Cooking Mode

Cooking Mode provides a distraction-free, step-by-step interface for following recipes while you cook.

Starting Cooking Mode

1. Open any recipe
2. Look for the "Cooking Mode" button (play icon) near the top of the recipe
3. Click to enter full-screen cooking mode

Features

Step-by-Step Instructions

• View one instruction at a time in large, easy-to-read text
• Navigate forward and backward with arrow buttons
• Progress bar shows how far through the recipe you are
• Step counter shows "Step X of Y"

Built-in Timers

• Steps with timing information automatically display a timer
• Click the "Play" button to start the countdown timer
• Click "Pause" to pause the timer
• Click "Reset" to restart the timer from the beginning
• Timer shows in minutes and seconds format (e.g., 10:00)
• Audio alert: When timer reaches zero, you'll hear a beep notification
• Timer automatically resets when moving to next step

Ingredient Reference

• All ingredients remain visible at the top of the screen
• Quantities are automatically scaled to your selected serving size
• Quickly reference what you need without leaving cooking mode
• Shows size equivalents (e.g., "≈ 2 medium onions")

Screen Wake Lock

• Your device screen stays on while in cooking mode
• No need to keep touching your device with messy hands
• Automatically releases when you exit cooking mode
• Works on most modern browsers

Progress Tracking

• Visual progress bar fills as you advance through steps
• See percentage complete at a glance
• Navigate backward to review previous steps
• Can jump between steps if needed

Step Images

• If the recipe creator added step images, they display with each instruction
• Visual guidance for complex techniques
• See what the dish should look like at each stage

Marking as "Cooked It"

When you finish cooking:

1. Complete the final step by clicking "Finish"
2. Completion screen appears with celebration message
3. Click "Mark as Cooked" button
4. This adds the recipe to your cooking history
5. You can then leave a review and rating

Alternatively, you can just click "Close" without marking it cooked.

Tips

• Large text makes it easy to read from a distance
• In landscape mode on mobile, you get more screen space
• Bold ingredients in instructions help you identify key items
• Exit anytime by clicking the X in the top corner
• Timer sound helps you know when to check on your food

Mobile Experience

Cooking Mode is optimized for mobile devices:

• Full-screen view maximizes space
• Large touch targets for easy tapping with wet/messy hands
• Screen stays awake during cooking
• Works in portrait or landscape orientation

Desktop Experience

On desktop, you get:

• Larger view of instructions and ingredients
• More comfortable reading distance
• Mouse or trackpad navigation
• Can keep other tabs open for reference

Accessibility

• High contrast text for readability
• Large font sizes
• Clear button labels
• Visual and audio timer notifications
• Simple, focused interface reduces distraction