Ask Spark
Your AI cooking assistant
“Can I substitute butter for oil?”
Spark is the AI cooking assistant built into Plate2Pan. Tap the chat bubble any time you have a question and get an answer that fits the recipe you’re actually cooking — no Googling, no losing your place.
Spark is a Home Chef feature. See plans →
Look for the chat bubble — it’s available from Cook Mode and from the main recipe view. Tap it whenever a question comes up, mid-cook or while you’re planning ahead.
How to ask Spark
1
Open the chat bubble
Tap the chat bubble from any recipe or from inside Cook Mode. Spark opens without interrupting your timers or your current step.
2
Ask in plain language
Type or speak your question the way you’d ask a friend — “How do I know when the onions are done?” or “Can I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream?”
3
Get a recipe-aware answer
Because Spark can see the recipe you’re on, the answer accounts for your ingredients, quantities, and the step you’re working on.
4
Keep cooking
Close the chat and you’re right back where you left off — same step, same timers running.
What Spark helps with
Ingredient substitutions
“I’m out of buttermilk — what can I use?” Spark suggests swaps that work for the dish and respects what you have on hand.
Technique questions
“How do I know when the onions are done?” or “What does it mean to fold the batter?” Get a clear, plain-language answer in seconds.
On-the-fly help
Doubling the recipe, fixing a sauce that broke, or wondering if you can skip a step — ask without leaving your place in the recipe.
Recipe-aware answers
Spark can see the recipe you’re cooking, so its answers fit the exact ingredients and steps in front of you.
What Spark can do
- Suggest ingredient swaps and substitutions
- Explain cooking techniques and terms
- Help you scale a recipe up or down
- Troubleshoot a step that isn’t going to plan
- Answer questions about the recipe you’re cooking
What Spark can’t do
- Replace medical or allergy advice — always double-check substitutions against your own dietary needs
- Control your stove, oven, or kitchen appliances
- Guarantee results — cooking varies by equipment, so use your judgment
Tip
Want a whole new version of a recipe instead of a quick swap? Try Second Act to adapt the entire recipe to a different diet or cooking style.