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Good Food Channel via 72Point - One in six British women struggle to cook

www.72point.com

4 May 2011

One in six British women struggle to cook, a study revealed yesterday (Mon).

Researchers found millions of females now struggle to rustle up every day dishes, which their mums wouldn't have batted an eyelid at.

Many admit the man of the house is better at cooking than they are, while others are just too busy to find time to get to grips with a recipe book.

The report also found a handful cannot boil and egg and wouldn't feel confident cooking a basic fry up.

The statistics emerged in a study commissioned by the Good Food channel, to mark the start of its new TV series Perfect.

Yesterday, Good Food Deputy Editor Roopa Gulati (corr), said: ''The research shows how busy lifestyles and a lack of culinary know-how are impacting on the dishes we feel confident to cook.

''This study shows that everyone is increasingly pushed for time, and women in particular are finding it harder than ever to balance work and home lives.

''It's happening so much that many are resorting to quick fixes in the kitchen, rather than cooking from scratch.

''Our new programme demystifies a wide range of cuisines and showcases chefs' fool-proof secrets for keen kitchen novices and accomplished home cooks alike.''

The study quizzed 2,000 men and women and revealed the true extent of their culinary skills, or lack of.

It found that the typical female can cook just seven different meals from scratch - HALF as many as their mums regularly served up.

More than one in five struggle with a basic curry, one in six can't bake a cake and three in ten have 'no idea' how to make a meringue.

One in ten have never cooked a roast, 13% wouldn't know where to start with a fish pie and one in ten can't make lasagne. A further 6%, even shy away when tasked with making fairy cakes.

Worryingly, one in 20 fail to even boil an egg or comfortably prepare a cooked breakfast.

However, half admitted their mothers wouldn't have struggled fixing up any of these dishes.

The survey found one in six regularly get their husband to fix up weeknight dinners

More than a half admit their 'other half's a better cook' and one in ten are either too busy or working late to get home in time.

But for those who do venture into the kitchen, eight in ten admitted cooking the same meals over and again and only two per cent said they have picked up a recipe book and had a crack at something different.

Fussy kids, hectic lifestyles and keeping costs down were blamed for them being 'stuck in a rut'. While three in ten have no time to experiment.

The most common meal among the nation's women was lasagne, casserole, and shepherd's pie.

Shockingly, one in ten women can cook fewer than three meals without looking at a recipe book or asking for help.

However, 30 years ago four in ten women could easily whip up twenty or more meals off the top of their head.

In addition, when it comes to deciding what to have to eat, three in ten plan their meals in advance 'to make life easy' and fewer than two per cent look in a recipe book or online for inspiration.

One in five said they use whatever is left in the cupboard or fridge.