How to cook hands-free with Pleny
Updated October 2026 · 2 min read
Quick answer
Start a recipe in Cook With Me. Pleny reads each step aloud, listens for "next" and times the meal, so you can keep your hands on the food.
Start it
Open a recipe and tap Cook With Me. Allow the microphone if you want to talk to Pleny.
Talk to Pleny
Say "next", "repeat that" or ask a question like "can I use butter instead?" Pleny answers in plain words.
Timers
Pleny can start a timer for a step. Timers keep counting even if you close the chat.
Noisy kitchen?
Turn voice off and tap through the steps. Everything still works.
After you cook
A cook-time tracker shows how long it really took, so your next plan fits your real evening.
Why cook hands-free?
Cooking is a hands-on job. Raw chicken, sticky dough and hot pans are all things you do not want to put on a screen. Hearing the next step out loud lets you keep your eyes and hands on the food.
How do you set up the kitchen first?
A little prep makes the voice part work better.
| Step | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Prop the phone where you can see it | You can glance at a step if you miss it |
| Put it away from the sink and stove | Splashes and steam can damage a phone |
| Lower the fan or radio | Voice works best in a quiet room |
| Read the whole recipe once | There are no surprises halfway through |
| Prop the phone where you can see it | You can glance at a step if you miss it |
| Put it away from the sink and stove | Splashes and steam can damage a phone |
| Lower the fan or radio | Voice works best in a quiet room |
| Read the whole recipe once | There are no surprises halfway through |
What can you say?
Keep it simple. Say "next" to move on and "repeat that" to hear a step again. Ask short questions, like how long to rest meat, or whether you can swap an ingredient. Plain words work better than long ones.
How do timers help?
Timers keep you from guessing. Set one for each step that needs it, such as boiling pasta or resting a roast. Check food with a thermometer as well as the clock. Poultry should reach 165°F, ground meat 160°F, and whole cuts of beef, pork and fish 145°F.
What if the kitchen is noisy?
Turn voice off and tap through the steps. A hood fan, a toddler and a dishwasher can all drown out a voice, and that is fine. The steps look the same either way.
What should you do before you start?
Wash your hands, clear a clean space and get out every ingredient. Chefs call this mise en place. It sounds fancy, but it just means everything is ready before the heat goes on.
What should you do afterward?
Make a quick note of what worked. If a step was unclear or a time was off for your stove, you will want to remember it next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Pleny speaks English, Spanish and French.
No. A phone propped on the counter works well.
Only if you want to talk. You can tap through the steps without one.
Yes. Timers keep counting even if you close the chat.