Pestle Introduces On-Device AI for Saving Recipes from Instagram Reels

Pestle, the popular recipe app and cooking assistant, has unveiled a groundbreaking feature that leverages AI to effortlessly save recipes from social media. Unlike many other apps, Pestle does not rely on OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology.

Instead, it employs on-device machine learning to import recipes directly from Instagram Reels, making the process swift and efficient.

This new functionality allows users to save recipes they come across on Instagram Reels almost instantly, according to Pestle’s developer, Will Bishop.

Pestle was launched in 2022 by Bishop to address the common frustration of finding recipes online. Many recipe websites are cluttered with ads and lengthy stories, often burying the actual recipe at the bottom of the page. Initially, Bishop would copy recipes into Apple’s Notes app to add his own tweaks and tips, but this method lacked organization, as Notes was not designed to function as a recipe database.

To solve this problem, Bishop created Pestle, an app that allows users to save recipes from the web by tapping the “Share” button in their iOS browser and selecting Pestle as the destination. The app goes beyond just importing and organizing recipes; it also assists users with meal planning, creating shopping lists, discovering new recipes from creators, navigating recipes with voice commands, and cooking hands-free or with friends and family remotely via Apple’s SharePlay feature for FaceTime.

Despite the success of the web recipe saving feature, users have long requested the ability to save recipes from Instagram as well. Initially hesitant, Bishop was concerned about the complexity of parsing the varied ways recipes are written on Instagram. He observed that other recipe apps attempted this challenge but often relied on ChatGPT, resulting in long wait times for users.

Bishop chose not to integrate ChatGPT due to concerns over processing time, privacy issues with OpenAI, and potential downtimes dependent on third-party performance. Instead, he opted for on-device machine learning, which allows for faster processing and greater control. By handling the process on the device, Pestle can fetch the Reel’s caption and process the recipe in about one-tenth of a second.

To use this new feature, users simply share an Instagram Reel with Pestle, much like saving recipes from the web. The app also supports importing plain-text recipes.

The updated version of Pestle is available for free on the iOS App Store. Subscribers can access additional features, including a discover section for cooking inspiration, 14-day meal planning support, and shopping lists integrated with Apple Reminders.

Pestle’s latest innovation marks a significant step forward in the realm of digital cooking assistants, offering users a seamless and efficient way to save and organize their favorite recipes from social media.