How to preserve an old recipe notebook
Updated
To preserve an old recipe notebook, store it away from light, humidity and heat, and handle it as little as possible. The safest thing is to also keep a copy: photograph each page in Grammage, and you can cook without damaging the original.
A family recipe notebook can't be replaced. A few simple habits help it last a long time.
Where to store it
- Away from the kitchen: steam, splatters and heat damage paper.
- Out of the light: light fades the ink and yellows the pages.
- In a dry place: humidity warps paper.
- Lying flat or standing well supported, in a box if possible.
How to handle it
- With clean, dry hands.
- Turning the pages gently, by the corner.
- Without leaving it open on the counter while you cook.
Why keep a digital copy
- You cook without risk: you read the recipe on your phone, and the original stays put away.
- Nothing is lost: even if the notebook gets damaged one day, the recipes and the photo of each page are kept.
- The whole family benefits: one notebook, but everyone can read it.
In Grammage, each photographed page stays attached to its recipe. You keep the original handwriting, plus an easy-to-read version.
Frequently asked questions
My notebook is already badly damaged. Can I still photograph it?
Yes. Photograph the pages carefully, without forcing the binding. If some words are misread, you correct them with the help of the photo.
Do I have to photograph the whole notebook at once?
No. You can go little by little, one recipe at a time, starting with the most important ones.
Does the photo replace the notebook?
No: it protects it. The notebook remains a precious object; the digital copy keeps you from damaging it while you cook and keeps it safe if anything were to happen.