diff --git a/mealie/services/scraper/cleaner.py b/mealie/services/scraper/cleaner.py
index e0eee3ce4..5d26eace5 100644
--- a/mealie/services/scraper/cleaner.py
+++ b/mealie/services/scraper/cleaner.py
@@ -220,11 +220,14 @@ def clean_instructions(steps_object: list | dict | str, default: list | None = N
             #    },
             # }
             #
+            # Some sites (e.g. NYT Cooking) emit empty HowToSection placeholders
+            # with no itemListElement key, or use "item" per the schema.org spec.
+            # Use .get() with both fallbacks so those sections are skipped gracefully.
             steps_object = typing.cast(list[dict[str, str]], steps_object)
             return clean_instructions(
                 functools.reduce(
                     operator.concat,  # type: ignore
-                    [x["itemListElement"] for x in steps_object],
+                    [x.get("itemListElement", x.get("item", [])) for x in steps_object],
                     [],
                 )
             )
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/services_tests/scraper_tests/test_cleaner_parts.py b/tests/unit_tests/services_tests/scraper_tests/test_cleaner_parts.py
index c984bc173..e611f1329 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/services_tests/scraper_tests/test_cleaner_parts.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/services_tests/scraper_tests/test_cleaner_parts.py
@@ -224,6 +224,55 @@ instruction_test_cases = (
         ],
         expected=None,
     ),
+    CleanerCase(
+        test_id="how to steps with empty section (e.g. NYT Cooking)",
+        input=[
+            {
+                "@type": "HowToSection",
+            },
+            {
+                "@type": "HowToSection",
+                "itemListElement": [
+                    {
+                        "@type": "HowToStep",
+                        "text": "Instruction A",
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "@type": "HowToStep",
+                        "text": "Instruction B",
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "@type": "HowToStep",
+                        "text": "Instruction C",
+                    },
+                ],
+            },
+        ],
+        expected=None,
+    ),
+    CleanerCase(
+        test_id="how to steps using 'item' key (schema.org alternate)",
+        input=[
+            {
+                "@type": "HowToSection",
+                "item": [
+                    {
+                        "@type": "HowToStep",
+                        "text": "Instruction A",
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "@type": "HowToStep",
+                        "text": "Instruction B",
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "@type": "HowToStep",
+                        "text": "Instruction C",
+                    },
+                ],
+            },
+        ],
+        expected=None,
+    ),
     CleanerCase(
         test_id="excessive whitespace str (1)",
         input="Instruction A\n\nInstruction B\n\nInstruction C\n\n",