Founded in 2009 by Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, formerly of the New York Times, its website is intended as a platform for users to publish recipes and discuss cooking.

The two founded the website using funds they obtained as an advance to their book deal and with money borrowed from Hesser's husband and Stubbs's mother.

Upon acquisition, the company announced it would use the capital establish a physical store for its home goods, hire more employees, and buyout existing shareholders.

[6][11] Co-founder and president Merrill Stubbs left the company in 2020 and was replaced by Claire Chambers, formerly of Walmart.

[6][12][13] In 2022, the company announced it would be laying off 20 people and later named Alex Bellos, formerly of West Elm, as a CEO in advance of Hesser becoming executive chair.

[31] Mayukh Sen received the 2018 James Beard Foundation Award for his profile for Food52, "She Was a Soul Food Sensation.