Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Koku

Getting Started

What is Koku?

Koku is an AI-powered recipe app that saves recipes from anywhere — YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, websites, photos, or text. It extracts the full recipe (ingredients, steps, nutrition, cook time) and organizes everything in one place with cookbooks, meal planning, and grocery lists.

What does "Koku" mean?

Koku (コク) is a Japanese word meaning "depth of flavor" — that rich, complex quality in a perfectly balanced dish. It represents what we aim for: a deeply thoughtful approach to managing your recipes.

What sources can I import recipes from?

YouTube videos, Instagram reels and posts, TikTok videos and photo posts, any recipe website, photos of cookbook pages, and pasted text. If it contains a recipe, Koku can extract it.

Do I need to create an account?

No. Koku works fully offline with no sign-up required. Your recipes are stored locally on your device. Cloud sync with accounts will be available in a future update.

Recipe Extraction

How does recipe extraction work?

When you share a link or image with Koku, our AI analyzes the content — reading text, watching videos, and scanning photos — to identify and structure the complete recipe. It extracts the title, ingredients with quantities, step-by-step instructions, cook times, and estimated nutrition information.

How accurate are the extractions?

Our AI produces high-quality extractions for the vast majority of recipes. Occasionally, quantities or instructions may be slightly off, especially from video sources where ingredients are spoken but not shown on screen. You can edit any recipe after extraction to correct details.

Can I import recipes in other languages?

Yes. Koku can extract recipes in any language and translate them into your preferred language. Set your import language in Settings and the AI will translate ingredients, instructions, and titles automatically.

What if the extraction fails?

No credit is used on a failed extraction. The most common reasons for failure are private posts, pages behind paywalls, or very short videos with no spoken recipe. You can always paste the recipe text manually as a free alternative.

Pricing & Subscription

Is Koku free?

Yes — Koku offers a generous free tier with 5 recipe extractions per month. All other features (unlimited recipe storage, cookbooks, meal planning, grocery lists, cook mode) are completely free with no limits.

What does Koku Pro include?

Koku Pro gives you unlimited recipe extractions from any source. Everything else is already free.

How much does Koku Pro cost?

Koku Pro is available at $9.99/month or $79.99/year. New subscribers get an introductory offer: $6.99/month for the first 3 months, or $49.99 for the first year. Both plans include a 7-day free trial.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Open your device's Settings → tap your name → Subscriptions → Koku Pro → Cancel Subscription. You'll continue to have Pro access until the end of your current billing period. Your recipes are never deleted when you cancel.

Can I enter recipes manually for free?

Yes. The "Enter a recipe manually" option on the import screen is always free and unlimited. It lets you type or paste recipe text and structure it with AI, without using an extraction credit.

Features

What is Cook Mode?

Cook Mode displays your recipe in a fullscreen, step-by-step view designed for cooking. It features large text, swipe navigation between steps, a read-aloud option, and an ingredients panel you can pull up anytime. Perfect for hands-free cooking.

How does the meal planner work?

Drag any saved recipe onto a day and meal slot (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack). Swipe between weeks, and use the calendar to jump to specific dates. Adding recipes to your meal plan can automatically populate your grocery list.

How does the grocery list work?

From any recipe, tap "Add to grocery list" and select which ingredients you need. Items are automatically sorted by grocery category (produce, dairy, grains, etc.) so you can shop efficiently. Edit quantities by long-pressing any item.

What is the Globe Explorer?

The Globe Explorer is a 3D interactive map that lets you discover recipe videos from around the world. Tap a country flag to browse trending cooking videos from that region, then save any recipe directly to your collection.

Can I switch between metric and imperial?

Yes. Set your preferred unit system in Settings, and all new extractions will use those units. You can also toggle between metric and imperial on any individual recipe's detail page.

Data & Privacy

Where are my recipes stored?

All recipes are stored locally on your device. We do not store your recipes on our servers. Cloud sync is planned for a future update, and when available, local recipes will be automatically uploaded to your account.

What happens if I delete the app?

Since recipes are stored on your device, deleting the app will remove all your data. We recommend using the upcoming cloud sync feature or exporting your recipes before uninstalling. If you reinstall without a backup, your recipes cannot be recovered.

Does Koku track me or show ads?

No. Koku does not use analytics SDKs, does not track your behavior, and never shows advertisements. We make money from subscriptions, not your data.

Troubleshooting

A recipe image disappeared — what happened?

Recipe images from Instagram and TikTok use temporary CDN links that expire after a period of time. We've implemented local image caching to prevent this in new extractions. For older recipes that lost their image, re-extracting the recipe will save a permanent local copy.

Instagram/TikTok extraction isn't working

Social media extraction can occasionally fail due to platform rate limiting. Try again after a few minutes. If the post is private or from a private account, extraction will not work — the content must be publicly accessible.

How do I contact support?

Email us at support@koku.ca. We typically respond within 24 hours.