What program, system or web page do you use to keep track of your smoking information

[rbranstner]

I have been getting serious about smoking the past few years so I started logging all of my smokes so I could document smoke times, temps, rubs, sauces and make any suggestions that I wanted to try different next time. I am just using a Excel spread sheet document right now which works but it is getting rather large and it isn't a ideal system to use. I was trying to come up with another solution that would be easier maybe some type of program that is out there or possible starting a web page or blog where I could log all my info. I am currious what do you guys use? Anyone have any suggesions on a system I should check out? There has got to be a better way to compile all of my info. One reason I would kind of like it web based is so that no matter where I am as long as I can get on the internet I would be able to access all of my info.

 

[deltadude]

rbranstner great question...

I don't actually log all my smokes. If I anticipate problems then I keep a note pad and start recording ambient, internal cabinet temp, meat temp, readings.
This is to make sure that things are working according to schedule, it is easy to be fooled unless you record such things.

I do make notes though on things I like to do for a future smoke.

I used to use for recipes and notes, windows notepad. I simply stored the notes in folders which were categorized like filing cabinet drawers. However as my recipe collection grew I had to find a solution with search capability.

The program I know use and high recommend, is a free form database, it works like I do without any structure or you can structure the info any way you want.
TreeDBNotes Pro or you can use the free version

The program mentioned can do a lot of different things, you can set up recipes, store spread sheets, contacts, record projects. with different key words to make locating things recipes easily. Personally I don't bother with the key words because the text search is fast. The big thing about mytreedbnotes is the flexibility, you can have no structure for entering your recipe just a blank page like windows notepad, or you can create your own templates to enter info the way you want it structured. Also read where I had a failure and all my files were ok even though I couldn't open the primary, the myTDBn does auto back beautifully.

I store all my passwords and login info to over 3 dozen forums I am a member of. All my online money acct info, ebay, paypall, checking, etc. I run 2 websites, with 4 other sites that act as either backup or testing and all the account info and the structure for those sites is cataloged using myTDn.

You can download the free trial version and use it for as long as you like to see if it works for you. You can import all your text recipes with the folder structure used in the tree.

I hope this is a possible solution.
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I used to use text notes via windows notepad, I had lots of folders like :
salads
salsa
sauces
seafood
sides
soup-chowders
stocks

with the individual note pad recipe in the appropriate folder. But eventually things got a little difficult because I would store the recipe and then have difficulty locating a specific recipe because I forgot the name and it may have been a shrimp recipe but it was actually a shrimp salad filed under salads.

Thus I needed a program that would allow me to use pictures, import my text files, be free form since that is the way I like to work, plus I wanted it for all my internet browsing for other topics, i.e. bbq & smoking meat, or I'm a serious poker player so things I learned about poker, store all my online access info (passwords, email addr, account info, etc.), how about contact management, and other projects.

The answer for me was TreeDBNotes Pro - Notes, Contacts and Password Manager. I used the trial free version for about 2 months and liked it, and paid the $34.95 price.
Years ago I used to use a great program, NYC "Now Your Cooking" . It sells for $30 for free upgrades, it does so many things for the cook, including helping you shop more efficiently. In fact it was too much.

If you just want to store your favorite recipes, plan special meals, jot some notes, then myTreeDB is a better solution. PLUS, great support, and a support forum that can provide some help if you need it. I have been using myTreeDBnotes for about a year, no problems, however just this past week, something happened on my computer and I'm not sure what, but everything is acting very slow. Well mytreedbnotes died, I couldn't open any of the 4 or 5 DBs that I have. So I had to reinstall the DB application, but after install it would not open my DBs in the main DB folder. AGONY, a couple of thousand recipes gone......... NO! I had the DB program setup for autobackup on another hard drive, there were all my DBs safe, and I just loaded a backup and saved it as the original and back in business.

Below is an image of TreeDBnotes this tab is for planning a special event meal, and over the coarse of the year I collect ideas then make my decisions.

Using the same program, I store all my internet security info. I run a web site, and forum with 2 backups on different sites, and all the login/setup/technical info is all in this DB program. You can store various types of documents, like word, excel. The program has its own table and text formating if you want to use that. BUT the real thing is SEARCH, I now can search on a key ingredient or name and find everywhere it is listed, in the DB.

 

[travcoman45]

I'm old school, I keep notebooks an recipe folders cause if somethin crash's, it ain't erasin my notes!

Just the way I do it, I don't trust technology that far. Lost lots of digi pics cause a disc get corrupted only heaven knows how. Plus, it's some heritage I can pass on ta my boys an grandchildren an hopefully down the line fer generations ta come.

 

[rbranstner]

Wow thanks Deltadude now that is what I am talking about. I knew there had to be programs out there to keep track of stuff like this. From the screen shot that programs looks exactly like what I need. I will have to load that program and give it a try.

 

[acemakr]

$35 sounds like a fair price for a pretty complete package. After this weekend's debacle, maybe I should dip my big toe in the water and start keeping track of what works. For sure, I know what doesn't.

 

[csmith2884]

I am old school too. I make little notes and changes in my book all the time. My g/f calls it my "little black book" I am still making multiple changes with each new smoke. Especially with the rub recipes with a pencil I slash out the old amount and add the new "try this" amount.

I think someplace down the road I will scan all of this into a folder to have online. This is a great thread btw.

 

[deltadude]

Are upi saying like spiral notebooks and like file folders in a file case? Or you talkin about windows folders and windows notes?

Last week I had the first ever failure of my external hard drive, I was scared because I have 300gig of music and a couple thousand recipes and all my security info stored in myTreedbnotes database on that drive. When motivated I do a remote backup of mytreedbnotes on my laptop but that was at least a month old. However I had set mytreedbnotes to autoback and was happy when I reinstalled mytreedbnotes on my main pc drive and loaded in the latest backup and everything was there. So now I, have 3 backups, 1st is the autobackup, 2nd is the monthly to my laptop, 3rd is routine maintance to compress the db and then I save it to a flash drive. I have set an alarm to warn me every two weeks to do the compress/flash thing.

 

[mulepackin]

Marginal notes in my dogeared copy of Great Sausage Recipes and Meat Curing.

 

[meat hunter]

I run all my recipes and such on AppleWorks, then copy that to a flash drive.

 

[travcoman45]

Spiral note books an 3 ring binders.

 

[tinybaum]

I am new (only 2 Smokes in). I have created simple word documents, and printed them out. They are saved on my hard drive, and I have a paper copy I will be putting into those plastic sleeves in a 3 ring binder.

I am a computer geek...but IMO some things are better off left simple

 

[beer-b-q]

If you have Microsoft Access you can create a custom database for your smokes.

 

[chisoxjim]

I use pieces of paper for the rub I am working on, as well as recipes for cole slaw dresing, marinades, and injections. All held in a folder. I spend too much time if front of a computer as it is, I wouldnt want, and really dont need a computer programs help.

As for the actual smoking I dont take any notes other than mental ones. BBQ is pretty easy for me that way, I pretty much smoke everything @ the same temp, and keep it on the smoker til its done(no added steps for foiling & putting it back on the smoker at a certain temp, no watching a temp probe the whole time(pork butts/shoulders I dont even put a probe in, I take a temp reading around 9 or 10 hours in and see where I am at, then maybe go back a few hours later and check again, ribs are done by feel/appearance not temp) ,etc.) .

I may keep tweeking what I did the last time, or stick with what works. I smoke pretty often there isnt much lag time for things to be forgotten & need to be written down.

Practicing alot makes the basics of the bbq 2nd nature for me, allowing slight modifications that either can or wont be included for future times.

I think about bbq pretty much all the time, from the days leading up to the smoke, during the smoke, and after. Always evaluating the rub, how the bbq turned out, where I should buy the meat for the next smoke, etc.

good luck with developing a system that works for you.

 

[morkdach]

Spiral note books an 3 ring binders, word pad& lots of pics

 

[mama's smoke]

I use 3X5 index cards in a recipe box I've had forever. When I make changes, or have an idea to try next time, I attach a little post-it note. I like to have the recipe right in front of me and not mess with the computer or print it out every time.

 

[ismoke]

I don't really do anything, but have been thinking about trying to put my "thoughts" down on paper/computer. I'm thinking that an Excel file would maybe work just fine for me, at least until I decide if I'm going to stick with doing it. My motivation is for me to think more "outside the box" and get more creative with my smokes. I generally just do things the way I read on here, or how I've done them before, but as I get more experienced I want to try some different things. I'm hoping if I can look at what I did, and how I liked it that it will help me think of different ways to go in the future.

 

[olecrosseyes]

Excel for me as well.

 

[richoso1]

I just use Word, and copy to another drive. I have all data on both drives.

 

[mballi3011]

I use the cheapest one of all My brain.

 

[Bearcarver]

I used to use mine too, until it crashed.

Bearcarver