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Grocery Lists

Last updated: 2026-10-23

Create smart shopping lists that automatically organize your ingredients by aisle and consolidate duplicates. Never forget an ingredient again.

All your grocery lists.

Creating Lists

Grocery lists help you stay organized while shopping. Create as many lists as you need for different stores, occasions, or time periods.

Creating a New List

  1. Go to Grocery Lists in the sidebar
  2. Click New List
  3. Give your list a name (e.g., "Weekly Groceries," "Party Supplies")
  4. Click Create

Multiple Lists

Keep separate lists for different purposes:

  • Different stores (Costco, Trader Joe's, local market)
  • Weekly meal prep vs. special occasions
  • Household staples vs. recipe-specific items
Items grouped by aisle with checkboxes.

Adding Items Manually

Add items to your list by typing them in directly.

Quick Add

  1. Click the Add Item field at the top of your list
  2. Type the item name
  3. Press Enter to add it
  4. Continue adding items

Adding with Details

For more control, add items with quantity and notes:

  • Type quantity first: "2 gallons milk"
  • Add notes in parentheses: "Apples (Honeycrisp)"
  • Specify size: "Olive oil (large bottle)"

Smart Parsing

momoChef automatically parses what you type:

  • Quantity: "2 lbs chicken" becomes Quantity: 2, Unit: lbs, Item: chicken
  • Category: Items are auto-categorized by aisle

Adding from Recipes

Add all ingredients from a recipe to your grocery list with one click.

From Recipe Page

  1. Open any recipe
  2. Click Add to Grocery List
  3. Select which grocery list to add to
  4. Review the ingredients (uncheck any you already have)
  5. Click Add Items

From Meal Plan

  1. Open your meal plan
  2. Click Add Week to Grocery List
  3. Review the week's recipes with a serving multiplier for each — skip what you already have
  4. Add to an existing list or create a new one

Selective Adding

When adding from a recipe, you can:

  • Uncheck ingredients you already have
  • Scale the recipe's servings before adding
  • Add notes to specific items

Tip: Use the pantry feature to automatically exclude staples you always have on hand.

Auto-Consolidation

When you add ingredients from multiple recipes, momoChef automatically combines duplicates.

How Consolidation Works

If two recipes call for the same ingredient:

  • Recipe A: 2 onions
  • Recipe B: 1 onion
  • Result: 3 onions on your list

Unit Conversion

Different units are converted automatically:

  • Recipe A: 1 cup sugar
  • Recipe B: 4 tablespoons sugar
  • Result: 1 1/4 cups sugar

Manual Adjustment

You can always edit consolidated items:

  • Click on an item to edit the quantity
  • Mark that you already have enough of an item

When Consolidation Does Not Happen

Items are kept separate when they are genuinely different:

  • Different varieties (yellow onions vs. red onions)
  • Different forms (fresh garlic vs. garlic powder)
  • Specific notes (milk vs. milk (oat))

Aisle Categorization

Items are automatically organized by grocery store section for efficient shopping.

Categories

Items are sorted into these categories, in aisle order:

Produce, Dairy & Eggs, Meat, Seafood, Bakery, Frozen, Deli, Beverages, Alcohol, Snacks, Baking, Spices, Oils, Canned, Grains, Condiments & Sauces, Household, Other

Tip: Items are grouped in aisle order automatically — no setup needed.

Checking Off Items

Mark items as purchased as you shop to track your progress.

Marking Items Complete

  • Click the checkbox next to any item
  • Completed items collapse into the "in the basket" section at the bottom
  • See your progress with the completion counter

Undoing Check-offs

Accidentally checked something? No problem:

  • Scroll to the completed section
  • Click the checkbox again to uncheck

Clear Checked Items

After shopping:

  • Click Clear Checked Items to remove checked items
  • Or keep them for reference on your next trip

Sharing Lists

Share grocery lists with family members or roommates for collaborative shopping.

Sharing a List

  1. Open the grocery list you want to share
  2. Click Share in the list header
  3. Enter email addresses (invite up to 10 at once — invites to people without accounts expire after 7 days)
  4. Choose permission level (view or edit)
  5. Send the invitation

Permission Levels

  • Can View: Recipients can see the list but not modify it
  • Can Edit: Recipients can add, remove, and check off items
  • Owner: Full control including sharing and deleting

Real-time Sync

Shared lists update in real-time:

  • When someone adds an item, everyone sees it instantly
  • When someone checks off an item, it updates for everyone
  • Perfect for splitting up shopping duties

Shared List Activity

While the list is open, you'll see a notice when someone adds or checks off an item — changes appear instantly for everyone.

Tip: Split up the store - one person handles produce while another gets dairy. Check off items as you go to avoid doubling up.

Pantry Staples

Track what you have at home to avoid buying duplicates.

Marking Items as "In Pantry"

When adding from recipes:

  • Check "Already have" for items in your pantry
  • These items won't be added to your list

Managing Your Staples List

Mark items you always keep stocked:

  • Re-add staples to any list in one tap
  • momoChef suggests staples from your purchase history — things you buy often
  • Manage your staples on the Staples page in Grocery Lists
  • Add common items like salt, pepper, oil, and basic spices
Manage staples you always keep on hand.

Buy It Now

For many items, momoChef shows Buy Now links to retailers in your region, so you can order groceries while you work through your list. Availability varies by region and retailer.

Pro Tips

  • Check your pantry before shopping to avoid buying things you already have
  • Organize your list by store layout to minimize backtracking
  • Keep a running list during the week - add things as you notice you are running low
  • Use the pantry staples feature to avoid buying basics you always have on hand
  • Take a screenshot of your list for offline access while in the store

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