How many people would you say LOVE cooking? Now, adjust the number to remove chefs, and adjust it again to cut out people who CLAIM they love to cook, but never actually do, because they’re “too busy.”
According to a recent report, 82% of people say they “enjoy cooking.” And 55% feel like cooking is a positive thing for their well-being. (That seems high, but the poll was global and wasn’t just lazy Americans.)
The average person cooks about FIVE times per week, and it’s not always GOURMET. Only about 33% say they feel “confident” in their cooking ability. 8% worry about being judged when cooking for guests. And 12% of us think our friends are better cooks than we are.
Only 25% of people want to try new foods more often, while 40% of us enjoy eating foods that are nostalgic, or tied to their childhoods. About 20% admit they just cycle through the same 10 or fewer dinner meals. And 40% say they eat the same or a similar breakfast every day.
So are we busy, lazy, or uninspired? Well, a few of us are still picky. 18% say they were “picky” as kids, and 13% admit they’re picky NOW.
(IKEA Cooking & Eating Report 2026)
