It is 5 p.m., you do not want to go out, and the fridge holds a few odds and ends. Take a picture, and AI can suggest simple meals you can make tonight with what you already have.
When this helps
Use this when you want to use up food before it spoils, avoid a trip to the store, or find something new to do with the same ingredients.
Step by step
- Open the fridge or pantry and take a clear picture. Take two if needed.
- Open your AI app, tap the plus sign (+) or the paperclip, and choose Camera or Photos.
- Send the picture with the words below.
Copy these words
“Here is what is in my fridge. Suggest 3 simple meals I can make tonight for [one or two] people using mostly these ingredients. Keep the steps short.”
Fill in anything in [brackets] with your own details, then send.
Good follow-up questions
- "I also have rice, pasta, and canned tomatoes."
- "Which of these meals is the easiest?"
- "Give me the steps for the first one in large, simple numbered steps."
Before you trust the answer
AI can misidentify items in a photo, so tell it what it got wrong. It cannot tell whether food is still safe to eat. When in doubt about leftovers or an expiration date, throw it out.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI read the labels in my fridge?
Often, if the picture is clear and well lit. If it misses something, type it in.
What if I am missing an ingredient?
Ask "What can I use instead of [ingredient]?" AI is good at simple swaps.
Does this work with the pantry too?
Yes. Send a picture of the pantry shelf, or list what you have.
Get 5 more tasks like this, free
The free guide 5 Everyday Things AI Can Help You With gives you one task per page in large print, with the exact words to copy and a list of what to never give AI.
About the author: Nelson Lopatin
Nelson has worked on the internet since 1995 and runs US WebSites in the Rochester, NY area. He writes Easy AI for Seniors in plain English so adults 55 and older learn AI at their own pace.