plan
Pin recipes you already love and the AI plans the week around them
Enable macro tracking if you have specific nutrition goals

Review and Customize

Watch the plan build in real time — each recipe checks in as it's written, with a live estimated finish time. Then review the plan, swap any recipes you don't like, and chat with Otto for cooking questions or modifications.

Pro Tips:

Expand recipe cards to see full details before swapping
Swap to an AI alternative, or browse and replace from your recipe library
Rate recipes to help AI learn your preferences

Confirm and Shop

Once satisfied with your meal plan, confirm it to unlock shopping lists and batch prep instructions. Use the integrated tools to shop and prepare efficiently.

Pro Tips:

Confirming locks the meal plan but you can still chat about recipes
Download shopping lists as PDFs for offline use or order through Instacart
Follow batch prep instructions to save time during the week

Estimated Time

Initial Setup: a few minutes to set your preferences
First Meal Plan: generation usually takes a couple of minutes, with live progress as each recipe is written
Review & Customize: as quick or as thorough as you like — you can be cooking from your first plan the same day you sign up

Need Help?

Stuck on any step? Our support team is here to help!

Detailed Feature Guides

In-depth tutorials for every feature and capability

Meal Plan Creation

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Navigate to Settings > Meal Preferences
2
Set up your household roster — named members (1-20 people) with portion sizes and per-member allergies
3
Add dietary restrictions, allergies, and disliked ingredients
4
Configure cuisine preferences, kitchen equipment, and maximum prep times
5
Set your recipe complexity level (0 = no-cook assembly, 10 = fine-dining project)
6
Enable macro tracking if desired and set your targets

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Your preferences apply to all future meal plans

• You can override preferences for individual meal plans

• Update preferences anytime as your needs change

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click 'Create New Meal Plan' from the dashboard
2
Pick a direction: a one-click preset (like 30-Minute Quick Meals or Meal Prep Sunday), a blank plan, or seed it with recipes you already love
3
Choose who's eating and when: days (1-7), start date, and which meals to include
4
Fine-tune: add fridge contents to use up and describe any special requests
5
Answer any clarifying questions Otto asks, then watch the plan generate live

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Generation usually takes a couple of minutes — you'll see live progress as each recipe is written, plus an estimated time based on recent generations

• Be specific about special dietary needs for this week

• The AI respects all your saved preferences automatically

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Toggle 'Enable Macro Tracking' in meal plan creation
2
Set daily calorie target (800-5000 calories)
3
Choose percentage or gram tracking mode
4
Adjust protein, carbs, and fat percentages (must total 100%)
5
Values auto-calculate between percentage and gram modes

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Percentages are often easier to work with

• Standard ratios: 45% carbs, 25% protein, 30% fat

• AI will select recipes that meet your macro targets

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Plans can reserve part of one night's cooking for a later meal — cook once, eat twice, with exact quantities shown in the plan
2
Switch between List and Week views on any plan to see the whole week at a glance
3
Mark meals as cooked, skipped, or ate out to keep your plan (and streaks) up to date
4
Export the week to your calendar (.ics) — one event per cook, timed to start prep before mealtime
5
Loved a week? Repeat a past plan, or give thumbs up/down feedback to shape the next one

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Leftover meals show exactly which night's cooking they come from

• Calendar events include prep and cook time so dinner lands on time

• Plan feedback teaches Otto what a great week looks like for you

Recipe Management

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click the swap icon on any recipe card
2
Describe what kind of recipe you want instead, or browse your recipe library to replace it with an existing favorite
3
Swipe through the AI-generated alternatives as they arrive
4
Review the new recipe details and nutrition info
5
Click 'Confirm Swap' to replace the original recipe

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Be specific: 'make it vegetarian' or 'use chicken instead of beef'

• Swapping maintains meal type, day, and serving size

• You can swap multiple times until you find the perfect recipe

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click the star icon on any recipe card
2
Select your rating from 1-5 stars
3
Optionally add a written review
4
Save your rating to help improve future recommendations

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Ratings help the AI learn your preferences over time

• Your ratings are visible only to you

• Rate recipes after cooking for most accurate feedback

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Recipes scale automatically to your household roster (1-20 people)
2
Each household member has a portion factor — smaller portions for kids, bigger for big appetites
3
Adjust servings per meal slot too, like a kids-only lunch or dinner with guests
4
Scaled versions are rewritten in the background — you'll see a loading card while the recipe updates

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Update your household in Settings and future plans scale to match

• Some ingredients (like spices) scale differently than others

• Check seasoning levels when cooking scaled recipes

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click the share icon on any recipe card
2
Share link is automatically copied to clipboard
3
Send the link to friends or family
4
Optionally set an expiry date on the link, and revoke it anytime

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Shared recipes don't require the recipient to have an account

• Links include the full recipe but not your personal data

• Perfect for sharing family favorites

AI Recipe Assistant

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click the chat icon on any recipe card
2
Type your question in the message box
3
Press Enter or click Send to get Otto's response
4
Continue the conversation with follow-up questions
5
Use 'Clear Chat' to start fresh conversations

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Otto knows everything about the specific recipe you're viewing

• Ask about ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, or timing

• Otto can help troubleshoot cooking problems in real-time

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Ingredient substitutions: 'Can I use honey instead of sugar?'
2
Cooking techniques: 'How do I know when the chicken is done?'
3
Timing questions: 'Can I prepare this ahead of time?'
4
Dietary modifications: 'How can I make this gluten-free?'
5
Troubleshooting: 'My sauce is too thin, what should I do?'

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Otto has access to extensive culinary knowledge

• Be specific about your cooking situation and equipment

• Otto can suggest modifications for dietary restrictions

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click 'Cook Mode' button when ready to start cooking
2
Otto becomes available for real-time cooking assistance with streaming answers
3
Start a voice session to talk to Otto hands-free while you cook
4
Get step-by-step guidance through complex techniques

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Voice mode offers 8 selectable voices and sessions up to 30 minutes

• You can even customize Otto's persona for voice sessions

• Perfect for getting help without touching your device with messy hands

Shopping Lists & Instacart

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Shopping lists are automatically generated when you confirm a meal plan
2
Items are organized into aisle-ordered sections (Produce, Bakery, Meat & Seafood, Dairy & Eggs, Pantry, and more)
3
Check off items as you shop using the checkboxes — this works offline and syncs when you're back online
4
View purchased items in the 'Already Purchased' section
5
Download as PDF for offline shopping or order directly through Instacart

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Quantities merge intelligently across recipes ('1 lb + 8 oz'), and pantry staples are left off

• Organization follows typical grocery store layouts

• Edited your plan? Rebuild the list and it stays in sync

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click the '+' button above the shopping list
2
Enter item name, amount, unit, and category
3
Select category from the dropdown menu
4
Click 'Add Item' to add to your list
5
Custom items can be deleted with the trash icon

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Add household items, snacks, or recipe modifications

• Custom items don't affect recipe integrity

• Choose the most appropriate category for store organization

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click 'Order with Instacart' button on shopping list
2
You'll be redirected to Instacart with your list pre-filled
3
Items you've already checked off or have in your pantry are skipped automatically
4
Verify items and quantities in Instacart
5
Complete your order through Instacart's checkout

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Available in the US and Canada

• Some items may need manual verification on Instacart

• In Canada, the optional OttoChef browser extension can also fill your Voilà (Sobeys) cart from the list

Batch Preparation

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Access batch prep after confirming your meal plan
2
Read through all instructions before starting
3
Click 'Prep Mode' for hands-free cooking assistance
4
Follow prep steps organized by efficiency and storage
5
Store prepped ingredients according to instructions

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Front-loading the fussy work on prep day saves time all week

• Prep instructions are optimized for food safety and quality

• Some items are better prepped day-of rather than in advance

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Vegetable prep: washing, chopping, storing
2
Protein prep: marinating, portioning, initial cooking
3
Sauce/dressing prep: mixing, storing in containers
4
Grain/starch prep: cooking rice, pasta, quinoa in advance
5
Assembly prep: organizing ingredients for quick meal assembly

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Each category has specific storage and timing recommendations

• Not all recipes benefit from advance preparation

• Focus on the most time-consuming prep tasks first

Cook Mode

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Click 'Cook Mode' button on any recipe or prep instructions
2
Your device switches to a full-screen, cooking-optimized interface
3
Navigate through steps with large, easy-to-tap buttons
4
Check off ingredients as you add them from the built-in checklist
5
Access Otto's chat — or start a voice session — for real-time cooking help

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Cook Mode keeps your screen awake while you cook

• Your progress is saved, so you can step away and come back

• Interface is designed for use with messy hands

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Step-by-step navigation with large text
2
Timers auto-detected from the instructions — multiple timers run at once and keep running if you leave cook mode
3
Quick access to ingredient lists and measurements
4
Otto chat integration for instant help
5
Voice mode: talk to Otto hands-free with 8 selectable voices and sessions up to 30 minutes

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Set multiple timers for complex recipes

• Use Otto for quick substitution questions

• Cook Mode works on all devices - phones, tablets, computers

Pantry & Cooking Tonight

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Open the Pantry section to see everything you have on hand
2
Add or edit items manually with quantities
3
Or snap a photo of your fridge, freezer, or pantry shelf
4
AI vision turns the photo into items with quantities and a confidence score
5
Review and confirm the detected items before they're added

💡 Helpful Tips:

• A stocked pantry means smarter shopping lists — pantry items are skipped when you order

• Photo scan works best with shelves in clear view

• Keep quantities roughly up to date for the best matches

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Open 'What can I cook tonight?' from the pantry
2
OttoChef matches your pantry against your recipe library
3
Results are ranked by how many ingredients you already have
4
Each match shows what you have and what's missing
5
Pick a recipe and start cooking — allergens are filtered out automatically

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Great for nights when the plan changed and you need dinner now

• Missing just one or two items? Add them to your shopping list

• The more recipes you've saved, the better the matches

Culinary School

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Open Culinary School to browse 26 learning paths with 500+ lessons
2
Choose from 5 categories: Techniques, Fundamentals, Cuisines, Baking, and Specialty
3
Work through levels at your own pace — from knife skills and mother sauces to fermentation and sous vide
4
Track your progress as you complete lessons

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Start with Techniques or Fundamentals if you're building a base

• Cuisine paths cover Italian, French, Japanese, Mexican, Indian, and more

• Specialty paths include smoking & BBQ, charcuterie, and plant-based cooking

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Inject lessons into your meal plans
2
OttoChef pairs a lesson with a recipe that uses that technique
3
Learn the skill while cooking that night's dinner
4
Review the lesson panel right inside cook mode

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Learning sticks better when you practice on a real meal

• Pick one technique per week to keep it manageable

• Completed lessons build toward your cooking stats and achievements

Account, Devices & Reminders

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
OttoChef is an installable web app — no app store needed
2
On mobile, open OttoChef in your browser and choose 'Add to Home Screen'
3
On desktop, use your browser's install option in the address bar
4
The app updates automatically, and your shopping list works offline in the store

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Installed, it launches full-screen just like a native app

• Offline check-offs sync as soon as you're back online

• Works on any device with a modern browser

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Sign in with your email and password, or set up a passkey
2
Go to Settings to register a passkey on your device
3
Sign in with Face ID or your fingerprint — no password typed
4
Use 'Forgot Password' on the login page if you're ever locked out

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Passkeys are faster and phishing-resistant

• You can register passkeys on multiple devices

• Your password still works as a fallback

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1
Enable web push notifications in Settings
2
Get a cook reminder before dinner and a thaw reminder the night before
3
Receive a nudge when it's time to plan next week
4
Get notified the moment your plan finishes generating

💡 Helpful Tips:

• Each reminder type can be turned off individually

• Thaw reminders save many a frozen-solid dinner

• Notifications work on installed and browser versions alike

Quick Tips & Best Practices

Expert tips to get the most out of OttoChef AI

Time-Saving Tips

Turn on 'Reduced weekday complexity' in meal preferences for simpler weeknight meals
Batch prep on weekends when you have more time
Rate recipes quickly to improve future recommendations
Keep a running list of fridge contents for better meal planning and Instacart orders

Getting Better Results

Be specific in swap requests: 'make it spicy' vs 'add jalapeños'
Update your preferences as your tastes change
Use the chat feature to learn new cooking techniques
Try new cuisines to expand your family's palate

Troubleshooting

If generation fails, try reducing the number of days
Clear your browser cache if the app seems slow
Contact support if recipes consistently don't match preferences
Use incognito mode to test if issues are browser-related

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions and solutions from our user community

Generation

Usually a couple of minutes. You'll see live progress as each recipe is written, plus an estimated finish time based on recent generations. Longer plans or complex dietary restrictions can take a bit more time.

Recipes

You can swap entire recipes for alternatives, but individual recipe modifications should be discussed with Otto in the chat feature.

Nutrition

Each recipe includes AI-estimated calories, protein, carbs, and fat. Treat them as planning estimates — actual values vary with brands, portions, and preparation. Always consult healthcare providers for medical dietary needs.

Technical

Your shopping list works offline — check off items in the store and they sync when you're back online. You can also view downloaded PDFs. Meal plan generation requires an internet connection.

Management

Go to your meal plans list, click the three dots menu on any plan, and select 'Delete'. Confirmed plans will ask for additional confirmation.

Confirmed Plans

Confirmed meal plans lock recipes to ensure shopping lists and batch prep instructions remain accurate. Create a new meal plan for different recipes.

Still have questions?

Contact Support Search Help Center

Advanced Tips & Tricks

Power user techniques to maximize your OttoChef AI experience

Optimizing AI Recommendations

Rate recipes consistently to build your flavor profile
The AI learns from every rating to better match your preferences
Use specific language in swap requests
'Mediterranean flavors with olives and feta' vs 'something different'
Update preferences seasonally
Adjust cuisine preferences and ingredients for seasonal variety
Experiment with macro targets
Try different ratios to find what works best for your family

Meal Planning Efficiency

Plan multiple weeks in advance
Create 2-3 meal plans to always have options ready
Use fridge contents strategically
Input leftovers and expiring ingredients for zero-waste planning
Batch similar cooking methods
Group roasted, grilled, or slow-cooked meals together
Save successful meal plans
Export PDFs of favorites to repeat successful weeks

Mastering Otto Chat

Ask about cooking techniques
Learn knife skills, sauce-making, and advanced cooking methods
Request dietary modifications
Get specific instructions for making recipes vegan, keto, etc.
Troubleshoot in real-time
Ask Otto for help when things go wrong during cooking
Plan for special occasions
Get suggestions for holidays, parties, and special events

Shopping & Instacart Mastery

Customize shopping categories
Add personal items to match your store's layout exactly
Verify the Instacart items with your list
Ensure items and quantities align with your Otto shopping list
Coordinate with Instacart timing
Schedule deliveries to align with your prep day
Cross-reference with sales
Check store apps for sales before finalizing your list

Troubleshooting Guide

Quick solutions for common issues

Meal Plan Generation Issues

If meal plan generation fails or takes too long:

• Reduce the number of days (try 3-4 instead of 7)
• Simplify dietary restrictions temporarily
• Clear your browser cache and try again
• Check your internet connection

Recipe Quality Issues

If recipes don't match your preferences:

• Update your meal preferences in Settings
• Rate more recipes to train the AI
• Be more specific in the preferences field
• Use recipe swapping for immediate fixes

Technical Problems

If the app is slow or unresponsive:

• Refresh the page (Ctrl+R or Cmd+R)
• Try a different browser or incognito mode
• Disable browser extensions temporarily
• Clear cookies and local storage

When to Contact Support

Reach out to our team if you experience:

• Repeated generation failures
• Account access issues
• Data sync issues across devices

Ready to Become an OttoChef AI Expert?

You now have all the knowledge needed to master every feature. Start creating amazing meal plans and discover how AI can transform your kitchen experience.

Create Your First Meal Plan Contact Support

Have suggestions for improving this guide? We'd love to hear from you!

Complete User Guide

Master every feature of OttoChef AI with our comprehensive step-by-step guide. From your first meal plan to advanced cooking techniques.

Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with OttoChef AI in 5 simple steps

Create Your Account

Set Your Meal Preferences

Pro Tips:

Create Your First Meal Plan

Pro Tips:

Review and Customize

Pro Tips:

Confirm and Shop

Pro Tips:

Need Help?

Detailed Feature Guides

In-depth tutorials for every feature and capability

Meal Plan Creation

Setting Up Your Preferences

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Creating a Meal Plan

Creating a Meal Plan

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Understanding Macro Settings

Understanding Macro Settings

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Leftovers, Calendar & Week View

Leftovers, Calendar & Week View

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Recipe Management

Swapping Recipes

Swapping Recipes

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Rating and Reviewing Recipes

Rating and Reviewing Recipes

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Recipe Scaling

Recipe Scaling

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Sharing Recipes

Sharing Recipes

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

AI Recipe Assistant

Chatting with Otto

Chatting with Otto

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Types of Questions to Ask

Types of Questions to Ask

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Cook Mode Integration

Cook Mode Integration

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Shopping Lists & Instacart

Using Shopping Lists

Using Shopping Lists

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Adding Custom Items

Adding Custom Items

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Instacart Integration

Instacart Integration

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips:

Batch Preparation

Following Batch Prep Instructions

Following Batch Prep Instructions

Step-by-Step Instructions:

💡 Helpful Tips: