First, the good news. According to a recent survey, the British can cook. Now the bad news. According to the same survey, a quarter of them have only three “recipes” in their repertoire. Of these, the most popular is sausage and mash, followed by beans on toast and spaghetti bolognese; a boiled egg and soldiers, in case you’re wondering, is at number four, while shepherd’s pie is way down at number 12.
The main problem seems to be an absence of basic skills. Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 73% have perfect faith in their ability to chop an onion, but only half feel they could competently cook a steak, and even fewer know how to butterfly a chicken. Seven out of 10 people admitted they cheat, relying on pre-crushed garlic and ready-cooked rice in the rush to get dinner on the table.
