More Than Half of Americans Struggle to Cook Basic Recipes - Delish Knowledge (2024)

By Alexandra Caspero on April 28, 2023

While seven out of ten people claim to be naturally gifted in the kitchen, 56% of people surveyed in a recent poll say they struggle with even the most basic recipes. These self-proclaimed ‘failed chefs’ are embarrassed and frustrated by their futile efforts to cook even things like eggs and pancakes.

If your inability to cook a simple pasta recipe makes you want to throw out your pans, you’re not alone. Half of the respondents have flubbed an “easy” recipe so many times they’ve given up hope of ever getting it right. Messing up a dish can be extremely discouraging, as half of those polled have messed up an “easy” recipe so often they feel like they’ll never be able to master it. On average, people will attempt to make a dish 4 times before giving up completely.

Don’t throw in your kitchen towel yet; that same survey of 2,000 Americans found that 63% of respondents would appreciate some help in the kitchen, especially from their spouse (27%). Divvying up meal-prep (and cleaning) duties among the family can help make the cooking feel like less of a chore.

this Recipe

How to be a better cook

Cooking, like any other skill, requires both practice and experience. Enjoying food is not the same as knowing how to cook, though having an appreciation of what food should taste like can help. Having the confidence to know when to add more salt, when your soup would benefit from a splash of acid, or the best way to cook asparagus can only come from getting into the kitchen.

If standing over a hot stove feels intimidating, you might be putting too much pressure on yourself to create an iron-chef-worthy meal. Cheats and hacks are welcome; 74% of respondents are constantly looking for time-saving hacks and shortcuts in the kitchen. Additionally, 75% said they would consider purchasing pre-made items to help them cook more efficiently.

For newbie chefs, semi-homemade meals can offer the best of both worlds. Combining ready-made foods with prepared items can streamline efficiency in the kitchen and reduce the chance of failure. Consider baked frozen tacos with homemade mango salsa, boxed mac and cheese with added white beans and broccoli, or frozen vegetables and canned beans to beef up your favorite stew.

Health Benefits of Home-Cooked Meals

Healthy meals don’t have to be synonymous with complicated. The health benefits of a home-cooked meal outweigh almost any other method of eating, no matter the recipe. Karen Kelly, health coach at Seasonal Cravings, advises clients to cook more at home to help control the ingredients used. “Restaurants often use more salt, sugar, and fat than you would get if you prepare simple meals from scratch. It is also easier to control portion size when cooking at home.”

This is especially true for those looking to eat healthier or with a goal of weight loss. A 2014 study from Johns Hopkins found that frequent home cooks consumed fewer calories, sugar, and refined carbohydrates than those who cooked only once a week. Even healthy-sounding dishes, like the 1000+ calorie Honey Glazed Salmon Salad from Ruby Tuesday, pack in more fat and sodium than if you’d make the meal yourself.

Cooking adds pleasure

There is another reason to continue to cook. Cooking can reduce stress and boost creativity. Getting into the kitchen more builds confidence, and learning to cook can bring a sense of accomplishment. Kelly says, “there is something magical about preparing your own food from nutritious ingredients. It can even be a stress-relieving experience for the whole family.”

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Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Chef, and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.

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    More Than Half of Americans Struggle to Cook Basic Recipes - Delish Knowledge (2024)

    FAQs

    More Than Half of Americans Struggle to Cook Basic Recipes - Delish Knowledge? ›

    While seven out of ten people claim to be naturally gifted in the kitchen, 56% of people surveyed in a recent poll say they struggle with even the most basic recipes. These self-proclaimed 'failed chefs' are embarrassed and frustrated by their futile efforts to cook even things like eggs and pancakes.

    What percentage of Americans cook their meals? ›

    Survey Reveals 81% of Consumers Cook More Than Half of Meals at Home. The National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association reported its findings on Americans' changing grocery-shopping habits in its latest “Eating at Home” industry report. HARRISBURG, Pa.

    How many Gen Z know how to cook? ›

    When asked to rate their confidence in the kitchen, only 33% of Gen Z consider themselves skilled cooks, compared to 47% of Millennials.

    How many Americans don't have time to cook? ›

    As for why snacks are integral to no-prep meals, the index found 51% of Americans “yearn” for a specific snack and 44% of Americans are too busy to cook.

    Why do people struggle with cooking? ›

    The lights, the noises, the random people, are all stressors. Tastes and smells when cooking may make it enormously challenging. Plus there is the mess of cleaning up afterwards, the issue of food waste, and stress over who does the labour if there is more than one of you.

    How many people struggle to cook? ›

    While seven out of ten people claim to be naturally gifted in the kitchen, 56% of people surveyed in a recent poll say they struggle with even the most basic recipes.

    What percentage of Americans meal prep? ›

    Cooking behaviors

    In 2022, 44% of Americans say they meal prep regularly.

    What generation cooks the most? ›

    Nearly 90 percent of North American Millennials cooked meals at home in 2022, according to a recent survey. In contrast, only 73 percent of Gen Z cooked their own meals. Other cooking activities were also more popular among Millennials.

    How can you tell the difference between Gen Z and Millennials? ›

    Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996 while members of the Gen Z years Gen Z years were born between 1997 and 2012. Millennials expect faster customer service. Gen Z tends to be better at accepting delayed gratification than millennials.

    How can you tell if someone is Gen Z? ›

    Generation Z is the name given to the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012. It's commonly referred to as "Gen Z," for short. This generation comes after Millennials and before Generation Alpha.

    Which country cooks the least? ›

    The lowest was South Korea, with an average of 3.7 hours each week. The U.S. fell somewhere in the middle with 5.9 hours. In terms of experience, Americans ranked among the top countries with 35% of respondents saying they possess great knowledge about food and cooking (versus the global average of 29%).

    Why don't people cook anymore? ›

    The current wave: meals that cook themselves

    In less than 60 seconds cooking time your meal is ready. There's no need to shop, prep, cook, or clean. This is certainly convenient, but it also shows that many now see cooking as an unwanted burden that steals time from other things they'd rather be doing.

    What country cooks the most? ›

    Can You Guess Which Country Does the Most Home Cooking?
    • India: 13.2 hours.
    • Ukraine: 13.1 hours.
    • South Africa: 9.5 hours.
    • Indonesia: 8.3 hours.
    • Italy: 7.1 hours.
    • Spain: 6.8 hours.
    • Russia: 6.5 hours.
    • Canada: 6.4 hours.
    Apr 7, 2015

    Do chefs have ADHD? ›

    My ADHD passion is to always create something unique. My ADHD makes me a pretty good cook. Reading about and watching famous chefs and cooks on TV, both Jamie Oliver snd Heston Blumenthal are ADHD too. It's pretty clear that for many cooks and chefs, ADHD is part of their cooking success.

    Do people with ADHD struggle with cooking? ›

    Meal planning and cooking can be a challenge for people affected by ADHD. Preparation, time management, decision-making, and following multiple steps are all skills involved in creating any meal. Frustrated, many people with ADHD decide to eat out or order in rather than cook for themselves.

    What is the average cost of a homemade meal? ›

    Facts & Findings. Americans save around $12 by opting to cook and eat at home, with the average home meal costing $4.23 versus over $16 per meal at an inexpensive restaurant.

    Do most people cook or eat out? ›

    With more people choosing to eat out than cook at home, the restaurant industry is thriving. But with a move to cafes and restaurants, the industry will have to continue to adapt and stay on its toes.

    How many Americans bake at home? ›

    The report estimated that 31% of people baked at least once a week and 24% of people baked one or twice a month in 2022. The increase in home baking followed a year of declining sales for baking products such as frozen pizzas, dairy milk and flour, Packaged Facts said.

    What percentage of Americans dine out? ›

    According to a recent survey: 56 percent (of Americans) say they dine at a restaurant, get take out or have a meal delivered 2 to 3 times a week. Fully 10 percent said they eat out 4 to 6 times a week, and 6 percent said they eat out everyday.

    What percentage of Americans are without food? ›

    Overall: One in 8 households (12.8 percent) experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet. An estimated 44.2 million Americans lived in these households.

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