Recently, Apple announced Apple News+ Food. It is a section of the News+ subscription that gives access to tens of thousands of recipes, restaurant reviews, kitchen tips, and more, right in the Apple News app.
What this new section provides is a portion within the News+ subscription that is going to be available in April with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, and will include a curated recipe catalog, cook mode, and offline access.
Here are some photos Apple shared displaying models of this new News+ section (photos courtesy of Apple):
I personally do not have Apple News+ so I will not be able to experience this food section in News. It is a small feature, but it may convince me to start subscribing to News+. I know my mom has a premium recipe app that she uses and works for her. It organizes her recipes, makes lists, and creates calculations for doubling, tripling, etc. Many of the features that are shown in the images from Apple are reminiscent of the current Apple ecosystem, like the last image showing cook mode looks like the lyrics in Apple Music.
Additionally, I think this section of Apple News could very well expand into its own app from Apple. There is a Sports section of the Apple News app and and last year Apple expanded it into its own app (Apple Sports). Maybe the Food could get its own app too. I think if it happened, it would probably be called Apple Recipes as opposed to Apple Food. The reason I think this app makes sense is because Apple would want to compete with the various recipe apps already out there, and they could even offer a subscription service accessing even greater premium features. And, remember that whatever Apple does, they have to do it “the Apple way”, which is always their own twist that brings something unique to the market. By creating an app like Apple Recipes, Apple could integrate its existing ecosystem seamlessly, offering features like voice-controlled recipe searches with Siri, personalized recipe recommendations based on user preferences, and easy integration with devices like the Apple Watch for cooking timers or grocery list tracking. With a polished, user-friendly interface, Apple could transform the way people engage with recipes, bringing its signature innovation to the food space just as it has with other apps.
If Apple decides to roll this into its own app, it would add another layer of convenience for those who already rely on Apple services. A standalone app could offer greater functionality, allowing users to access recipes, create shopping lists, and even plan meals, all while integrating with other Apple features. With the growing popularity of recipe apps, such a move would position Apple to compete directly in that space. And, a subscription service could offer exclusive content, including premium recipes and personalized meal suggestions, making it a valuable tool for both casual cooks and culinary enthusiasts.
Overall, while the new food section in Apple News+ is a small but interesting addition, it is clear that Apple has the potential to expand this idea into a full-fledged app. Whether as part of News+ or as a standalone service, Apple’s push into the food space could not only streamline how we interact with cooking content but also create an entirely new way of engaging with recipes and meal planning.
Check out more from Apple’s press release here: Apple introduces News+ Food
The Apple Enthusiast 