Asim Kauser, aged 25, was charged with four offences under the Terrorism Act in relation to material found on a computer pen drive in his possesion.
Kauser, an unmarried British national whose family came from Pakistan, is accused of having "various instructions in how to make an improvised explosive device".
He is also charged with having a recipe to make the deadly poison ricin, the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.
Kauser, of Bardon Close, Halliwell, spoke only to confirm his name and address during the first appearance hearing.
With close cropped hair and a moustache, thick-set Kauser, wearing a navy blue sweatshirt, showed no emotion as the charges were read out.
He made no application for bail and the case was adjourned until July 14 for committal to London's Central Criminal Court.
Kauser was charged last night with possession of records of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
He was arrested at his home on June 6 in an operation by the North West Counter Terrorism Unit.
The alleged offences took place between January 2009 and June this year.
