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Ingredients

Create and manage your ingredient master list - a central database of all ingredients used in your restaurant.

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What is the Ingredient Master List?

Your ingredient master list is a centralized database containing:
  • All ingredients you use in recipes
  • Ingredient names and descriptions
  • Units of measure
  • Allergen information
  • Links to storage locations (optional)

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Viewing Ingredients

To view your ingredients:
  1. Go to Manage → Ingredients
  2. View a table of all ingredients
  3. Each ingredient shows:
    • Ingredient ID
    • Ingredient name
    • Base unit of measure
    • Allergens
    • Created date

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Adding an Ingredient

To add a new ingredient manually:

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Step 1: Open the Form

  1. Go to Manage → Ingredients
  2. Click the + button or Add Ingredient
  3. The ingredient form opens

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Step 2: Fill in Details

Enter the ingredient information:
  • Name (required): Ingredient name (e.g., “Tomatoes”, “Olive Oil”)
  • Base Unit of Measure (required): The primary unit for this ingredient
    • Select from dropdown (kg, L, piece, etc.)
    • This defines how you track the ingredient
  • Allergens (optional): Select any applicable allergens
    • Common allergens: gluten, dairy, nuts, shellfish, etc.
    • Select multiple if needed

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Step 3: Save

Click Save or Create Ingredient The ingredient is added to your master list.

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Editing an Ingredient

To modify an existing ingredient:
  1. Find the ingredient in the list
  2. Click on it or click the edit button
  3. Update the details:
    • Change the name
    • Update unit of measure
    • Modify allergens
  4. Save your changes

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Deleting an Ingredient

To remove an ingredient:
  1. Find the ingredient in the list
  2. Click the more actions button or delete icon
  3. Confirm deletion
Note: Be careful when deleting ingredients that are used in recipes. Deleting an ingredient may affect those recipes.

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Bulk Upload Ingredients

For adding many ingredients at once, use the bulk upload feature:

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Step 1: Prepare CSV File

Create a CSV file with your ingredients:
  • Include column headers
  • Required columns: ingredient name, base unit of measure
  • Optional columns: allergens
Example CSV: 
name,base_uom,allergens
Tomatoes,kg,
Milk,L,dairy
Peanut Butter,kg,"nuts,gluten"

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Step 2: Upload File

  1. Go to Manage → Ingredients
  2. Click Bulk Upload or upload icon
  3. Select your CSV file
  4. The system previews your data

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Step 3: Map Columns

Map your CSV columns to system fields:
  • Match “name” column to ingredient name
  • Match unit column to base unit of measure
  • Map any other columns

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Step 4: Validate and Import

  1. System validates your data
  2. Review any errors
  3. Fix errors if needed
  4. Click Upload or Import
  5. Ingredients are added to your list
See Bulk Upload Guide for detailed instructions.

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Searching and Filtering

On the ingredients page:
  • Search: Find ingredients by name
  • Filter by allergen: Show only ingredients with specific allergens
  • Sort: Order by name, date created, etc.

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Allergen Management

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Tracking Allergens

For each ingredient, you can specify allergens:
  • Helps with recipe allergen tracking
  • Supports menu labeling requirements
  • Critical for customer safety

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Common Allergens

Typically tracked allergens include:
  • Gluten/Wheat
  • Dairy/Milk
  • Eggs
  • Nuts (tree nuts, peanuts)
  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Sesame
Select all that apply for each ingredient.

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Units of Measure

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Choosing Base Unit

Select the most appropriate base unit for each ingredient:
  • Weight: kg, g, oz, lb
  • Volume: L, ml, gal, cup
  • Count: piece, each, dozen
  • Other: as applicable

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Consistency

Use consistent units across similar ingredients:
  • All liquids in liters or milliliters
  • All produce in kilograms
  • All counted items in pieces
This makes recipe management easier.

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Linking to Storage Units

If you want to track which storage unit an ingredient is kept in:
  • Some systems allow linking ingredients to storage locations
  • Helps with organization and stock taking
  • Useful for POS integration

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Integration with Recipes

Ingredients in your master list can be:
  • Added to recipes
  • Used for recipe costing
  • Tracked across multiple recipes
See Recipes for details on using ingredients in recipes.

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Integration with Sides POS

If using Sides POS integration:
  • Ingredients can sync with Sides
  • Track ingredient usage from POS sales
  • Map POS products to ingredients
See Sides Integration for details.

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Best Practices

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Naming Conventions

  • Be specific: “Tomatoes - Cherry” vs. just “Tomatoes”
  • Use consistent format: All lowercase or title case
  • Avoid abbreviations: Unless universally understood
  • Include variety: “Olive Oil - Extra Virgin” vs. “Oil”

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Organization Tips

  • Add common ingredients first: Start with your most-used items
  • Group by category: Add all produce, then dairy, then dry goods
  • Use bulk upload: For large lists, CSV upload is faster
  • Regular maintenance: Review and clean up unused ingredients periodically

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Allergen Accuracy

  • Be thorough: Mark all applicable allergens
  • When in doubt, include it: Better safe for customer allergies
  • Update as needed: Ingredient formulations can change
  • Verify with suppliers: Especially for processed ingredients

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Common Workflows

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Initial Setup

  1. Create a spreadsheet of all your ingredients
  2. Include units and allergens
  3. Use bulk upload to import all at once
  4. Review and verify in the system

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Ongoing Maintenance

  1. Add new ingredients as you introduce new menu items
  2. Update allergens when suppliers change
  3. Remove obsolete ingredients (carefully)
  4. Keep naming consistent as you add items

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Recipe Development

  1. Ensure all needed ingredients are in master list
  2. Add any missing ingredients before creating recipe
  3. Use consistent units for recipe accuracy

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Troubleshooting

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Cannot Add Ingredient

  • Verify required fields are filled (name, base unit)
  • Check for duplicate names
  • Ensure you have permissions
  • Try refreshing the page

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Bulk Upload Failing

  • Verify CSV format is correct
  • Check all required columns are present
  • Ensure units are valid
  • Review error messages for specific issues

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Ingredient Not Appearing in Recipes

  • Confirm ingredient was saved successfully
  • Check it’s in the correct account/location
  • Verify it wasn’t deleted
  • Refresh the recipe page

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Tips for Success

  • Start comprehensive: Add all ingredients upfront if possible
  • Maintain actively: Keep the list current as your menu evolves
  • Document clearly: Use full names and descriptions
  • Track allergens carefully: Critical for safety and compliance
  • Use bulk upload: Saves significant time for large ingredient lists
  • Regular audits: Periodically review for accuracy and completeness