Brits have seemingly fallen out of love with cooking – with more than one in four reluctant, or simply too lazy, to try out any new recipes in the kitchen. A poll of 2,000 adults found that three in five (60 per cent) only cook out of necessity, with 29 per cent of unadventurous Brits cooking the same dishes on rotation.
And seven in ten put off trying new recipes, in fear of it going wrong. The classic Sunday roast is the most common dish being made at home, alongside spaghetti bolognese, Shepherd’s pie, and stir fry.
The study was commissioned by vegetable brand Tenderstem, to launch its “Suppertime Sonnets”, in partnership with farmer and former JLS singer JB Gill. He is seen performing in a field, reciting classic recipes in the style of Shakespearean sonnets, in a bid to get Brits more creative when cooking.
JB Gill said: “I’ve learnt so much since entering the farming industry, and I’m continuing to learn. One thing that’s stuck with me is the time and care farmers put into the land, and how important producers and growers are. I think it’s time we brought a bit of that excitement and love back into the cooking process once it leaves the farm.”
The study also found 45 per cent cook the same recipes “all the time”, due to them being dishes they’ve grown up with. But one in three (32 per cent) believe they can find healthier food options which require little or no preparation.
And half of adults commonly buy ready meals to avoid the stress of cooking fresh meals at home. But despite this, the OnePoll data found over half (54 per cent) feel that preparing food is an ideal way to express themselves creatively.
When it comes to the perfect setting to cook, 38 per cent enjoy listening to music in the background, while 24 per cent like chatting with others at the same time. Watching MasterChef or The Great British Bake Off, viewing classes on YouTube or TikTok, and updating old family recipes, are among the sources Brits turn to for cooking inspiration.
David Samuels, spokesman for Tenderstem, said: “While there’s been a rise of cooking from scratch in the last three years as a result of spending more time at home, we know households tend to recycle the same old recipes week in, week out. We wanted to go one step further, though, and inject some real passion into the kitchen – we give you Suppertime Sonnets.
“There are many ways to get creative while making food, and our sonnet-ised recipes should allow your inspiration to take the lead in creating the perfect meal.”
TOP 20 COOKING INSPIRATIONS:
- Watching TV cooking shows
- Buying cookbooks
- Watching cooking classes on YouTube
- Receiving family recipes passed down by generation
- Watching Instagram Reels
- Watching TikTok videos
- From word of mouth
- Watching or trying what friends or family have cooked
- Walking around the supermarket
- Visiting restaurants
- Whatever I want at that time
- Visiting international destinations
- Reading online cooking blogs
- Reading lifestyle magazines
- Watching TV adverts
- Listening to the radio
- Listening to a cooking podcast
- Ordering from subscription boxes i.e. HelloFresh, Ocado
- Listening to music
- Reading about celebrity diets/tips
