How to Make a Recipe Organizer Binder

Organize your favorite recipes so they're easy to find.

It's all too common to have recipes scattered throughout the kitchen, which makes it hard to find the one you want when it comes time to cook. A recipe binder is an easy way to keep all your favorite recipes accessible and in one place. Creating a recipe organizing binder is simple and affordable, and if you organize it correctly, you will never have trouble finding your recipes again.

Things You'll Need

• 3-ring binder
• Sheet-length plastic sheet protectors
• Divided plastic sheet protectors
• Dividers with pockets
• Organizational tabs

Instructions

1. Add clear page protectors, both sheet length and divided for 3-by-5 index cards, to your binder. The clear plastic sheets keep food from staining your cards. Add dividers with pockets, and put organizational tabs on the sides of the dividers.

2. 

   Use organizational tabs to categorize your recipes.

   Label your tabs. Divide the recipe book by appetizers, main courses, side dishes, desserts, soups, drinks, and gourmet or specialty recipes. Divide each section further according to special dietary needs, if you wish -- low-fat or low-carb recipes, for instance.

3. Place magazine pages with recipes in the sheet-length dividers. Place loose recipe clippings in the pockets of the dividers, and write them on 3-by-5 index cards when you have the time. Place the 3-by-5 cards in the divided sheet protector slots.

Tips & Warnings

• A 3-ring binder with a plastic slit in the front lets you design a cover or place a picture on the front.

• Avoid cluttering your new binder. Cramming in too many recipes will defeat the purpose, which is easy access for your favorite recipes.

References

• "Real Simple": Organizing Your Recipes --- 8 Foolproof Methods
• Complete Organizing Solutions; Creating a Recipe Binder; Shaina Olmanson; January 2010

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish