Using Cooking Mode
Using Cooking Mode
Cooking Mode is a full-screen, distraction-free view that walks you through a recipe sentence by sentence. With large text, voice commands, read-aloud, and hands-free navigation, you can cook without constantly touching your device.
Starting Cooking Mode {#start}
From any recipe page, tap the Cooking Mode button. The screen transforms into a focused view starting with your first ingredient.
Cooking Mode is also available on shared recipes — anyone with the link can use it.
Three phases {#phases}
Cooking Mode divides your recipe into three phases, each navigated sentence by sentence:
- Ingredients — Walk through each ingredient one at a time
- Instructions — Step through each instruction sentence by sentence
- Notes — Review any recipe notes (if the recipe has them)
Phase chips at the bottom of the screen show which phase you’re in. Tap any chip to jump directly to that phase. When you reach the end of one phase, Cooking Mode automatically advances to the next.
Navigation {#navigation}
Touch and buttons
- Next/Previous arrows in the bottom bar move forward or back one sentence
- Phase chips (Ingredients, Instructions, Notes) jump to the start of any phase
- Tap the content area to pause or resume read-aloud (when voice is enabled)
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space / Right arrow | Next item |
| Left arrow | Previous item |
| V | Toggle voice (commands + read-aloud) |
| P | Pause / resume read-aloud |
| I | Toggle ingredient drawer (during instructions) |
| Escape | Close drawer or modal, or exit Cooking Mode |
Voice commands and read-aloud {#voice}
Tap the Voice button in the bottom bar to enable voice. This turns on two things at once:
- Voice commands — speak to navigate hands-free
- Read-aloud — each item is spoken out loud as you navigate to it
Available voice commands
| Say | Action |
|---|---|
| ”next” | Go to next item |
| ”previous” / “back” | Go to previous item |
| ”repeat” / “again” | Re-read current item |
| ”beginning” | Go to first item in current phase |
| ”ingredients” | Switch to ingredients phase |
| ”instructions” / “steps” | Switch to instructions phase |
| ”notes” | Switch to notes phase |
| ”pause” / “stop” | Pause read-aloud |
| ”play” / “resume” / “continue” | Resume read-aloud |
| ”faster” | Increase speech speed |
| ”slower” | Decrease speech speed |
| ”check” / “done” | Check off current ingredient and advance (ingredients phase only) |
| “start cooking” | Switch from ingredients to instructions |
| ”show ingredients” | Open ingredient drawer (instructions/notes phase) |
| “hide ingredients” | Close ingredient drawer |
| ”exit” / “close” / “stop cooking” | Leave Cooking Mode |
Pausing and resuming
While read-aloud is active, you can pause it three ways:
- Say “pause” or “stop” (between sentences, when recognition is listening)
- Tap the content area on screen
- Press P on a keyboard
A small “Paused” indicator appears next to the Voice button when paused. To resume, say “resume”, tap the content area again, or press P. Navigating to a new item (next/previous, switching phases) automatically unpauses.
Voice settings
Tap the ? button to open Commands & Settings. When voice is enabled, the top of this panel shows:
- Speed control — adjust read-aloud speed from 0.50x to 2.00x
- Voice selector — choose from your device’s available text-to-speech voices
Ingredient drawer {#ingredients}
During the instructions or notes phase, tap the ingredient list button in the header (or press I, or say “show ingredients”) to open a side drawer with all your ingredients. Check off each item as you use it — checked ingredients show with a strikethrough.
The drawer closes when you tap the backdrop, the X button, press Escape, or say “hide ingredients”.
Screen layout {#layout}
Header
- Ingredient list button (instructions/notes phase) — opens the ingredient drawer
- Recipe title — shows which recipe you’re cooking
- Close button (X) — exit Cooking Mode
Main content area
- Previous item — faded text above (context)
- Current item — large, readable text
- Next item — faded text below (context)
Tap the content area to pause or resume read-aloud when voice is enabled.
Progress bar
- Phase label and item counter (e.g., “Ingredients 3 / 12”)
- Visual progress dots
Bottom bar (two rows)
- Row 1: Phase chips — Ingredients, Instructions, Notes
- Row 2: Previous arrow, Voice toggle, Paused indicator, Help/Settings button, Next arrow
Progress saving {#progress}
Cooking Mode automatically saves your position, checked ingredients, and serving scale to your browser. If you exit and return, you’ll pick up where you left off.
Accessibility {#accessibility}
Cooking Mode is built with accessibility in mind:
- All buttons and controls have proper ARIA labels
- Screen reader announcements for navigation changes
- Keyboard navigation for every feature
- Respects prefers-reduced-motion for animations
- Available in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, and Swedish
Tips for the best experience {#tips}
Device positioning
- Safe from splashes — don’t put your device directly next to the stovetop
- Visible from your work area — position where you can glance at the screen
- Within voice range — 3 to 6 feet works well for voice commands
- Angled upward — use a stand that tilts the screen toward you
- Charged or plugged in — voice detection uses more battery than normal browsing
Voice tips
- Speak naturally at normal volume
- Voice commands work between read-aloud sentences (recognition pauses while speech is playing)
- If voice isn’t responding, use tap-to-pause on the content area or keyboard shortcuts as a fallback
- Background noise (exhaust fans, music) can interfere with recognition
Before you start
- Read through the recipe once in the normal view
- Gather all ingredients and equipment
- Adjust serving size if needed before entering Cooking Mode
Troubleshooting {#troubleshooting}
Voice commands not working
- Microphone permission — your browser needs mic access. Check the lock icon in the address bar.
- Recognition paused during read-aloud — voice commands are only heard between sentences. Tap the screen or press P to pause, then speak.
- Browser support — voice commands work best in Chrome and Safari. Firefox has limited support.
- Background noise — move closer to your device or reduce ambient noise.
Read-aloud not speaking
- Voice not enabled — tap the Voice button or press V to enable.
- Paused — check for the “Paused” indicator. Tap the content area or press P to resume.
- Device volume — make sure your device isn’t muted.
- No TTS voices available — some browsers on some devices may not have text-to-speech voices installed.
Screen going dark
Cooking Mode activates a wake lock to keep your screen on. If your screen still dims, check your device’s power saving settings.
Frequently asked questions {#faq}
How do I start Cooking Mode? Tap the “Cooking Mode” button on any recipe page.
Can I use Cooking Mode on my phone? Yes. Cooking Mode is optimized for phones, tablets, and desktop. The layout adjusts to your screen size.
What languages support voice commands? English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, and Swedish.
Does voice control work offline? No, voice recognition requires an internet connection. Touch and keyboard controls work offline if the recipe is cached.
Does Cooking Mode remember where I left off? Yes. Your position, checked ingredients, and scale are saved in your browser automatically.
How do I change the read-aloud voice or speed? Tap the ? button to open Commands & Settings. Speed and voice options appear at the top when voice is enabled.
Can I use Cooking Mode without voice? Yes. Use the arrow buttons, keyboard shortcuts, or phase chips to navigate. Voice is optional.
Does Sharp Cooking record my voice? No. Voice commands are processed locally in your browser using the Web Speech API. No audio is recorded or sent to our servers.
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