How to use Cook Mode

Cook Mode shows one step at a time with timers, hands-free voice control and a screen that stays on while you cook.

Written for the Aioli iPhone app. Last updated October 18, 2026

Cook Mode walks you through a recipe one step at a time. Start it from any recipe by tapping Cook (it says Make on drinks).

Start and move through the steps

1. Open a recipe and tap Cook.
2. Check your ingredients on the Ingredients tab.
3. Tap the Instructions tab to see the first step.
4. Tap the step to move forward. Double tap to go back. You can also swipe left or right.

The top of each step shows where you are, for example "Step 2 of 6". If a step needs the oven hot, a banner at the top tells you the temperature and the step that needs it. Tap its minutes button to start a preheat timer.

Use timers

When a step has a time, a button shows the duration. Tap it to start the timer. Use Pause and Resume to control it, or Stop to cancel it. Aioli asks you to confirm before it stops a timer. When time is up, you see a Timer complete message and can tap Dismiss.

A timer on another step shows as a small pill. Tap the pill to jump to that step. For your own timer, tap the timer button at the bottom of the screen, next to the settings button, set minutes and seconds, and tap Start Timer.

Cook hands-free

1. Tap the microphone button at the top right. It only shows on devices that support voice.
2. Say a command, such as next, back, repeat, start timer, pause, resume or cancel.
3. Say ingredients or instructions to switch tabs.
4. Say help to see every command. Tap the microphone again to turn voice off.

Aioli keeps listening between commands, so you can say one after another. Repeat shows the current step text on screen for a few seconds.

Make it easier to read

Tap the settings button at the bottom left to open Cook Mode settings. There you can change Screen brightness, Text Size, Units (Metric or Imperial) and Highlight Ingredients. Turn on Screen brightness to raise your screen to full brightness while you cook, if you allow it. Tap Full Recipe at the bottom right to see the whole recipe.

Finish or leave

After the last step you see "All done". Rate the recipe, tap Notes to add a note, or tap Return to Recipes. If you started from a meal plan, Aioli marks that meal as cooked.

To leave early, tap the back arrow at the top left. If you return within six hours, Aioli takes you back to your step and keeps your running timers.

Common questions