Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Testing Different-Sized Recipe Cards in Search Results
Google appears to be experimenting with recipe result cards that display varying image sizes, causing a misaligned look. This behavior seems inconsistent and may be a bug, as it only occurs on some recipe searches like “gravy recipes” and only on desktop devices. Users have reported this issue on social media, but it is not widespread or easily replicable.
Optimixed’s Overview: Insights into Google’s Unusual Recipe Card Display in Search Results
Experiment or Glitch? Google’s Recipe Cards Show Inconsistent Image Sizes
Recently, users have noticed that Google Search is showing recipe result cards with varying image dimensions which disrupt the usual alignment and visual consistency. This irregularity appears predominantly on desktop browsers and after clicking the “show more” button in recipe searches.
Key Observations and User Reports
- The issue is mostly observed in searches related to specific recipes like “gravy recipes.”
- Images within the recipe cards vary in size, unlike the uniform cards users are accustomed to.
- Multiple users have posted screenshots and discussed the anomaly on social media platforms, suggesting it might be an unintended bug.
- The inconsistency is not consistently reproducible across all recipe searches, indicating a possible test or partial rollout by Google.
What This Means for Users and SEO
While this experiment (or bug) may impact the visual experience for desktop users, it likely has minimal immediate effect on SEO or recipe visibility. However, businesses and content creators should monitor any changes in how recipe results are displayed, as Google’s UI tests can precede broader updates.
