Community Guidelines

Spoon and Simmer is built around a simple idea: good food is better shared. Whether you are leaving a comment on our slow cooker beef stew, asking a question about a gnocchi pot pie, or swapping tips with another home cook, we want this to be a warm, welcoming table for everyone. These Community Guidelines explain what that looks like in practice, what is not allowed, and how we handle issues when they come up.

Who These Guidelines Are For

These rules apply to anyone who comments on our posts, replies to other users, reaches out through our contact form, or interacts with us on social media in connection with Spoon and Simmer. If you are simply reading recipes, none of this changes your experience — but if you want to join the conversation, this is the etiquette we ask you to follow.

Respectful Participation

We welcome disagreement, questions, and honest feedback — including if a recipe did not work for you. That kind of input actually helps us improve, and we take it seriously as part of our Editorial Policy. What we ask is that you share it kindly. Specifically:

• Speak to other commenters the way you would want to be spoken to in your own kitchen.
• Disagree with a technique or an ingredient choice without attacking the person who shared it.
• Keep language appropriate for a family-friendly, all-ages audience.
• Assume good faith — most cooking mistakes come from a missing detail, not bad intentions.

What We Do Not Allow

To keep this a safe and useful space, the following will not be tolerated and may lead to a comment being removed or a user being blocked:

• Harassment, bullying, name-calling, or targeted personal attacks against other commenters or our team.
• Hate speech or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or nationality.
• Threats, intimidation, or content that encourages harm to a person, group, or animal.
• Sexually explicit content, graphic violence, or anything inappropriate for a general audience.
• Deliberately false or misleading claims presented as fact, especially around food safety.

No Spam or Deceptive Promotion

We love when readers share their own cooking wins, but comments are not a billboard. We remove:

• Unsolicited links to unrelated products, services, or websites.
• Repeated posting of the same comment across multiple recipes.
• Fake reviews, bot-generated comments, or attempts to game engagement.
• Undisclosed commercial promotion, including affiliate links dropped without context.

If you represent a brand or would like to explore a genuine partnership with us, we would rather talk directly — please see our Collaboration page instead of using the comment section as an advertising channel. Our approach to partnerships and sponsored content is also explained in our Disclosure and Affiliate Disclaimer pages.

Food Safety and Legal Responsibility

Because we publish recipes involving raw ingredients, slow cooking, and reheating, safety matters more here than on a typical blog. When commenting or asking questions, please:

• Avoid suggesting substitutions that skip essential safe-cooking steps, such as minimum internal temperatures for meat and poultry.
• Do not offer medical, allergy, or health advice — if someone asks about a serious allergen or condition, encourage them to consult a qualified professional.
• Keep in mind that every kitchen, appliance, and ingredient batch is different, so results and cook times can vary from what is described in a post.

Our full stance on recipe outcomes, health information, and personal responsibility in the kitchen is detailed in our Disclaimer. By participating in comments, you agree to use good judgment and take responsibility for how you apply anything you read here.

Moderation Policy

We moderate comments to protect the community, not to silence honest opinions. Here is how it works:

• Comments may be held for review before appearing publicly, especially first-time comments or those containing links.
• We reserve the right to edit, hide, or delete any comment that violates these guidelines, without prior notice.
• Repeated violations may result in a permanent block from commenting on our site.
• Moderation decisions are made by our editorial team using reasonable judgment, and while we aim for consistency, context is always considered.

These guidelines work alongside our Terms of Use, which govern acceptable use of the site more broadly, and our Privacy Policy, which explains how any information you submit through a comment or form is handled.

How to Report a Concern

If you spot a comment that seems abusive, spammy, unsafe, or otherwise against these guidelines, please do not engage or escalate publicly. Instead, reach out to us directly through our Contact page or email us at [email protected] with a link to the post and, if possible, a screenshot or the exact wording of the comment. We review every report personally and will take appropriate action, which may include removing content or restricting an account.

A Final Word

We started Spoon and Simmer to make weeknight dinners, weekend baking projects, and everything in between feel a little easier and a lot more enjoyable — you can read more about that mission on our About Us page. A respectful, spam-free comment section is a big part of keeping that experience good for everyone. Thank you for helping us keep this kitchen table a welcoming one.