diff --git a/api/index.php b/api/index.php
index 7326559..254c1bb 100644
--- a/api/index.php
+++ b/api/index.php
@@ -5152,7 +5152,8 @@ REGOLE:
 5. "name": usa ESATTAMENTE il nome dalla lista (il sistema lo usa per scalare l'inventario).
 6. Includi nella lista ingredienti TUTTI quelli citati nei passi (tranne acqua/sale/pepe/olio).
 7. Language rule: {$recipeLangName} only for all textual fields (`title`, `tags`, `expiry_note`, `ingredients.qty`, `steps`, `nutrition_note`, `tools_needed`). Keep `meal` unchanged.
-8. `tools_needed`: array of kitchen tools/appliances actually required by this recipe (e.g. ["Forno","Frullatore"]). Use the same language as all other text fields. Empty array [] if only stovetop/knife/pan needed.
+8. `tools_needed`: array of kitchen tools/appliances actually required by this recipe (e.g. ["Forno","Frullateur"]). Use the same language as all other text fields. Empty array [] if only stovetop/knife/pan needed.
+9. `steps`: array of PLAIN TEXT STRINGS only — no objects, no JSON, no sub-fields. Each step is a single readable string. If appliances are used, include the appliance/mode information directly in the step text (e.g. "Nel Cookeo, modalità Rosolare: aggiungere la cipolla…"). NEVER output steps as objects like {"instruction":…, "appliance_function":…}.
 
 DISPENSA:
 $ingredientsText
@@ -6099,6 +6100,7 @@ REGOLE:
 7. Language rule: {$recipeLangName} only for all textual fields (`title`, `tags`, `expiry_note`, `ingredients.qty`, `steps`, `nutrition_note`, `tools_needed`). Keep `meal` unchanged.
 8. `tools_needed`: array of kitchen tools/appliances actually required by this recipe (e.g. ["Forno","Frullatore"]). Use the same language as all other text fields. Empty array [] if only stovetop/knife/pan needed.
 9. `zero_waste_tips`: array of zero-waste tips for steps that generate reusable scraps (peels, leftover cooking water, egg whites, cheese rinds, bread crusts, vegetable tops, etc.). Each entry: {"step": 0-based_step_index, "scrap": "scrap name", "tip": "short practical reuse tip (max 20 words)"}. Use the same language as other text fields. Empty array [] if no reusable scraps are generated.
+10. `steps`: array of PLAIN TEXT STRINGS only — no objects, no JSON, no sub-fields. Each step is a single readable string. If appliances are used, include the appliance/mode information directly in the step text (e.g. "Nel Cookeo, modalità Rosolare: aggiungere la cipolla…"). NEVER output steps as objects like {"instruction":…, "appliance_function":…}.
 
 DISPENSA:
 $ingredientsText
diff --git a/assets/css/style.css b/assets/css/style.css
index 3d2880d..d953de5 100644
--- a/assets/css/style.css
+++ b/assets/css/style.css
@@ -4276,6 +4276,19 @@ body.server-offline .bottom-nav {
     color: #3730a3;
     white-space: nowrap;
 }
+/* Appliance/mode badge shown inline next to a step text */
+.recipe-step-appliance {
+    display: inline-block;
+    margin-left: 6px;
+    background: #f0fdf4;
+    border: 1px solid #bbf7d0;
+    border-radius: 12px;
+    padding: 1px 8px;
+    font-size: 0.72rem;
+    color: #15803d;
+    vertical-align: middle;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+}
 
 /* Recipe ingredient use buttons */
 .recipe-ingredients {
@@ -7653,6 +7666,7 @@ body.cooking-mode-active .app-header {
 [data-theme="dark"] .recipe-expiry-note  { background: #2a1e00; color: #fde68a; }
 [data-theme="dark"] .recipe-tools-banner { background: #1a1040; border-color: #3730a3; color: #c4b5fd; }
 [data-theme="dark"] .recipe-tool-chip    { background: #2e1a4a; color: #c4b5fd; }
+[data-theme="dark"] .recipe-step-appliance { background: #052e16; border-color: #166534; color: #4ade80; }
 [data-theme="dark"] .recipe-subtype-chip { background: #1c1300; border-color: #78350f; color: var(--text); }
 [data-theme="dark"] .recipe-subtype-chip:has(input:checked) { background: #2a1e00; border-color: #d97706; }
 
diff --git a/assets/js/app.js b/assets/js/app.js
index 2f3fd57..160de47 100644
--- a/assets/js/app.js
+++ b/assets/js/app.js
@@ -13273,7 +13273,8 @@ function renderRecipe(r) {
     // Steps
     html += `<h3>${t('recipes.steps_title')}</h3><ol>`;
     (r.steps || []).forEach(step => {
-        html += `<li>${_stepStr(step)}</li>`;
+        const appliance = _stepAppliance(step);
+        html += `<li>${_stepStr(step)}${appliance ? ` <span class="recipe-step-appliance">${appliance}</span>` : ''}</li>`;
     });
     html += '</ol>';
 
@@ -13291,9 +13292,29 @@ let _cookingStep = 0;
 let _cookingTTS = true;
 let _cookingVisited = new Set(); // indices of steps already seen
 
-// Safely extract step text regardless of whether it's a string or an object
-// (Gemini sometimes returns [{text:"..."}, ...] instead of ["...", ...])
-const _stepStr = s => String((s !== null && typeof s === 'object') ? (s.text ?? s.description ?? s.step ?? '') : (s ?? '')).replace(/^Passo\s*\d+\s*[:.]\s*/i, '');
+// Safely extract step text regardless of whether it's a string or an object.
+// Also handles JSON-encoded step objects emitted by older AI generations
+// (e.g. {"instruction":"…","appliance_function":"…"}).
+const _stepStr = s => {
+    if (typeof s === 'string' && s.trimStart().startsWith('{')) {
+        try { s = JSON.parse(s); } catch(e) {}
+    }
+    const text = (s !== null && typeof s === 'object')
+        ? (s.instruction ?? s.text ?? s.description ?? s.step ?? '')
+        : (s ?? '');
+    return String(text).replace(/^Passo\s*\d+\s*[:.]\s*/i, '').replace(/^Step\s*\d+\s*[:.]\s*/i, '');
+};
+// Returns the appliance/function hint for a step, or null if absent/Nessuno.
+const _stepAppliance = s => {
+    if (typeof s === 'string' && s.trimStart().startsWith('{')) {
+        try { s = JSON.parse(s); } catch(e) {}
+    }
+    if (s !== null && typeof s === 'object' && s.appliance_function) {
+        const a = s.appliance_function.trim();
+        if (a && a.toLowerCase() !== 'nessuno' && a.toLowerCase() !== 'none') return a;
+    }
+    return null;
+};
 
 let _cookingWheelBound = false;
 let _cookingWheelTouchStartY = null;