OnePoll, on behalf of Jennie-O Turkey Store, conducted a survey to get a sense of how Americans feel about cooking at home, and the results from more than 2,000 respondents revealed that half of them (47 percent) cook at home an average of three to four days a week, with nearly 30 percent saying they “cook much more frequently in the last couple of years.”
In terms of what kinds of dishes people make at home, most said they focus either on simple, fresh meals (protein, veggie, starch) or semi-homemade meals using boxed or canned elements (tied at 52 percent), semi-homemade meals from deli products (49 percent), or meals made from scratch (48 percent).
What about keeping it exciting? Where do people find inspiration? Fifty percent of respondents add an unexpected or unusual ingredient to their recipes, 42 percent add new spices to the mix, and 41 percent incorporate fruits or veggies in subtle ways.
As for where people get the recipes themselves, it’s usually from friends and family (37 percent), making it up as they cook while using Google (35 percent), or YouTube (31 percent).
However, 37 percent said they feel burnt out from cooking. The top three reasons are cooking the same types of food, eating the same types of food, and the time spent cooking.
#9 Sweet Potato I Got Halfway Through Eating Before I Looked Down
This burnout might explain why we’re sometimes so prone to error. Another survey of 2,000 adults conducted by OnePoll found that although seven in ten respondents confidently considered themselves “natural-born cooks” (71%), 83 percent of those who mess up “easy” dishes admit it makes them feel like failed chefs.
#10 Strawberry Flavored Jello Mixed With Coffee That Resulted In It Looking Like Raw Meat
#13 I Thought This Looked Good While I Posted It Then I Realized It Does Not
The hardest "easy" meal to make, according to the survey, are pancakes — with 38 percent saying they struggle making a good batch of flapjacks.
Meanwhile, a third of respondents struggle to make simple dishes like eggs (36%), pasta (35%), mashed potatoes (30%), or sweet potatoes (30%).
#15 Would You Accept This Hamburger At A Resturant? Waitress Told Me I Should Have Told Her Beforehand To Get It Well Done
As mentioned before, messing up a dish can be extremely discouraging, and half of respondents have messed up an "easy" recipe so often that they feel like they'll never be able to master it.
Nearly three in five even feel embarrassed about not cooking certain foods the right way (59%).
#20 The Way My Roommate Cooks... Would You Like Some Vegetables With Your Butter?
