Get calories and macros from a recipe link

By ForkSum · 26 October 2026

A recipe link is useful when the page includes ingredients and quantities that ForkSum can read. A link to a finished-food photo or a video with no accessible recipe may not contain enough information.

1. Copy the recipe page

Use the direct recipe page rather than a search page, collection or profile. For TikTok, use the recipe post’s share link. Open ForkSum in your browser, sign in and paste the link into the recipe-link input.

2. Inspect the result

Check the dish name, ingredients, quantities and serving count. Nutrition matches generally use USDA FoodData Central. When a food requires an AI nutrition estimate, the row is marked accordingly. Check a packaged ingredient against its own label if the exact product matters.

3. Use another input if access fails

Some sites block automated requests or keep essential recipe details behind a login. Copy the ingredient text or upload clear screenshots of the recipe you can access. For Instagram, start with caption screenshots. A video link alone may fail when quantities appear only in the video.

4. Understand the range

Recipes often omit a weight or describe quantities loosely. ForkSum shows a range around its estimate to make those assumptions visible. A tighter range is not a guarantee: an incorrect ingredient or missing item still needs correction.

Start with a complete recipe

For your first scan, choose a recipe with a short, complete ingredient list and an explicit serving count. That makes it easier to compare the result against the source. Free accounts receive five scans to start, then two free scans each month, without a payment card.

Nutrition data reference: USDA FoodData Central.