Cookie Policy
Essential Cooking Guide
At Essential Cooking Guide (essentialcookingguide.info), we use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and help us understand how you interact with our editorial content. This policy explains what cookies are, which types we use, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.
Last Updated: January 2025
Location: Calle Alcalá 169, Barcelona
The information on this site is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit our website. They help us remember information about your visit and improve your experience. Cookies are harmless and do not contain executable code.
Each cookie typically contains:
- A name and value
- An expiration date
- Information about the website that created it
Types of Cookies We Use
1. Essential Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. They enable core features like page navigation, security, and access to restricted areas of our site.
Expiration: Session or 1 year
2. Analytics Cookies
We use these cookies to understand how visitors interact with our content. They track metrics like page views, time spent reading articles, and navigation patterns. This helps our editorial team create better content.
Expiration: 2 years
3. Preference Cookies
These cookies remember your preferences, such as language selection, theme preferences (dark/light mode), and content categories you're interested in reading.
Expiration: 1 year
4. Performance Cookies
These cookies help us optimize website performance by monitoring page load times, error reporting, and overall functionality to ensure the best reading experience.
Expiration: 1 year
5. Third-Party Cookies
Our website may include content from third-party services (such as embedded maps, videos, or analytics services). These services may set their own cookies on your device.
Expiration: Varies by service provider
Cookie List
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Analytics | Google Analytics user ID | 2 years |
| _gid | Analytics | Google Analytics session ID | 24 hours |
| ecg_preferences | Preference | Saves your content preferences and theme choice | 1 year |
| ecg_session | Essential | Manages your current browsing session | Session |
| ecg_language | Preference | Stores your language preference | 1 year |
| _gat | Analytics | Google Analytics throttling | 1 minute |
| ecg_performance | Performance | Tracks page load performance metrics | 1 year |
| cookie_consent | Essential | Remembers your cookie consent choices | 1 year |
How We Use Cookies
Improving Content Quality
Analytics cookies help us understand which cooking guides and recipes are most popular, helping our editorial team create more valuable content.
Personalizing Your Experience
Preference cookies remember your language, theme, and content interests so you don't have to adjust settings each visit.
Ensuring Security
Essential cookies protect your account and detect fraudulent activity to keep your browsing experience safe.
Optimizing Performance
Performance cookies monitor website speed and stability, ensuring articles load quickly for an optimal reading experience.
Managing Your Cookies
Important: Disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality and your ability to read our content properly.
Browser Controls
Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when a cookie is being sent. Here's how to manage cookies in popular browsers:
- Chrome: Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
- Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
- Edge: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data
Do Not Track
Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature. While we respect this preference, it's not universally enforced across all websites.
Consent Management
When you first visit our website, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customize your preferences. You can change your preferences anytime through your browser settings or our cookie management tool.
Third-Party Services
Our website uses the following third-party services that may set cookies:
Google Analytics
Helps us analyze website traffic and user behavior. View Google's Privacy Policy
CDN Services
Used for fast content delivery of images and resources to improve page load times.
Embedded Media
Our articles may include embedded videos or maps from external providers that set their own cookies.
Data Protection & Privacy
The information collected through cookies is protected and handled in accordance with:
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Our comprehensive Privacy Policy
We never sell or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes. Your browsing information is used solely to improve our editorial content and website functionality.
For complete information about how we handle your data, please review our Privacy Policy.
Cookie Retention
We retain cookie data according to the following schedule:
Short-Term (Session)
Deleted when you close your browser
Medium-Term (1 Year)
Automatically deleted after 12 months
Long-Term (2 Years)
Analytics data retained for trend analysis
Manual Deletion
Delete anytime through browser settings
Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or technology. When we make material changes, we'll notify you by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we use cookies.
Questions About Cookies?
If you have questions about our cookie practices or how we use your information, we'd like to hear from you. Our editorial team is happy to address your concerns about content or data practices.
Essential Cooking Guide
Calle Alcalá 169
Barcelona, Spain
For content feedback or questions: [email protected]
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This Cookie Policy is part of our commitment to transparency at Essential Cooking Guide.