diff --git a/web/src/App.test.tsx b/web/src/App.test.tsx
index ea0f33a..8626068 100644
--- a/web/src/App.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/App.test.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { act, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
 import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router'
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { createApiClient } from './api/index.ts'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createApiClient, createVerifiedSession } from './api/index.ts'
 import { createNetworkStatus } from './pwa/networkStatus.ts'
 import { mockViewport } from './test/matchMedia.ts'
 import { errorResponse, fakeLocation, jsonResponse, ME, request, stubFetch } from './test/fetchStub.ts'
@@ -9,16 +9,20 @@ import App, { routes } from './App.tsx'
 
 afterEach(() => {
   Reflect.deleteProperty(window, 'matchMedia')
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
   vi.unstubAllGlobals()
 })
 
 function renderAt(path: string, location = fakeLocation(path)) {
-  render(
+  return { location, ...renderAppAt(path, location) }
+}
+
+function renderAppAt(path: string, location = fakeLocation(path)) {
+  return render(
     <MemoryRouter initialEntries={[path]}>
-      <App api={createApiClient(location, createNetworkStatus(window))} serviceWorker={undefined} />
+      <App api={createApiClient(location, createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))} serviceWorker={undefined} />
     </MemoryRouter>,
   )
-  return location
 }
 
 describe('App routes', () => {
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ describe('App bootstrap', () => {
 
   it('sends a signed-out visitor to sign-in and never renders the routes', async () => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(errorResponse(401, 'unauthenticated'))
-    const location = renderAt('/discover', fakeLocation('/discover', '?swipe=1'))
+    const { location } = renderAt('/discover', fakeLocation('/discover', '?swipe=1'))
 
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(location.assign).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/auth/login?return=%2Fdiscover%3Fswipe%3D1'))
     expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
@@ -81,7 +85,7 @@ describe('App bootstrap', () => {
 
   it('shows the not-in-this-household screen on a 403', async () => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(errorResponse(403, 'forbidden'))
-    const location = renderAt('/')
+    const { location } = renderAt('/')
 
     expect(await screen.findByText(/not in this household/)).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Not in this household' })).toBeInTheDocument()
@@ -100,3 +104,93 @@ describe('App bootstrap', () => {
     expect(await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 1, name: 'Home' })).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 })
+
+describe('App offline bootstrap', () => {
+  let onLine: boolean
+
+  function goOffline() {
+    onLine = false
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockRejectedValue(new TypeError('Failed to fetch')))
+  }
+
+  // visitOnline is an earlier online visit on this device: /me answers with a
+  // member, then the app is closed.
+  async function visitOnline() {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
+    const { unmount } = renderAt('/')
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 1, name: 'Home' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    unmount()
+  }
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockViewport(390)
+    onLine = true
+    vi.spyOn(navigator, 'onLine', 'get').mockImplementation(() => onLine)
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['/plan', 'Plan'],
+    ['/dinner/01J9ZK', 'Dinner'],
+  ])('an offline reload of %s after an online visit opens the saved page', async (path, title) => {
+    await visitOnline()
+    goOffline()
+    renderAt(path)
+
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 1, name: title })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByRole('navigation', { name: 'Primary' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByRole('status')).toHaveTextContent('Offline — showing saved data')
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('alert')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('opens the saved pages when the server is unreachable but the browser reports online', async () => {
+    await visitOnline()
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockRejectedValue(new TypeError('Failed to fetch')))
+    renderAt('/plan')
+
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 1, name: 'Plan' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.getByRole('status')).toHaveTextContent('Offline — showing saved data')
+  })
+
+  it('reports the failure offline when this device never verified a session', async () => {
+    goOffline()
+    renderAt('/plan')
+
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('alert')).toHaveTextContent('MealQuest could not load: Failed to fetch')
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('navigation', { name: 'Primary' })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('reports the failure offline after the session was refused', async () => {
+    await visitOnline()
+    stubFetch(errorResponse(401, 'unauthenticated'))
+    const { location, unmount } = renderAt('/plan')
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(location.assign).toHaveBeenCalled())
+    unmount()
+
+    goOffline()
+    renderAt('/plan')
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('alert')).toHaveTextContent('MealQuest could not load: Failed to fetch')
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('navigation', { name: 'Primary' })).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('loads /me again on reconnect and refuses writes until it has', async () => {
+    await visitOnline()
+    goOffline()
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation('/plan'), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter initialEntries={['/plan']}>
+        <App api={api} serviceWorker={undefined} />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    )
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('heading', { level: 1, name: 'Plan' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+    await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/plans', { method: 'POST', body: {} })).rejects.toThrow(/no CSRF token/)
+
+    const fetchMock = stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
+    onLine = true
+    act(() => {
+      window.dispatchEvent(new Event('online'))
+    })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(request(fetchMock, 0)).toMatchObject({ path: '/api/v1/me', method: 'GET' }))
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole('status')).toBeNull())
+    expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { level: 1, name: 'Plan' })).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/web/src/AuthBootstrap.tsx b/web/src/AuthBootstrap.tsx
index 53f8661..d9c1aee 100644
--- a/web/src/AuthBootstrap.tsx
+++ b/web/src/AuthBootstrap.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useSyncExternalStore, type ReactNode } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useSyncExternalStore, type ReactNode } from 'react'
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { ApiError, ME_PATH, useApi } from './api/index.ts'
 import { NotInHouseholdPage } from './pages/NotInHouseholdPage.tsx'
@@ -11,13 +11,29 @@ export const meQueryKey = [ME_PATH] as const
 // AuthBootstrap loads GET /api/v1/me before rendering children. A 401 is
 // already navigating to sign-in, so the skeleton stays up; an account outside
 // the household sees only the "not in this household" screen.
+//
+// When /me cannot reach the server and it last answered with a member on this
+// device, the saved pages open read-only: the service worker answers their
+// reads from its cache, and every write is refused for want of a CSRF token.
+// /me runs even while the browser reports offline, so that case fails fast
+// instead of waiting, and it is fetched again when the browser is back online.
 export function AuthBootstrap({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const api = useApi()
   const forbidden = useSyncExternalStore(api.subscribe, api.forbidden)
-  const me = useQuery({ queryKey: meQueryKey, queryFn: api.loadMe, staleTime: Infinity })
+  const me = useQuery({ queryKey: meQueryKey, queryFn: api.loadMe, staleTime: Infinity, networkMode: 'always' })
+  // fetch rejects with a TypeError only when the network fails.
+  const savedPages = me.isError && me.error instanceof TypeError && api.session.verified()
+  const { refetch } = me
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!savedPages) return
+    return api.network.subscribe(() => {
+      if (!api.network.offline()) void refetch()
+    })
+  }, [savedPages, api, refetch])
 
   if (forbidden) return <NotInHouseholdPage />
-  if (me.isSuccess) return children
+  if (me.isSuccess || savedPages) return children
   if (me.isError && !(me.error instanceof ApiError && me.error.status === 401)) {
     return (
       <main className={styles.screen}>
diff --git a/web/src/api/client.test.ts b/web/src/api/client.test.ts
index 3e788b7..c9bdb84 100644
--- a/web/src/api/client.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/api/client.test.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { errorResponse, fakeLocation, jsonResponse, ME, request, stubFetch } from '../test/fetchStub.ts'
-import { ApiError, createApiClient, CSRF_HEADER } from './index.ts'
+import { ApiError, createApiClient, createVerifiedSession, CSRF_HEADER, VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY } from './index.ts'
+import { cacheFallbackHeader } from '../sw/routes.ts'
 import { createNetworkStatus } from '../pwa/networkStatus.ts'
 
 afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
   vi.unstubAllGlobals()
 })
 
 describe('apiFetch', () => {
   it('sends same-origin JSON and the cached CSRF token on non-GET requests only', async () => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME), jsonResponse(200, { ok: 1 }), jsonResponse(200, { ok: 2 }))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await api.loadMe()
 
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/settings/household')).resolves.toEqual({ ok: 1 })
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
 
   it('refuses a non-GET request before /me has loaded', async () => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch()
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/jobs', { method: 'POST', body: {} })).rejects.toThrow(/no CSRF token/)
     expect(fetchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
     'api/v1/me',
   ])('refuses %s without sending it or the CSRF token', async (path) => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await api.loadMe()
 
     await expect(api.apiFetch(path, { method: 'POST', body: {} })).rejects.toThrow(
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
 
   it('rejects with a typed ApiError from the error body', async () => {
     stubFetch(errorResponse(503, 'unavailable', true))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     const error = await api.apiFetch('/api/v1/jobs/j1').catch((e: unknown) => e)
     expect(error).toBeInstanceOf(ApiError)
     expect(error).toMatchObject({ status: 503, code: 'unavailable', message: 'unavailable message', retryable: true })
@@ -69,14 +71,14 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
 
   it('rejects a response without the API error body', async () => {
     stubFetch(new Response('<html>bad gateway</html>', { status: 502 }))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/jobs/j1')).rejects.toThrow('GET /api/v1/jobs/j1: 502 response is not JSON')
   })
 
   it('on 401 navigates to sign-in with the current path and search to return to', async () => {
     stubFetch(errorResponse(401, 'unauthenticated'))
     const location = fakeLocation('/plan/shopping', '?week=2026-10-05')
-    const api = createApiClient(location, createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(location, createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
 
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/settings/household')).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 401 })
     expect(location.assign).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
       jsonResponse(200, { ...ME, csrfToken: 'token-2' }),
       jsonResponse(201, { id: 'j1' }),
     )
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await api.loadMe()
 
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/jobs', { method: 'POST', body: { kind: 'noop' } })).resolves.toEqual({
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
       jsonResponse(200, { ...ME, csrfToken: 'token-2' }),
       errorResponse(403, 'csrf'),
     )
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await api.loadMe()
 
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/jobs', { method: 'POST', body: {} })).rejects.toMatchObject({
@@ -125,7 +127,7 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
 
   it('marks any other 403 as not in this household and notifies subscribers', async () => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(errorResponse(403, 'forbidden'))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     const listener = vi.fn()
     api.subscribe(listener)
 
@@ -137,14 +139,14 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
 
   it('does not take a 403 without the API error body as not in this household', async () => {
     stubFetch(new Response('<html>denied by proxy</html>', { status: 403 }))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/me')).rejects.toThrow('GET /api/v1/me: 403 response is not JSON')
     expect(api.forbidden()).toBe(false)
   })
 
   it('does not refresh /me for a csrf 403 on a GET, which carries no token', async () => {
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(errorResponse(403, 'csrf'))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await expect(api.loadMe()).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 403, code: 'csrf' })
     expect(fetchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   })
@@ -153,7 +155,74 @@ describe('apiFetch', () => {
 describe('loadMe', () => {
   it('rejects a /me response without a CSRF token', async () => {
     stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, { ...ME, csrfToken: '' }))
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     await expect(api.loadMe()).rejects.toThrow('response is not a member with a CSRF token')
   })
 })
+
+describe('verified session', () => {
+  it('is remembered when /me answers with a member', async () => {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    expect(api.session.verified()).toBe(false)
+    await api.loadMe()
+    expect(api.session.verified()).toBe(true)
+    expect(localStorage.getItem(VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY)).toBe('1')
+  })
+
+  it('stores nothing from the /me response', async () => {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    await api.loadMe()
+    expect(Object.keys(localStorage)).toEqual([VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY])
+    expect(JSON.stringify({ ...localStorage })).not.toContain(ME.csrfToken)
+  })
+
+  it('is not remembered for a /me response that is not a member', async () => {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, { ...ME, csrfToken: '' }))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    await expect(api.loadMe()).rejects.toThrow()
+    expect(api.session.verified()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('is forgotten on a 401', async () => {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME), errorResponse(401, 'unauthenticated'))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    await api.loadMe()
+    await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/plans')).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 401 })
+    expect(api.session.verified()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('is forgotten when the account is not in this household', async () => {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME), errorResponse(403, 'forbidden'))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    await api.loadMe()
+    await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/plans')).rejects.toMatchObject({ status: 403 })
+    expect(api.session.verified()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('is kept when a request fails with a network error', async () => {
+    stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+    await api.loadMe()
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockRejectedValue(new TypeError('Failed to fetch')))
+    await expect(api.loadMe()).rejects.toThrow(TypeError)
+    expect(api.session.verified()).toBe(true)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('network status', () => {
+  it('counts a response the service worker answered from its cache as offline', async () => {
+    vi.spyOn(navigator, 'onLine', 'get').mockReturnValue(true)
+    const cached = jsonResponse(200, { id: '01J9ZR' })
+    cached.headers.set(cacheFallbackHeader, '1')
+    stubFetch(cached, jsonResponse(200, { id: '01J9ZR' }))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
+
+    await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR')).resolves.toEqual({ id: '01J9ZR' })
+    expect(api.network.offline()).toBe(true)
+
+    await expect(api.apiFetch('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR')).resolves.toEqual({ id: '01J9ZR' })
+    expect(api.network.offline()).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/web/src/api/client.ts b/web/src/api/client.ts
index 22d6c10..cbfc0f0 100644
--- a/web/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/web/src/api/client.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import type { NetworkStatus } from '../pwa/networkStatus.ts'
+import { cacheFallbackHeader } from '../sw/routes.ts'
 import { ApiError, isRecord, parseApiError } from './errors.ts'
+import type { VerifiedSession } from './verifiedSession.ts'
 
 // CSRF_HEADER carries the session's CSRF token on every non-GET request.
 export const CSRF_HEADER = 'X-MealQuest-CSRF'
@@ -52,14 +54,18 @@ export type ApiClient = {
   // account is not in this household; subscribe is notified when it changes.
   forbidden(): boolean
   subscribe(listener: () => void): () => void
-  // network learns of every request that failed with a network error and of
-  // every request that got a response.
+  // network learns of every request that failed with a network error or was
+  // answered from the service worker's cache, and of every request the
+  // server answered.
   network: NetworkStatus
+  // session remembers, on this device, whether /me last answered with a
+  // member; offline, AuthBootstrap opens the saved pages only if it did.
+  session: VerifiedSession
 }
 
 // createApiClient builds the app's API client. location is window.location in
 // the app: a 401 sends it to /auth/login with the current path to return to.
-export function createApiClient(location: ApiLocation, network: NetworkStatus): ApiClient {
+export function createApiClient(location: ApiLocation, network: NetworkStatus, session: VerifiedSession): ApiClient {
   let csrfToken: string | null = null
   let refreshing: Promise<Me> | null = null
   let forbidden = false
@@ -91,7 +97,10 @@ export function createApiClient(location: ApiLocation, network: NetworkStatus):
       if (error instanceof TypeError) network.requestFailed()
       throw error
     }
-    network.requestSucceeded()
+    // The service worker marks a response it answered from its cache because
+    // the server could not be reached in time.
+    if (response.headers.has(cacheFallbackHeader)) network.requestFailed()
+    else network.requestSucceeded()
     return response
   }
 
@@ -135,12 +144,14 @@ export function createApiClient(location: ApiLocation, network: NetworkStatus):
 
   function markForbidden() {
     if (forbidden) return
+    session.forget()
     forbidden = true
     listeners.forEach((listener) => listener())
   }
 
   async function decode<T>(method: string, path: string, response: Response): Promise<T> {
     if (response.status === 401) {
+      session.forget()
       location.assign(`/auth/login?return=${encodeURIComponent(location.pathname + location.search)}`)
     }
     if (!response.ok) throw await parseApiError(method, path, response)
@@ -162,6 +173,7 @@ export function createApiClient(location: ApiLocation, network: NetworkStatus):
       throw new Error(`GET ${ME_PATH}: response is not a member with a CSRF token`)
     }
     csrfToken = me.csrfToken
+    session.remember()
     return me as Me
   }
 
@@ -174,5 +186,6 @@ export function createApiClient(location: ApiLocation, network: NetworkStatus):
       return () => listeners.delete(listener)
     },
     network,
+    session,
   }
 }
diff --git a/web/src/api/index.ts b/web/src/api/index.ts
index ea7a989..cae3e1f 100644
--- a/web/src/api/index.ts
+++ b/web/src/api/index.ts
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ export { ApiProvider, useApi } from './ApiContext.tsx'
 export { createApiClient, CSRF_HEADER, ME_PATH, type ApiClient, type ApiLocation, type ApiRequest, type Me } from './client.ts'
 export { ApiError } from './errors.ts'
 export { createQueryClient, shouldRetry } from './queryClient.ts'
+export { createVerifiedSession, VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY, type VerifiedSession } from './verifiedSession.ts'
 export { useJob, type Job, type JobState, type JobStatus } from './useJob.ts'
diff --git a/web/src/api/useJob.test.tsx b/web/src/api/useJob.test.tsx
index e249ec5..21d1359 100644
--- a/web/src/api/useJob.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/api/useJob.test.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { act, renderHook } from '@testing-library/react'
 import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { errorResponse, fakeLocation, jsonResponse, request, stubFetch } from '../test/fetchStub.ts'
-import { ApiProvider, createApiClient, useJob } from './index.ts'
+import { ApiProvider, createApiClient, createVerifiedSession, useJob } from './index.ts'
 import { createNetworkStatus } from '../pwa/networkStatus.ts'
 
 type Draft = { dinners: string[] }
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ function job(status: string, result: Draft | null, error: string | null = null)
 }
 
 function renderJob(jobId: string | null) {
-  const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+  const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
   const wrapper = ({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) => <ApiProvider client={api}>{children}</ApiProvider>
   return renderHook(({ id }) => useJob<Draft>(id), { wrapper, initialProps: { id: jobId } })
 }
diff --git a/web/src/api/verifiedSession.ts b/web/src/api/verifiedSession.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3fa7c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/api/verifiedSession.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY is the localStorage key marking that GET /api/v1/me
+// last answered with a household member on this device. It holds only "1" —
+// never the /me response, its CSRF token or anything from /auth.
+export const VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY = 'mealquest.verified-session'
+
+export type VerifiedSession = {
+  // verified reports whether /me last answered with a member on this device.
+  verified(): boolean
+  // remember records a /me that answered with a member.
+  remember(): void
+  // forget records that the server refused the session (401) or the account
+  // (not in this household).
+  forget(): void
+}
+
+// createVerifiedSession keeps the marker in storage (window.localStorage in
+// the app). A storage failure is thrown to the caller.
+export function createVerifiedSession(storage: Storage): VerifiedSession {
+  return {
+    verified: () => storage.getItem(VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY) === '1',
+    remember: () => storage.setItem(VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY, '1'),
+    forget: () => storage.removeItem(VERIFIED_SESSION_KEY),
+  }
+}
diff --git a/web/src/main.tsx b/web/src/main.tsx
index fbd16cf..63cd1b1 100644
--- a/web/src/main.tsx
+++ b/web/src/main.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { BrowserRouter } from 'react-router'
 import './styles/tokens.css'
 import './styles/base.css'
 import App from './App.tsx'
-import { createApiClient } from './api/index.ts'
+import { createApiClient, createVerifiedSession } from './api/index.ts'
 import { createNetworkStatus } from './pwa/networkStatus.ts'
 
 const root = document.getElementById('root')
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ if (!root) {
   throw new Error('MealQuest: #root element missing from index.html')
 }
 
-const api = createApiClient(window.location, createNetworkStatus(window))
+const api = createApiClient(window.location, createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(window.localStorage))
 
 createRoot(root).render(
   <StrictMode>
diff --git a/web/src/pwa/OfflinePill.test.tsx b/web/src/pwa/OfflinePill.test.tsx
index 9a06880..5413a8a 100644
--- a/web/src/pwa/OfflinePill.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pwa/OfflinePill.test.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { act, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
-import { ApiProvider, createApiClient, type ApiClient } from '../api/index.ts'
+import { ApiProvider, createApiClient, createVerifiedSession, type ApiClient } from '../api/index.ts'
 import { fakeLocation, jsonResponse, ME, stubFetch } from '../test/fetchStub.ts'
+import { cacheFallbackHeader } from '../sw/routes.ts'
 import { createNetworkStatus } from './networkStatus.ts'
 import { OfflinePill } from './OfflinePill.tsx'
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ function goOnline() {
 }
 
 function renderPill(): ApiClient {
-  const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+  const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
   render(
     <ApiProvider client={api}>
       <OfflinePill />
@@ -80,6 +81,21 @@ describe('OfflinePill', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole('status')).toBeNull()
   })
 
+  it('shows while online when the service worker answers from its cache', async () => {
+    const api = renderPill()
+    const cached = jsonResponse(200, { id: '01J9ZR' })
+    cached.headers.set(cacheFallbackHeader, '1')
+    stubFetch(cached, jsonResponse(200, { id: '01J9ZR' }))
+
+    await act(() => api.apiFetch('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR'))
+    expect(navigator.onLine).toBe(true)
+    expect(screen.getByRole('status')).toHaveTextContent(copy)
+
+    // The server answers again.
+    await act(() => api.apiFetch('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR'))
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('status')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
   it('ignores a request body that cannot be serialized', async () => {
     const api = renderPill()
     const fetchMock = stubFetch(jsonResponse(200, ME))
@@ -119,7 +135,7 @@ describe('OfflinePill', () => {
   it('removes its online and offline listeners on unmount', () => {
     const add = vi.spyOn(window, 'addEventListener')
     const remove = vi.spyOn(window, 'removeEventListener')
-    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window))
+    const api = createApiClient(fakeLocation(), createNetworkStatus(window), createVerifiedSession(localStorage))
     const { unmount } = render(
       <ApiProvider client={api}>
         <OfflinePill />
diff --git a/web/src/pwa/networkStatus.ts b/web/src/pwa/networkStatus.ts
index 16955fc..8f124c1 100644
--- a/web/src/pwa/networkStatus.ts
+++ b/web/src/pwa/networkStatus.ts
@@ -4,14 +4,15 @@ export type NetworkWindow = Pick<Window, 'navigator' | 'addEventListener' | 'rem
 
 export type NetworkStatus = {
   // offline reports whether the browser says it is offline or the last API
-  // request failed with a network error.
+  // request failed with a network error or was answered from the cache.
   offline(): boolean
   // subscribe is notified when offline may have changed. It listens for the
   // window's online/offline events until the returned function is called.
   subscribe(listener: () => void): () => void
-  // requestFailed records a fetch that rejected with a network error.
+  // requestFailed records a fetch that rejected with a network error or that
+  // the service worker answered from its cache.
   requestFailed(): void
-  // requestSucceeded records a fetch that got a response.
+  // requestSucceeded records a fetch the server answered.
   requestSucceeded(): void
 }
 
diff --git a/web/src/sw.ts b/web/src/sw.ts
index 284f08e..81ebbb9 100644
--- a/web/src/sw.ts
+++ b/web/src/sw.ts
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ import type { RouteHandlerCallbackOptions } from 'workbox-core/types'
 import { ExpirationPlugin } from 'workbox-expiration'
 import { PrecacheFallbackPlugin, matchPrecache, precacheAndRoute } from 'workbox-precaching'
 import { registerRoute } from 'workbox-routing'
-import { CacheFirst, NetworkFirst, NetworkOnly, type Strategy } from 'workbox-strategies'
+import { CacheFirst, NetworkOnly, type Strategy } from 'workbox-strategies'
+import { createApiStrategy } from './sw/apiStrategy'
 import {
   cacheNames,
   cacheVersion,
-  networkTimeoutSeconds,
   routeFor,
   staleCaches,
   type Route,
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ setCacheNameDetails({ prefix: 'mealquest', precache: 'precache', suffix: cacheVe
 const day = 24 * 60 * 60
 
 const strategies = {
-  [cacheNames.api]: new NetworkFirst({ cacheName: cacheNames.api, networkTimeoutSeconds }),
+  [cacheNames.api]: createApiStrategy(),
   [cacheNames.media]: new CacheFirst({
     cacheName: cacheNames.media,
     plugins: [
diff --git a/web/src/sw/apiStrategy.test.ts b/web/src/sw/apiStrategy.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7e60b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/sw/apiStrategy.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+// Runs the real Workbox network-first strategy against an in-memory cache
+// storage: jsdom has none, and the worker itself needs service worker globals.
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { RouteHandlerCallbackOptions } from 'workbox-core/types'
+import { createApiStrategy } from './apiStrategy'
+import { cacheFallbackHeader, cacheNames, routeFor } from './routes'
+
+const origin = 'https://mealquest.test'
+
+// FakeCache keys entries by URL, which is all the API cache needs.
+class FakeCache {
+  readonly entries = new Map<string, Response>()
+  async match(request: RequestInfo | URL): Promise<Response | undefined> {
+    return this.entries.get(new Request(request).url)?.clone()
+  }
+  async put(request: RequestInfo | URL, response: Response): Promise<void> {
+    this.entries.set(new Request(request).url, response)
+  }
+}
+
+// FakeExtendableEvent stands in for the worker-only ExtendableEvent,
+// collecting the promises the strategy waits on.
+class FakeExtendableEvent extends Event {
+  readonly pending: Promise<unknown>[] = []
+  waitUntil(promise: Promise<unknown>) {
+    this.pending.push(promise)
+  }
+}
+
+let cache: FakeCache
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  cache = new FakeCache()
+  // Workbox checks its arguments against these worker-only globals.
+  vi.stubGlobal('FetchEvent', class FetchEvent {})
+  vi.stubGlobal('ExtendableEvent', FakeExtendableEvent)
+  const only = (name: string | undefined) => {
+    if (name !== cacheNames.api) throw new Error(`unexpected cache ${name}`)
+    return cache
+  }
+  vi.stubGlobal('caches', {
+    open: async (name: string) => only(name),
+    match: async (request: RequestInfo | URL, options?: MultiCacheQueryOptions) =>
+      only(options?.cacheName).match(request),
+  })
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals()
+})
+
+// handle sends a GET through the API strategy, as src/sw.ts does for a
+// network-first route.
+async function handle(path: string): Promise<Response> {
+  const request = new Request(new URL(path, origin))
+  expect(routeFor({ method: 'GET', url: new URL(request.url), mode: 'cors' }, origin)).toEqual({
+    strategy: 'network-first',
+    cacheName: cacheNames.api,
+  })
+  const event = new FakeExtendableEvent('fetch')
+  const response = await createApiStrategy().handle({ request, event: event as unknown as RouteHandlerCallbackOptions['event'] })
+  await Promise.all(event.pending)
+  return response
+}
+
+function recipe(): Response {
+  return new Response(JSON.stringify({ id: '01J9ZR', name: 'Chicken tikka masala' }), {
+    status: 200,
+    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+  })
+}
+
+describe('API strategy', () => {
+  it('answers from the network while the server is reachable, unmarked', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockResolvedValue(recipe()))
+    const response = await handle('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR')
+    expect(response.headers.has(cacheFallbackHeader)).toBe(false)
+    expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ id: '01J9ZR' })
+    expect(cache.entries.has(`${origin}/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR`)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('opens a previously viewed recipe offline, marked as a cache fallback', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockResolvedValue(recipe()))
+    await handle('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR')
+
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockRejectedValue(new TypeError('Failed to fetch')))
+    const response = await handle('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR')
+    expect(response.headers.get(cacheFallbackHeader)).toBe('1')
+    expect(await response.json()).toEqual({ id: '01J9ZR', name: 'Chicken tikka masala' })
+  })
+
+  it('fails offline for a recipe never viewed', async () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('fetch', vi.fn<typeof fetch>().mockRejectedValue(new TypeError('Failed to fetch')))
+    await expect(handle('/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZS')).rejects.toThrow()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/web/src/sw/apiStrategy.ts b/web/src/sw/apiStrategy.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0000b43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/sw/apiStrategy.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// The network-first strategy for API reads, kept apart from src/sw.ts so the
+// tests can run it without a service worker.
+import type { WorkboxPlugin } from 'workbox-core/types'
+import { NetworkFirst } from 'workbox-strategies'
+import { cacheNames, markCacheFallback, networkTimeoutSeconds } from './routes'
+
+// NetworkFirst reads its cache only when the network fails or times out, so
+// every cached response it uses is a fallback.
+const markFallback: WorkboxPlugin = {
+  cachedResponseWillBeUsed: async ({ cachedResponse }) =>
+    cachedResponse === undefined ? undefined : markCacheFallback(cachedResponse),
+}
+
+export function createApiStrategy(): NetworkFirst {
+  return new NetworkFirst({ cacheName: cacheNames.api, networkTimeoutSeconds, plugins: [markFallback] })
+}
diff --git a/web/src/sw/routes.test.ts b/web/src/sw/routes.test.ts
index 784fa68..9b57d20 100644
--- a/web/src/sw/routes.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/sw/routes.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
-import { cacheNames, routeFor, staleCaches, type Route } from './routes'
+import { cacheFallbackHeader, cacheNames, markCacheFallback, routeFor, staleCaches, type Route } from './routes'
 
 const origin = 'https://mealquest.test'
 
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ describe('routeFor', () => {
     '/api/v1/shopping/current',
     '/api/v1/dinners',
     '/api/v1/dinners/01J9ZK?include=recipe',
+    '/api/v1/recipes',
+    '/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR',
     '/api/v1/home',
   ])('GET %s is network-first in the API cache', (path) => {
     expect(route(path)).toEqual(apiCache)
@@ -65,6 +67,8 @@ describe('routeFor', () => {
     '/%61pi/v1/jobs/01J9ZK',
     '/api/v1/j%6Fbs',
     '/api/v1/plans%2F..%2Fsettings',
+    '/api/v1/recipes%2F..%2Fsettings%2Fai',
+    '/api/v1/recipes/..%2F..%2F..%2Fauth%2Flogin',
     '/plan%2F..%2Fauth%2Flogin',
   ])('an encoded reserved path %s is network-only, navigated or not', (path) => {
     expect(route(path)).toEqual(networkOnly)
@@ -81,7 +85,8 @@ describe('routeFor', () => {
 
   it('classifies other API paths by their decoded form', () => {
     expect(route('/%61pi/v1/plans/2026-W40')).toEqual(apiCache)
-    expect(route('/%61pi/v1/recipes', 'GET', 'navigate')).toEqual(networkOnly)
+    expect(route('/%61pi/v1/recipes/01J9ZR')).toEqual(apiCache)
+    expect(route('/%61pi/v1/ideas', 'GET', 'navigate')).toEqual(networkOnly)
   })
 
   it.each(['POST', 'PUT', 'PATCH', 'DELETE', 'HEAD'])(
@@ -91,6 +96,7 @@ describe('routeFor', () => {
         '/api/v1/plans/2026-W40',
         '/api/v1/shopping/current',
         '/api/v1/dinners/01J9ZK',
+        '/api/v1/recipes/01J9ZR',
         '/api/v1/home',
         '/media/photos/abc.jpg',
         '/assets/Figtree-Bold-a1b2c3.woff2',
@@ -106,13 +112,14 @@ describe('routeFor', () => {
   it('matches whole path segments only', () => {
     expect(route('/api/v1/plansx')).toEqual(networkOnly)
     expect(route('/api/v1/homepage')).toEqual(networkOnly)
+    expect(route('/api/v1/recipesx')).toEqual(networkOnly)
     expect(route('/mediax/a.jpg')).toEqual(networkOnly)
     expect(route('/authors')).toEqual(networkOnly)
     expect(route('/api/v1/settingsx')).toEqual(networkOnly)
   })
 
   it('leaves other API calls network-only', () => {
-    expect(route('/api/v1/recipes')).toEqual(networkOnly)
+    expect(route('/api/v1/me')).toEqual(networkOnly)
     expect(route('/api/v1/ideas', 'GET', 'navigate')).toEqual(networkOnly)
   })
 
@@ -155,3 +162,19 @@ describe('staleCaches', () => {
     expect(staleCaches(names, current)).toEqual(['mealquest-precache', 'mealquest-api-v0'])
   })
 })
+
+describe('markCacheFallback', () => {
+  it('copies the cached response with the cache fallback header set', async () => {
+    const cached = new Response('{"id":"01J9ZR"}', {
+      status: 200,
+      statusText: 'OK',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+    })
+    const marked = markCacheFallback(cached)
+    expect(marked.status).toBe(200)
+    expect(marked.statusText).toBe('OK')
+    expect(marked.headers.get('Content-Type')).toBe('application/json')
+    expect(marked.headers.get(cacheFallbackHeader)).toBe('1')
+    expect(await marked.json()).toEqual({ id: '01J9ZR' })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/web/src/sw/routes.ts b/web/src/sw/routes.ts
index e9ff348..46daa72 100644
--- a/web/src/sw/routes.ts
+++ b/web/src/sw/routes.ts
@@ -36,8 +36,20 @@ export const cacheNames = {
 
 export const networkTimeoutSeconds = 3
 
+// cacheFallbackHeader marks a network-first response answered from the cache
+// because the server could not be reached in time, so the app can show the
+// offline indicator even while the browser reports that it is online.
+export const cacheFallbackHeader = 'X-MealQuest-Cache-Fallback'
+
+// markCacheFallback copies a cached response with cacheFallbackHeader set.
+export function markCacheFallback(cached: Response): Response {
+  const headers = new Headers(cached.headers)
+  headers.set(cacheFallbackHeader, '1')
+  return new Response(cached.body, { status: cached.status, statusText: cached.statusText, headers })
+}
+
 const neverCached = ['/auth', '/api/v1/settings', '/api/v1/jobs']
-const networkFirst = ['/api/v1/plans', '/api/v1/shopping', '/api/v1/dinners', '/api/v1/home']
+const networkFirst = ['/api/v1/plans', '/api/v1/shopping', '/api/v1/dinners', '/api/v1/recipes', '/api/v1/home']
 
 // True when path is prefix itself or a path below it: /api/v1/plans matches
 // /api/v1/plans and /api/v1/plans/2026-W40, never /api/v1/plansx.
diff --git a/web/src/sw/worker.test.ts b/web/src/sw/worker.test.ts
index f4d3572..4b207b6 100644
--- a/web/src/sw/worker.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/sw/worker.test.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 // The service worker itself needs worker globals, so these tests read its
-// source: they pin the parts routes.ts cannot express — the font strategy's
-// expiration and the font route's place ahead of the precache route.
+// source: they pin the parts routes.ts cannot express — the API cache's
+// strategy, the font strategy's expiration and the font route's place ahead of
+// the precache route.
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 import source from '../sw.ts?raw'
 
 describe('service worker source', () => {
+  it('serves the API cache with the strategy that marks cache fallbacks', () => {
+    expect(source).toContain('[cacheNames.api]: createApiStrategy(),')
+  })
+
   it('gives the fonts cache a CacheFirst strategy with an expiration plugin', () => {
     expect(source).toMatch(
       /\[cacheNames\.fonts\]: new CacheFirst\(\{\s*cacheName: cacheNames\.fonts,\s*plugins: \[\s*new ExpirationPlugin\(\{ maxEntries: \d+, maxAgeSeconds: [^}]+\}\)/,
diff --git a/web/src/test/setup.ts b/web/src/test/setup.ts
index e87ca3f..6d0998a 100644
--- a/web/src/test/setup.ts
+++ b/web/src/test/setup.ts
@@ -4,4 +4,7 @@ import { afterEach } from 'vitest'
 
 afterEach(() => {
   cleanup()
+  // The verified-session marker and other device state must not leak between
+  // tests. Tests in the node environment (src/pwa.test.ts) have no storage.
+  if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') localStorage.clear()
 })