Image SEO

How to Optimize Recipe Images for Google Discover (Get More Traffic)

9 min read•January 8, 2024

Quick Win: Food bloggers report 30-50% of their traffic comes from Google Discover when images are properly optimized. This guide shows you exactly how to qualify for Discover's recipe feed.

What is Google Discover?

Google Discover is a personalized content feed that appears on mobile devices. For food bloggers, it's a massive traffic opportunity—recipes with optimized images can receive thousands of impressions daily without ranking in traditional search.

Image Dimension Requirements

Recommended Dimensions:

  • Minimum width: 1200 pixels
  • Optimal size: 1200x1600 pixels (portrait) or 1200x900 pixels (landscape)
  • Aspect ratio: 3:4 (portrait) or 4:3 (landscape) work best
  • File format: JPG or WebP (PNG works but larger file size)
  • File size: 100-200KB (compress without losing quality)

Pro tip: Google Discover heavily favors large, high-quality images. A 1200x1600 portrait image will get more impressions than a 1200x800 landscape image for recipe content.

Image Optimization Checklist

1. Use Original, High-Quality Photography

Google Discover prioritizes original content. Stock photos rarely appear in Discover feeds. Invest in good lighting and a decent camera (even a modern smartphone works).

2. Optimize File Names

Use descriptive, keyword-rich file names before uploading.

❌IMG_1234.jpg
✅chocolate-chip-cookies-recipe.jpg

3. Write Descriptive Alt Text

Alt text helps Google understand your image content. Be specific and natural.

❌"cookies"
✅"Stack of soft chocolate chip cookies with melted chocolate on a white plate"

4. Compress Images Without Quality Loss

Large image files slow down your site. Use these tools to compress:

  • TinyPNG.com (free, easy to use)
  • ShortPixel WordPress plugin (automated compression)
  • Squoosh.app (advanced control)

5. Enable Lazy Loading

Modern WordPress automatically lazy-loads images, but verify it's enabled. This improves Core Web Vitals scores, which Google Discover considers.

Schema Requirements for Discover

Your recipe images must be referenced in structured data. Google uses this to identify recipe content for Discover.

Example image property in Recipe schema:

"image": [
  "https://example.com/chocolate-chip-cookies-1200x1600.jpg"
],
"@type": "Recipe",
"name": "Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies"

Photography Tips for Recipe Images

  • 📸
    Natural Lighting: Shoot near a window with diffused light. Avoid harsh direct sunlight.
  • 🎨
    Simple Backgrounds: Use neutral backgrounds (white, wood, marble) that don't compete with the food.
  • 🍽️
    Styling: Add simple props like fresh herbs, utensils, or ingredients to add context.
  • 📐
    Angles: Overhead (flat lay) and 45-degree angles work best for food photography.
  • ✨
    Post-Processing: Lightly edit brightness, contrast, and saturation. Don't over-edit—keep it natural.

Monitoring Discover Performance

Track your Google Discover traffic in Google Search Console:

  1. Open Google Search Console
  2. Click "Performance" in the left sidebar
  3. Select the "Discover" tab at the top
  4. View impressions, clicks, and CTR for Discover traffic

What to Look For:

  • • High impressions, low clicks? Improve your images and titles
  • • No Discover traffic? Check that you meet image and schema requirements
  • • Sudden drops? Google Discover is volatile—don't panic over daily fluctuations

Optimize Your Recipe Schema

Generate complete recipe schema with proper image markup for Google Discover eligibility.

Create Schema Now