Apps stand on their own as common tools for fun, productivity and even cooking. The software becomes more helpful if viewed on a device's large and colorful display, prompting developers to think how they can translate traditional cooking books into digital format. With the help of specially crafted cooking apps, master chefs or regular folks can discover recipes, set up menus and organize meal calendars.

We compiled a short list of apps that will turn your iOS, Windows or Android devices into veritable cooking libraries.

BigOven (Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Kindle Fire)

BigOven allows its users to search over 350,000 recipes by keyword, ingredient, course or collection, through a neat management feature. With the leftovers feature, the app pitches recipe suggestions based on up to 10 ingredients.

A menu planning calendar is there to make sure you have everything you need for the upcoming holidays and there are some shopping list options too. You may use Recipe Scan to upload a picture of a handwritten or typed recipe, and the software will scan and save it for you.

Users of the free version can scan up to three pages, whereas subscribing to the app gives you room for 25 scanned pages. For a monthly fee of $2.49, BigOven Pro blocks in-app ads and gives you a number of handy features.

All the Cooks (Android, iOS, Windows Phone)

If you think social media and cooking are mutually exclusive, think again. The All the Cooks app delivers a virtual hub where you may share recipes with family, friends, and basically everyone else. Once you have finished cooking, simply upload the recipe and a picture of the result, and wait for the comments to flow.

If you're wondering how a myriad of comments would benefit your culinary choices, read on.

Helpful users can suggest substitutions for food allergies or recommend various dishes that complement the one you just cooked. If you are in luck, a wine connoisseur might suggest the best wine to go with your dish. Recipes are organized into categories, making it easy to find details in no time.

If you notice that someone frequently prepares meals that you would enjoy, you may opt to be updated when they uploaded new recipes.

All the Cooks is one of the few important apps that work on Windows Phone. It's also worth pointing out that the app has been rebranded as Cookpad for Android.

Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List ( Android, iOS, Windows Phone)

Epicurious made a name for itself, as it is one of the first apps to land on both Google Play and App Store. One of the reasons for its popularity is that it hosts over 30,000 editorially tested and member-rated recipes, and it delivers them in a sleek modern user interface.

Within the app, you can manage both your recipes and your shopping lists. Cooking enthusiasts appreciate the possibility to user voice-activated commands for hands-free cooking.

The recipe library has selections from the editors of Epicurious, alongside suggestions from chefs at Gourmet magazine, Bon Appetit and more.

Allrecipes Dinner Spinner (Android, iOS, Windows Phone)

To make your next dish fun and visually appealing, download Allrecipes Dinner Spinner. It has a spinning system that helps users find the exact recipe they want.

By using the spinner set, users may browse the kind of course, preparation time or main ingredient they want to cook up. Allrecipes simply pops up a number of recipes following the chosen criteria.

The app also provides detailed instructions and videos to make it easier for beginners or those who have little time on their hands. You may also use the app as a shopping list and recipe box.

EatingWell Healthy in a Hurry (Android, iOS)

Healthy nourishment is inseparable from healthy living. To get exactly that, download EatingWell.com's app, Healthy in a Hurry. The app puts together recipes that take no longer than 45 minutes to prepare, and the free variant of the app delivers 200 ideas for quick and nutritious meals and snacks.

The recipes are arranged per course categories, and users can easily check the nutritional information of each dish. Features such as search by main ingredient and preparation time are also present. With in-app purchases, users may unlock additional recipe packs.