Archiving Recipe Cards
When creating a Preserved Press bespoke cookbook, you have the option to include a recipe gallery, which is essentially a way to streamline your recipe card storage by archiving images of your recipe card collection. Some of the cards in your possession likely have stains, torn corners and faded writing - and this is why we love them! The recipe gallery offers a storage solution with a longer shelf-life to ensure further generations can stay connected to the recipes of the past. And. because it’s a high resolution image, you won’t miss any of the details. Are we advocating you get rid of the loose recipe cards in your possession after you preserve them with Preserved Press? Absolutely not! When returning handwritten recipe cards to clients, I separate them by category, insert them into a glassine bag, and label them. This makes it easy for the client to store worry-free. So hang on to those nostalgic pieces of paper, and use one of these solutions to keep your recipe cards fresher for longer:
A Recipe Box - The goal of keeping any piece of paper in good shape is to keep it in an air tight container, so a recipe box is your easiest solution. You can find them in metal or wood, and in a variety of styles to suit your taste. You most likely already have one in use, but if not, here are a few favorites.
Plastic Card Protectors - These are ideal for the older recipe cards in your recipe box that are still in use! It’s a great way to ward off splatter, stains and rips, and to keep them working for you longer. You can find hard plastic protectors, clear plastic sealed sleeves, or even binder pages with the ability to store multiple cards on one page.
Glassine Bags (Acid-Free) - you’ve likely eaten 1 million pastries out of a glassine bag and didn’t know what it was called; or maybe you’ve had some professional photos mailed to you in one. These acid-free bags are not only useful for your morning croissant, but many archivists turn to them to store old papers, film, photos, and more. For your older, more delicate, and out-of-use recipe cards, I highly recommend ordering these bags to sort, label, and store in their own special box. Check out this reel about storing recipes in Glassine bags.
