The invention provides a door opening mechanism for a domestic appliance, for example a microwave door. The domestic appliance includes a housing, a front door, and a resilient member for urging the door open. The mechanism is adapted to be located within the housing and includes a retention mechanism which is engagable with the door and is movable between a first configuration where there door is retained in a closed position and a second configuration where the door is in a non-retained, open, position. The door also includes a cam with a plurality of cam surfaces. The door includes a door key with an inclined portion engagable with an edge of a sloping section of a hollow slot in the door molding, arranged such that a user is able to manually over-ride the opening mechanism and open the door by means of pulling.