The inclusion of long, wordy stories or narratives before a recipe is a common practice in many online recipes, and there are a few reasons why you might encounter this:
Personal touch: Recipe creators often use these stories to add a personal touch to their recipes. They might share anecdotes, memories, or experiences related to the dish, which can help establish a connection with the readers and make the recipe feel more relatable and authentic.
Context and inspiration: Recipe authors may use the preface to provide context or inspiration behind the recipe. They might discuss the origins of the dish, cultural significance, or how they came up with the idea. This additional information can add depth and interest to the recipe, making it more than just a list of ingredients and instructions.
Search engine optimization (SEO): Some recipe websites use long narratives as a strategy to improve their search engine rankings. Search engines like Google often prioritize content with more text, so lengthy stories may help the recipe appear higher in search results. However, it's important to note that not all recipe creators have SEO as their primary motivation.
Content creation: In the competitive online recipe space, creators strive to engage readers and keep them on their websites for longer periods. Including a story before the recipe can serve as content that readers might find interesting, leading to increased page views and engagement.
While some readers appreciate the personal stories and additional context, others prefer to quickly access the recipe without scrolling through lengthy narratives. In response to this, many recipe websites now include "Jump to Recipe" buttons or similar features that allow users to skip directly to the recipe instructions, bypassing the introductory text.
It's worth noting that not all online recipes follow this practice. Some websites provide concise and straightforward recipes without extensive storytelling. If you prefer such recipes, you can look for websites or blogs that prioritize brevity or use recipe-specific platforms that focus on delivering recipes quickly and efficiently.