Google’s recipe structured data requirements have changed. The old way of structured data no longer works, Google requires that recipe structured data be updated to the latest requirements.
Recipe Structured Data
Recipe structured data is information that publishers communicate with search engines such as Google to help them better understand content. Structured data also allows Google to display content in an engaging way that draws attention to recipes called “recipe enhancements.”
Typical recipe enhancements are:
- guide recipe
- Recipe Host Carousel
It is important to use valid structured data. Failure to use the correct structured data may result in the site being disqualified from being displayed in the “Recipe Enhancement” and resulting in subsequent loss of search engine traffic to other sites using the correct structured data.
Three recipe structured data attributes changed
Google’s documentation states that they removed the guidelines for specifying time ranges for the cookTime and prepTime properties.
Removed the following wording from the cookTime attribute recommendation:
“You can specify a time range using min and max as subelements.”
Removed the following wording from the prepTime attribute:
“You can specify a time range using min and max as subelements.”
Google now only supports the exact time for the cookTime and prepTime properties, and there is a time that Google does not record.
Time ranges are no longer supported.
The updated changelog states:
“Currently, the only supported method is exact time; time ranges are not supported. If you are currently specifying a time range and you want Google to better understand the time values for cooking and prep time, we recommend that you place this in your structured data The value is updated to a single value (for example, “cookTime”: “PT30M”).
Third structured data attribute changed
Google’s changelog documentation states that only two properties have changed, the cookTime and prepTime properties.
However, there is actually a third property that has also changed.
This is the status of the changelog:
“Removed guidance on specifying ranges for cookTime and prepTime properties in recipe documentation.”
Although Google’s changelog documentation doesn’t mention it, the totalTime property has also changed.
The previous totalTime recipe documentation states:
“You can specify a time range using min and max as subelements.”
Here’s a screenshot from the January 4, 2022 document:
previous total time referrals
The new documentation omits the time-range advice cited above entirely.
New totalTime recommendation
So while Google’s documentation ignores changes to the totalTime property, it might be prudent to note that this property has also changed, and since Google no longer recommends it, the time range for the totalTime property is no longer included.
Recipe Structured Data
Many recipe sites rely on plugins for structured data. If you are using a Recipe Structured Data plugin that also uses time ranges, it may be useful to update your current plugin to the latest version to ensure your Recipe Structured Data is up to date.
This change to structured data is very new, it was updated on January 18, 2022.
Citation
Google Changelog – see January 2022
