A great recipe does not just happen; it is meticulously developed. This process is called recipe development and is a systematic predefined written procedure. The optimum goal of the recipe development process is standardization. A standardized recipe is one that produces a consistent product every time it is used: consistent quality, yield, and accurate nutrient content.

Recipe development is performed by food professionals such as home economists, dietitians, chefs, food scientists, and food service supervisors. These individuals have knowledge, skills, and an understanding of how cooking times, weights, volumes, temperatures, altitude, and various ingredients function together to create the desired food product outcomes. This entry examines the reasons for recipe development and describes the recipe development process.