• 32% of British adults say they would only be able to cook a handful of meals without consulting a recipe
• These meals would only feed a person for one or two days
• A further 4% of Brits – over 2.7 million residents – say that would be unable to cook any meals from memory
A third of British adults – over 21 million residents – say that they would only be able to cook a handful of meals (between 1-6) from memory and without consulting a recipe, a recent study shows.
Analysing data drawn from YouGov, online kitchen equipment retailer Maxima Kitchen Equipment identified that a further 4% of the population – Around 2.7 million UK residents – say that would be unable to cook any meals from memory.
Adults aged 18-24 show the weakest culinary prowess, with a combined 50% of young adults claiming that they would only be able to make 1-6 meals from memory. Assuming an individual eats three meals per day of cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners, this would equate to just 1-2 days of meals.
Though figures start to improve among older generations, a combined 35% of adults aged 25-49 are in the same position of only being able to prepare one or two days’ worth of meals from memory.
It was also revealed that men are far less confident in their culinary skills, with only 35% of men able to cook more than 10 meals a day from memory, while a little over half of the UK’s female population able to stake the same claim.
The strongest group of cooks are those aged 50-65, of which 56% claim to be able to cook a variety of meals from memory.
How many meals could you comfortably prepare without consulting a recipe? (UK)
| All | Male | Female | 18-24 | 25-49 | 50-65 | 65+ | |
| None | 4% | 6% | 2% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 3% |
| Around 1-3 | 14% | 17% | 10% | 27% | 15% | 9% | 10% |
| Around 4-6 | 18% | 19% | 17% | 23% | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Around 7-9 | 13% | 13% | 14% | 11% | 14% | 12% | 15% |
| More than 10 | 43% | 35% | 51% | 23% | 36% | 56% | 52% |
Analysing further data, Maxima Kitchen Equipment found that Brits hold a slight edge over our American cousins when it comes to feeding ourselves, our friends and our families.
A combined 67% of young Americans aged 18-24 feel that they would only be able to create a handful of meals without consulting a recipe.
Over 19 million American adults – a total of 6% of the population – claim that they would be unable to prepare any meals from memory.
How many meals could you comfortably prepare without consulting a recipe? (USA)
| All | Male | Female | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55+ | |
| None | 6% | 8% | 5% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 7% | 5% |
| Around 1-3 | 19% | 22% | 16% | 36% | 27% | 21% | 11% | 12% |
| Around 4-6 | 21% | 24% | 18% | 31% | 28% | 20% | 18% | 15% |
| Around 7-9 | 10% | 10% | 31% | 6% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 9% |
| More than 10 | 39% | 31% | 46% | 14% | 22% | 36% | 47% | 54% |
The research was carried out by Maxima Kitchen Equipment, which has more than 40 years of experience in the supply and maintenance of professional kitchen equipment.
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