📋 Verified Walkthrough
iPhone & iPad • Social Media

How to use Pinterest safely to save recipes, gardening ideas, and crafts

Direct Answer

Search for any topic (like "Easy Crockpot Dinners" or "Raised Bed Gardening"), tap the red "Save" button on ideas you like, and save them to custom boards (like "Recipes" or "Home Projects"). To keep your saved ideas private from the public, toggle "Secret Board" when creating a new board.

Why You Might Want to Do This

  • To collect, organize, and view dinner recipes, seasonal crafts, container gardening tips, and home decor visual ideas.
  • To store step-by-step instructions in neat digital folders ("Boards") that never get misplaced.
  • To keep your collections completely private so only you can see them.

Before You Start

  • Download the free Pinterest app from your App Store or visit pinterest.com on a computer browser.
  • Create a free account using your email address.

Think of Pinterest as a giant digital corkboard where you pin picture bookmarks of recipes and hobbies you want to try.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Tap the Search magnifying glass at the bottom

    Open Pinterest and tap the magnifying glass icon along the bottom menu bar to open the main search screen.

    👀 Magnifying glass icon in bottom navigation bar.

  2. 2

    Type a specific hobby, dish, or craft

    Type specific search words, such as "Easy Chicken Casserole," "Low Maintenance Perennials," or "Knitting Patterns for Beginners." Tap Search.

    👀 Search results grid displaying colorful image cards.

    3. ✅ Success Checkpoint: You're Doing Great

    If your screen matches the description above, you have followed the steps correctly. Continue to the next step.

  3. 3

    Tap the red "Save" button on any picture you like

    When you find an appealing photo or project, tap the red "Save" button in the corner of the picture card.

    👀 Red "Save" button on top right of photo.

  4. 4

    Create a new Board (e.g. "Favorite Recipes")

    A pop-up menu will ask where you want to save the pin. Tap "Create Board," type a name like "Recipes" or "Gardening," and tap Create. The pin is now saved permanently to your profile.

    👀 "Create board" button with title text box.

  5. 5

    Toggle "Keep this board secret" if you want privacy

    When creating a new board, tap the toggle switch next to "Keep this board secret." A secret board can only be seen by you.

    👀 Toggle switch labeled "Keep board secret."

If You Don't See It / Troubleshooting

If you tap a pin image and it opens an external website with lots of pop-up ads...

Tap the "X" in the top corner to close the external website and return to Pinterest. Stick to pins that display clear ingredient cards directly inside Pinterest.

Good to Know

  • To view all your saved recipes and project boards, tap your profile icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
  • Saving pins is completely free and never posts to Facebook or other social platforms.