Comparing text against a database

[kpedini]

I'm building a website that compiles user submitted recipes and was wondering if anyone had a technique to extract a list of ingredients in a text area and then categorize those ingredients. For example, the user would enter the following:

 

1/2 cup of flour

 

2 cups of butter

 

I would then be able to extract "flour" and "butter" and compare those strings so I can categorize those ingredients as "baking supplies" and "dairy" in the database. The desired result is to be able to compile the various ingredients provided and generate a shopping list.

 

My thought is to explode the text into an array of values and then do a compare on each word against an array of predefined ingredients to find the appropriate category. This approach seems like it could be rather processor intensive, however. I was wondering if anyone had a different approach that would make more sense.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks.