Over-65s are calmest in the kitchen - while middle-aged cooks are most flustered

21 February 2023 , 15:37

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Overcooking or undercooking parts of the meal are among the top kitchen calamities Brits face (Image: Monkey Business Images/Getty Images)

Nearly half of Brits (49%) have found themselves facing a kitchen calamity at dinner time, according to a survey – including not having enough time to cook a recipe (18%), or missing key ingredients (22%).

A poll of 2,000 adults found that those aged 35-44 are most likely to get in a flap in the kitchen (46%) – while those under 34 commonly admit defeat and order a takeaway after ruining a meal.

More than a quarter (27%) admitted that some of the top kitchen nightmares – such as overcooking or undercooking parts of the meal, or misreading a recipe – are simply down to a lack of energy or enthusiasm to cook.

But it seems these disasters get easier with age – as more than half (55%) of over-65-year-olds claim they have never messed up a meal on their watch, with just 18% of this age group ever finding themselves in a muddle in the kitchen.

Finding out-of-date ingredients when preparing a recipe also appears on the kitchen nightmares list (SWNS)

A spokesman for Tesco which commissioned the research to mark the expansion of its express delivery service, Whoosh, to deliver food within 60 minutes, said: “Whether it’s a special date night or a cosy evening in front of the telly, mealtime moments are an important part of our day.

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“Though kitchen calamities can be dramatic, the research reveals that most mishaps are down to us simply not having what we need, when we need it – whether that’s a vital ingredient for a recipe, or a quick meal option when time, energy, and enthusiasm are lacking.”

The research also revealed some of the kitchen calamities experienced by respondents, including propelling pancakes onto the ceiling which don’t make it back to the pan, and cooking everything for a Sunday roast – except the chicken.

Another confessed to over-spicing a dish to the point it was too hot for guests to handle.

Most kitchen mishaps tend to happen when people are preparing their midweek dish (22%), cooking the Sunday roast (15%), or when there are large gatherings of family and friends around (10%).

As a result, 44% would like to get the food they need for their meal delivered to them quickly as and when they need it, according to the study via OnePoll.

MOST COMMON CALAMITIES BRITS FACE IN THE KITCHEN:

1. Lack of energy or enthusiasm to cook
2. Missing ingredients
3. Not allowing enough time to prepare and cook
4. Overcooking elements
5. Spillages
6. Not having suitable food in, and no time or energy to go out and buy more
7. Finding a recipe too complicated
8. Trying to substitute an ingredient that doesn't quite work out
9. Reaching for something only to find it's out of date or has gone off
10. Accidentally adding too much seasoning or spice
11. Presentation skills
12. Not having the right equipment
13. Misreading a recipe
14. Kids getting in the way when you're trying to concentrate
15. Too many people talking to you when you're cooking
16. Undercooking elements
17. Not having suitable ingredients, items, or alternatives for guests' dietary requirements or preferences
18. Trying to adapt a dish for different dietary requirements that doesn't turn out the same
19. Ruining ingredients or elements during the preparation because of an accident (i.e. dropped eggs)
20. Setting the wrong time on the timer, or not setting a timer at all

Andrew Young