How to Make Better Cooking Content for TikTok

TikTok has changed the way we consume content, especially when it comes to food. Its fast, short-form video format makes it the perfect platform for quick, engaging recipe demonstrations and cooking hacks. But there’s more to TikTok than just fun videos – its rapid content style, fueled by infinite scrolling and instant feedback loops, has reshaped how we engage with information. Research shows that TikTok’s design promotes short bursts of attention, keeping users hooked on the constant stream of new content. This shift in how our brains process information means TikTok users expect quick gratification and dynamic content, making it the ideal platform for creators to grab attention in seconds.

However, making your cooking content stand out in this environment requires more than just a great recipe. It’s about tapping into TikTok’s specific visual and pacing demands. Whether you’re new to food blogging or looking to refine your TikTok, we’ll cover filming tips, editing tricks, and strategies to help you engage your audience – and maybe even go viral…

Essential smartphone and lighting setup that makes food pop 

You don’t need to break the bank on expensive cameras to create pro-level TikTok cooking videos. With a smartphone and some smart tweaks, you can make your food shine like never before.

Smartphone camera settings

• Resolution: Always go for 4K or 1080p. It’s all about clarity, and the sharper the video, the more appetizing your food will look.
• Frame rate: Record at 60fps – this gives your videos that smooth, buttery flow, especially when you’re flipping food, pouring liquids, or stirring sizzling sauces.
• Lens care: A clean lens is a must for crystal-clear shots – don’t underestimate the power of a quick wipe!

Lighting setup

• Natural light: Nothing beats the glow of sunlight on food. Film near a window during the day for that authentic, mouth-watering look.
• Artificial lighting: If you’re filming indoors, invest in a ring light or softbox to banish harsh shadows.
• Bonus tip: Avoid overhead yellow lights like the plague. They make your food look dull and unappetizing. Stick with softer, more neutral lighting to keep things fresh!

Camera angles

• Top-down (flat lay): This classic angle is perfect for tutorials or showing off your step-by-step magic.
• 45-degree angle: A slight tilt makes food look more 3D, adding depth and texture.
• Close-up macro shots: Zoom in for those wow moments – melted cheese, sizzling butter, or gooey sauces that will have your viewers drooling.

Stabilization

• Tripods: A tripod with a flexible arm is a game-changer for overhead shots, keeping your footage steady while you focus on cooking.
• Remote shutter: Skip the awkward finger in the shot – use a phone holder with a remote shutter button for hands-free filming.

Backgrounds and movement

• Neutral backdrops: Keep the focus on the food. A cluttered background can distract your viewers – think minimalist for maximum impact.
• Props and prep: Pre-measure your ingredients into clear containers. Not only does it speed things up, but it also looks sleek on camera, keeping your one-handed cooking demos seamless and professional.

Recipes and video formats that perform best on TikTok

TikTok’s fast nature means not all recipes are created equal when it comes to engagement. To capture attention and keep viewers coming back, certain content types and video formats consistently drive better results. The content types that work best are:

• Quick tutorials (under 60 seconds): Think simple and satisfying, like a “5-Minute Garlic Butter Pasta.” These short, digestible videos are easy for viewers to follow.
• Time-lapse transformations: Display slow-cooking dishes that offer a satisfying visual journey, like dough rising or cake decorating.
• ASMR cooking: Focus on the sounds (crunching, sizzling, and stirring). These sensory experiences engage viewers, often without the need for music.
• Recipe challenges/trends: Participate in viral challenges like “Make a dish with only 3 ingredients!” These tap into the current trends while keeping things light and interactive.
• Duet/stitch-friendly recipes: Create recipes that others can easily recreate and interact with. TikTok’s duet and stitch features make this format even more engaging.
• Visual transformation recipes: Show dramatic changes, like melting cheese or dough rising, to create a natural narrative that keeps viewers hooked.

Content that sparks emotion has a higher chance of going viral. Studies show that videos with a human connection – whether it’s an engaging personality, a quirky moment, or a relatable cooking experience – perform better. Think about a talkover style, being front-facing in your videos, or appearing at moments to add that personal touch.

Some food features that capture attention to think about are:

• Textural elements: Foods with striking textures like stretchy cheese, oozing fillings, or sizzling ingredients automatically grab attention.
• Single-utensil recipes: Dishes that use just one pot or pan fit perfectly with TikTok’s love for simplicity.
• Emotional connection formats: Think “Grandma’s secret recipe” or “Better than restaurant” challenges that resonate on a deeper, emotional level with viewers.

📱Our quick guide to TikTok video structure 7-15 seconds: Quick, snappy clips are ideal for grabbing attention and riding trends. 30-60 seconds: These slightly longer videos are perfect for recipes that require more step-by-step instructions. Start with a hook: Open with an attention-grabbing visual – a gooey cheese pull or melting chocolate to draw viewers in immediately. Keep transitions snappy: Avoid long pauses. TikTok’s audience has a short attention span, so keep the momentum going. Use captions: Since many TikTok users watch videos without sound, captions are essential to keep everyone engaged. Modular content: Create videos that work well as standalone pieces but can also be part of a series, encouraging viewers to check back for more. 🎉 Bonus tip: Use a recipe blog as your content hub where you can direct viewers for full recipe details. WP Recipe Maker is perfect for this, offering customizable features to display your recipes in your unique style!

Well-performing TikTok accounts

@bdylanhollis

Known for vintage recipes with quick cuts, bold reactions, and a humorous touch. His quirky 20th-century dishes and dramatic taste tests are a hit.

@alexisnikole

“Black Forager” combines calm voiceovers and on-location clips to teach foraging and plant-based cooking with a warm, educational vibe.

@abigailfmarquez

Focuses on Filipino dishes like lumpia, combining voiceovers, on-camera moments, and trending challenges for a fun, community-driven approach.

Editing tips and tools to captivate your audience

Editing is all about how you want your cooking videos to come across on TikTok. The right techniques can make the difference between a video that just shows food and one that grabs attention and keeps viewers engaged. Here are some food-specific editing tips:

• Frame rate tricks: Shoot at 60fps for smooth footage. For key moments like pouring or flipping food, slow down to 0.5x speed to emphasize the action, while keeping prep steps at normal speed.
• Color grading: Increase saturation on reds and yellows to make cooked foods pop. For baked goods, boost contrast to highlight texture. Fresh ingredients benefit from a subtle vibrancy boost to make them look fresh and appealing.
• Strategic jump cuts: Cut out “dead time” to keep the pace moving but maintain real-time pacing during transformative moments. These quick edits help keep attention on the key actions.
• Fast cuts: Speed up certain parts of the recipe to keep things engaging and prevent viewer drop-off. Quick cuts help maintain momentum and interest.
• Smooth transitions: Use ingredient-based transitions, where the end of one clip flows smoothly into the start of the next. This keeps your video fluid and professional.
• Looping: End your videos with a loop, so they start again automatically, keeping viewers watching longer.
• Text overlays & key instructions: Add text overlays for measurements, temperatures, and important steps, making it easy for viewers to follow along. Consistent text placement helps create a recognizable style.
• Auto captions: Make your videos accessible to all viewers by using auto captions. This is essential for people who watch without sound.
• Reaction framing & before/after comparisons: Include a small picture-in-picture of your reaction during key moments for added personality. Before-and-after shots of ingredient transformations are always a hit.

🤍 Editing apps we love CapCut: Best for transitions and effects. VN Video Editor: Ideal for beginners, offering an intuitive interface. InShot: Great for adding music and text overlays to create a polished final product.

Strategies to help your cooking videos go viral

While we can’t guarantee that every video will go viral (if only it were that easy!), mastering the strategies TikTok rewards can definitely increase your chances of gaining traction. TikTok thrives on watch time, engagement, and quick, attention-grabbing content. Here’s how to boost your viral potential:

Capture attention in the first 3 seconds

• Start with a striking food reveal or transformation – think melting chocolate.
• Make a bold culinary claim or challenge right away, like “You’ve never tasted pasta like this!”
• Display visually striking ingredients or techniques to hook the viewer instantly.

Maintain momentum with fast-paced food storytelling

• Skip the intro and dive straight into the cooking action. The quicker you start, the faster you’ll capture attention.
• Use quick transitions between preparation steps to keep the pace lively and eliminate any waiting time.
• Keep your narration conversational and energetic, making the cooking process feel like an experience.

Drive engagement

• Pose food-related questions to invite interaction. For example, “Which way do you cook eggs – scrambled or sunny-side-up?”
• Spark debates like, “Controversial opinion: pineapple does belong on pizza.”
• Include clear CTAs to encourage action: “Save this recipe for your next dinner party!”

Use TikTok features for maximum reach

• Create ingredient polls to boost interaction and get viewers involved.
• Film video responses to recipe questions from your comments to further engage your community.

Develop a memorable cooking identity

• Incorporate humor, satisfying food sounds, or signature phrases to make your content stand out.
• Show your personality by appearing on camera or including your reactions during cooking.
• Build a recognizable style, whether it’s unique plating, ingredient combos, or your filming approach.

Choosing trending sounds, hashtags, and music for maximum impact

On TikTok, audio plays a huge role in discoverability and engagement. TikTok’s algorithm pushes content that includes trending music and hashtags, making it easier for new viewers to find your videos. Here’s how to leverage audio for maximum impact:

• Sound layering: Combine ambient cooking sounds (like sizzling or chopping) with background music and voiceovers. This adds depth and makes your video feel more immersive.
• Audio pacing: Sync the beats of the music with your cooking actions. If the music has a beat drop, time a dramatic food reveal or action, like flipping a pancake, to hit the punchline.
• Trending sound usage: Use trending sounds strategically – time your food reveals or key moments to coincide with audio peaks for a satisfying payoff. Popular audio often brings videos more attention, so use it wisely!
• Voice recording: If you’re doing a voiceover, record separately from the video and use a clothing-lined box as an improvised sound booth to reduce background noise for a cleaner recording.
• Hashtag strategy: Mix broad hashtags (e.g., #food) with more specific tags related to your recipe (e.g., #veganpasta) and trending challenges to increase discoverability.
• Audio branding: Develop a signature sound that becomes associated with your content. Whether it’s a specific intro music or catchphrase, consistency in audio can build your unique brand.
• Trend forecasting: Use TikTok’s Creative Center to stay ahead of emerging sounds and food-related trends to keep your content fresh and relevant.

🌟Bonus: Use your website as your content hub

While TikTok is fantastic for viral content, having a main website that acts as a main representation of your brand and repository of your content is critical if you want to grow your brand strategically. By directing people from TikTok to your website, you can get them to take desired actions, such as clicking on ads and affiliate links, or purchasing your merch and cookbooks. 

A great tactic here is to leave your full recipes on your website, and this is where using WP Recipe Maker, a recipe plugin built for WordPress, can make a big difference. WP Recipe Maker allows you to display your TikTok recipes in full detail, creating a central place where all your content is organized and accessible.

How can WP Recipe Maker help your TikTok content?

• Design recipe cards: Customize recipe cards that align with your TikTok aesthetic to ensure visual consistency across platforms.
• Create recipe collections: Group your recipes into collections (e.g., “Quick Weeknight Dinners” or “Vegan Delights”) to highlight your range and skills.
• Track featured recipes: Easily keep track of which TikTok recipes you’ve shared and where they’re located on your website, making it easy to link back when needed.
• Filter recipes: Combine WP Recipe Maker with WP Ultimate Post Grid to display recipes in a filtering grid, making it easy for your audience to find seasonal recipes or trending ingredients.
• SEO features: Take advantage of WP Recipe Maker’s built-in SEO features to ensure your recipes are discoverable on Google, driving more traffic to your site.
• Monetization opportunities: Integrate affiliate links into your recipes to generate passive income.
• Mention your website: Encourage casual TikTok viewers to follow your website by mentioning it in your videos.
• Link in your profile: Add your website URL to your TikTok profile and use text overlays in your videos, prompting viewers to visit for full recipes.
• Direct commenters: If viewers ask for measurements or details in the comments, respond with a link to the full recipe on your website with a simple message like, “Full recipe on my website!”

By building a content ecosystem where TikTok and your website complement each other, you create a more resilient strategy that’s not solely dependent on social media algorithms.

“Building a content ecosystem that’s not reliant on a single platform strengthens your brand and expands your reach.”

Birthe Vandermeeren

Cofounder of Bootstrapped Ventures

• WordPress
• Instagram
• Mail

TikTokers using WP Recipe Maker

Gimme Delicious

A TikTok star known for mouth-watering recipes, paired with a well-organized recipe hub on WP Recipe Maker.

The Country Cook

Displaying family-friendly recipes on TikTok and linking to detailed recipes on her website.

The Defined Raddish

Combining TikTok trends with easy-to-follow recipes, all neatly organized using WP Recipe Maker’s advanced features.

Create your viral cooking empire today

To make your cooking content great on TikTok, combine quality visuals, engaging formats, smart editing, and strategic hashtags. These elements work together to capture attention, hold it, and boost engagement. You can turn simple recipes into viral hits with the right timing, fast storytelling, and trending sounds! 

Top creators aren’t just relying on TikTok – they’re building cross-platform empires. Sure, TikTok brings the discovery, but a dedicated content hub (like a recipe blog) keeps followers engaged and helps with monetization. And WP Recipe Maker is the perfect tool for this. Its template editor lets you design recipe cards that match your TikTok aesthetic, for visual consistency across platforms.

Get WP Recipe Maker today and unlock the full potential of TikTok’s virality combined with WordPress’s monetization power.