Reasons Why People Don’t Like to Cook (2024)

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Reasons Why People Don’t Like to Cook (1)


There are two types of people when it comes to cooking: those that absolutely love it and those that loathe it. You could be stuck in the middle but you still find yourself ordering take out on most days. For those that detest anything to do with the kitchen, there could be valid reasons why it is so. Here are some of the reasons why a lot of people don’t like to cook and what you can do about it.

You Suck at It

This could be the main reason why you don't like cooking. It is understandable if you’re not confident in your cooking abilities but that doesn’t mean there is nothing that you can't do about it. It should be noted that there is a difference between not liking to cook and not liking to suck at the process. You might be eager and willing to cook on a regular basis but your skills just won’t allow you to do so. The best approach would be to start by learning simple meals. There are hundreds of cooking channels on YouTube that you can follow. You can then proceed to the advanced recipes once you start gaining confidence.

Busy Schedules

This is one of the key reasons why a lot of people don’t cook. They have a lot of work and by the time they get home, it is too late and there is also the fatigue to deal with. It is a lot easier and convenient to order take out instead of trying to figure out where the ingredients are in the kitchen. You can decide to do the majority of the cooking over the weekend so that you have something to eat whenever you get home. All that will be required is to heat and you’re ready to go.

Not Able to Follow Directions

Even the simplest of directions can be hard to follow. Following directions is important if you’re to get it right. The good news is that technology has made things a lot easier. You can check out Instant Pot orange chicken at Corrie Cooks as an example of a simple recipe. There is not a lot that is required from your end other than following simple instructions. When it comes to cooking, there is very little room for error. A missing ingredient could result in something totally different from what is expected.

You Don’t Like Eating Alone

You might have grown up in a family setting where every dinner involved everyone coming together. It can be hard to break such a habit and eating on your own is not enjoyable at all. You might find it not worth the time to take an hour to prepare a meal only for you to end up eating alone.

You Hate Cleaning Up

You might like everything about cooking except for the cleaning up. You get exhausted by the thought of having to clean the pots which can take a lot of time. There is no magic solution for such a predicament because the dishes will have to be washed in one way or another. A hack that will come in handy is to wash everything once you’re done with the cooking. Don’t wait until you’ve eaten because you’re bound to get lazy.

You Try Complicated Recipes

You don’t have to try completed recipes just to prove you’re a good cook. Most of such recipes require time and special ingredients that you might not be having. You will be setting yourself up for failure when you decide to follow through without adequate preparation. Some of the best meals that you’ll ever eat will require less than five ingredients. There are so many simple recipes that you can try out. Make sure that the ingredients are not seasonal when trying out a new recipe.

Not Asking For Help

Asking for help doesn’t make you a bad cook. It shows that you’re willing to be assisted because you lack the basic skills. You can reach out to a friend that enjoys cooking and express your interest in learning the craft. Letting others guide you is not a sign of weakness.

To Conclude

Cooking doesn’t have to suck. You just have to get rid of the prejudice if you’re to enjoy the process. Once you start enjoying it, you’ll create time for cooking even if you’re the busiest person. You just have to take the first step and everything else will come naturally with time. It doesn’t have to be complicated.

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Reasons Why People Don’t Like to Cook (2024)

FAQs

Reasons Why People Don’t Like to Cook? ›

People dislike cooking for various reasons. One reason is the loss of basic domestic skills and knowledge of ingredients and cooking methods, which makes healthy home cooking less likely . Affordability, lack of time, and lack of enjoyment are also key barriers to cooking .

Why do most people not like cooking? ›

People dislike cooking for various reasons. One reason is the loss of basic domestic skills and knowledge of ingredients and cooking methods, which makes healthy home cooking less likely . Affordability, lack of time, and lack of enjoyment are also key barriers to cooking .

Why would someone not cook? ›

People do not cook for several reasons. One reason is the loss of cooking skills and knowledge of ingredients, which makes healthy home cooking less likely. Time pressures, the desire to save money, and the burden of pleasing others also make it difficult for individuals, especially mothers, to cook at home.

What percentage of people hate cooking? ›

90% of Americans don't like to cook — and it's costing them thousands each year. For some Americans, going out to dinner is a treat, planned and budgeted for.

Why do people eat out instead of cooking? ›

One of the most common reasons is convenience. With busy work schedules and other responsibilities, many people don't have the time or energy to prepare meals at home. Dining out allows them to avoid the time and effort that goes into meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking.

Why is cooking so stressful for me? ›

The pressure to follow recipes precisely and create flawless dishes can increase stress levels and create anxiety around making mistakes.” Chefs know and validate the struggle. “I have found that the real stress of a professional kitchen lies in oneself,” says Kevin Hoffmann, executive chef at Vinyl Steakhouse.

What is the fear of cooking called? ›

Mageirocophobia is an extreme fear of cooking. Many people with this condition worry about the results of their cooking. They fear cooking mistakes that could be embarrassing or harm someone else. You might go out of your way to avoid cooking or the thought of it. This approach can worsen the fear's grip on your life.

Why don't people cook anymore? ›

“[There was] a lot of pressure from the food industry saying, 'You're too busy to cook, here's all this convenience. '” Now, there's even more convenience with delivery apps like Uber Eats, Foodora and Skip the Dishes.

What causes fear of cooking? ›

Most frequently, it is a common social anxiety disorder caused by negative reactions to common culinary mishaps, post-traumatic stress episodes from cooking or the fear of others' cooking for the phobic person that either prevents them from eating, eating only pre-prepared foods and snacks, or causes them to eat food ...

What if I don't like cooking? ›

If you don't feel like cooking, or can't face the kitchen, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on healthy, nutritious food. You can still get a healthy balanced diet from pre-made and packaged food if you read the food labels.

Why do Americans not cook at home? ›

Over half of consumers said meal planning was their greatest challenge in creating home-cooked meals. One solution grocers can provide is a helpful digital or in-store meal-planning tool. Supplying quick, organized, and nutritious recipes, along with their needed ingredients, is one way to make shopping a breeze.

What is the most common disliked food? ›

The most hated food title goes to the anchovy, with 50% of those polled saying they hated the fish. Of that number, 58% of anchovy haters were women and 43% were men. With Halloween coming up, it might be prudent to stock up on any candy other than black licorice.

How do you survive when you hate cooking? ›

  1. Stock Up on Easy Breakfast Foods. Start the day right with a healthy breakfast. ...
  2. Easy Lunch and Dinner with Protein and Carbs. ...
  3. Buy Ready to Eat and Frozen Vegetables. ...
  4. Stock Up on Health Snacks. ...
  5. Use Spice Blends. ...
  6. Cook Once and Eat Twice. ...
  7. Keep Convenience Foods on Hand. ...
  8. Outsource the Grocery Shopping.
Aug 10, 2022

Why do I not enjoy cooking? ›

For some people, cooking does not come naturally. Rather than it being a relaxing activity, cooking is stressful and tedious. These individuals also tend to second guess themselves, which also makes the process more stressful.

Why do I refuse to eat leftovers? ›

The monotony of eating the same food every day plays a big role in one's approach to leftovers, and it's not something that can be easily proven by science. “We seem to be 'wired' to want variety in our diets,” Wenzel said, “[which] may be important for ensuring we consume a balanced diet.”

Why don't I want to eat what I cooked? ›

Growing tired of the same flavours is a possible reason for a decreased appetite after cooking. Perhaps you could incorporate different flavour profiles into your dishes. Experiment with oils and spices to impart different flavours.

What percentage of people enjoy cooking? ›

Globally, 58% enjoyed cooking, with a stark gender difference: 76% of women enjoyed it, contrasting with only 40% of men.

Why is cooking hard ADHD? ›

Cooking with an ADHD brain can be extremely challenging due to the intense executive functioning demands involved, causing frustration, stress, and, ultimately, burnout. Understanding what about cooking makes it so hard allows us to develop brain-based strategies to ease the struggle.

Why do I have an aversion to cooking? ›

People who have this fear are generally afraid of contamination, spoilage and/or undercooking. This fear may be more common in those who do not fully understand the reasoning behind many “food rules,” as well as those who spend a lot of time reading about foodborne illnesses.

Is it okay to hate cooking? ›

A love-hate relationship with cooking is a normal thing, healthy even. Spend all your time cooking and eating for pleasure and you'll end up like the gout-ridden gourmets of French caricature.

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