Tips on Buying a Cookbook: Finding the Right Cookbook

Cookbooks are everywhere. There are at least three shelves of them in any bookstores. You find them stuck in every available corner of the specialty kitchen-supply stores. Even the big discount stores, such as Wal-Mart and Target, have a selection in their book area. With so many cookbooks out there, how do you figure out the right one for you?

First of all, take a look at yourself and your eating habits:

Most importantly, what is your cooking experience? If you're just started out cooking, it's probably best that you don't buy "Indian Foods for Experts" types of books. Stick to the more basic, "how to boil water" types.

What does your schedule look like? Do you have time to cook? If not, head towards the "quick and easy" books.

Take note of your available kitchen space and equipment. You don't want to buy a cookbook about sausage making to find that you don't' have any of the equipment. Decide what you're willing to buy and put a price tag on it.

What are you likes and dislikes? If you don't like chicken, shy away from the books that are heavy on poultry.

Do you have any food allergies? Self-explanatory - don't buy a cookbook you can't use!

Do you have any food preferences? If you're a vegetarian, head towards the vegetarian shelf.

Are there any ethnic foods you like? Maybe you like Mexican food and want to learn how to make it yourself? Yes, there are cookbooks out there just for you!

Look over the answer to all of those questions and decide what type of cookbook you want to buy. It's important to make this decision now, before you walk into the bookstore and are confronted by the thousands of cookbooks waiting for you. Maybe you're an experience cook, interested in learning how to cook Japanese dishes. Or maybe you've just turned vegetarian and are looking for versatility in your menus.

Ask around. Your mom or grandmother probably has her favorite cookbook. Any foodie will be able to point you in the direction of a few decent authors. Even reviews at online bookstores, like Amazon, can give you some ideas.

The first stop on your "cookbooks shopping trip" should be to your local library. You'd be surprised at the variety of cookbooks available there for you to look out and take home for free. Even if you want something current, a quick look through the shelves will give you an idea of what's out there and what you like and don't like about cookbooks. You can look through the books at your leisure, even check a few out to take home and try. If you have any questions or problems finding a book that will suit your needs, speak to a librarian. They know the best ways to find what you're looking for.

The next stop on your search should be a local bookstore. You'll find a variety of cookbooks on their shelves, waiting for you to purchase. Even if you plan to buy your books online, it's best to "preview" the books. You can see what is available and get a clearer idea of what you like and dislike.

When you're looking at a cookbook you're interested in buying, there's a few things to look at:

Table of Contents - Is it laid out in a way you can understand? Does the book cover everything you want covered? Are there too many extras (stuff you're not interested)?

Get some information on the author - Read the bio info, located usually on the back or the inside of the cover.

Stop at random recipes - Do they sound good? Are they something you'd actually eat? Is the ingredients list filled with items you'd typically have in your pantry? What's the skill level? Would you feel comfortable doing what the instructions say for you to do? Also, do these seem different or run of the mill?

Layout - Are the recipes laid out in such away that you can follow it easily? Step-by-step instructions are the best. Reading through paragraphed instructions makes cooking a bear.

Fluff - Some cookbooks have a lot of fluff (extra pictures, author's notes and memories, etc). After you buy the book and take it home, you'll realize that the 350-page book only includes 100 recipes. What a waste!

Design - Does the book lay flat? Are there enough pictures? Are there too many pictures? Are the pictures useful (actual pictures of the dishes and not of the author eating)?

Once you find the right cookbook, buy it right away! Cookbooks come and cookbooks go. Some gain popularity and stick around while others disappear into the cookbook graveyard. So, buy it right away and enjoy the plethora of new recipes await you.