# Non-Visual Cooking: Exploring Practices and Challenges of Meal Preparation by People with Visual Impairments

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.05783 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2107.05783/

## Key facts

- Cited by 7 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 12 Jul 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [Vid2Coach: Transforming How-To Videos into Task Assistants](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.00717/) (2025)
- [OSCAR: Object Status and Contextual Awareness for Recipes to Support Non-Visual Cooking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.05962/) (2025)
- [How Users Who are Blind or Low Vision Play Mobile Games: Perceptions, Challenges, and Strategies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.09866/) (2025)
- [Exploring Object Status Recognition for Recipe Progress Tracking in Non-Visual Cooking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.03330/) (2025)
- [More than One Step at a Time: Designing Procedural Feedback for Non-visual Makeup Routines](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.03942/) (2025)
- [Lost in Instructions: Study of Blind Users' Experiences with DIY Manuals and AI-Rewritten Instructions for Assembly, Operation, and Troubleshooting of Tangible Products](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.18630/) (2026)
- [Bespoke Visual Assistance: What and How do Blind and Low-Vision People Create with Agentic Programming?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.21760/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The reliance on vision for tasks related to cooking and eating healthy can present barriers to cooking for oneself and achieving proper nutrition. There has been little research exploring cooking practices and challenges faced by people with visual impairments. We present a content analysis of 122 YouTube videos to highlight the cooking practices of visually impaired people, and we describe detailed practices for 12 different cooking activities (e.g., cutting and chopping, measuring, testing food for doneness). Based on the cooking practices, we also conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 visually impaired people who have cooking experience and show existing challenges, concerns, and risks in cooking (e.g., tracking the status of tasks in progress, verifying whether things are peeled or cleaned thoroughly). We further discuss opportunities to support the current practices and improve the independence of people with visual impairments in cooking (e.g., zero-touch interactions for cooking). Overall, our findings provide guidance for future research exploring various assistive technologies to help people cook without relying on vision.