Americans spend more than 400 hours a year in the kitchen: poll

Grab your apron and get cooking because there’s little time to waste in the kitchen, a new poll has revealed.

OnePoll and Bosch Home Appliances surveyed 2,000 Americans about their families’ cooking habits.

They found that adults spend an average of 67 minutes per day in their kitchens — the equivalent of over 400 hours annually.

While most respondents said they alone were responsible for cooking breakfast (29%), lunch (21%) or dinner (23%), the rest usually worked alongside their partners to get food on the table for the family.

“Cooking in the heart of the home is often a sacred family activity,” said Cara Acker, Bosch Senior Brand Manager, in a statement for South West News Service. Acker noted that 56% of Americans said they’d like to see the grocery store less, “demonstrating the need” for highly functional kitchens.

Respondents were also asked which of their family members had the greatest impact on their relationship with the kitchen, and found that mom (58%) and dad (57%), followed by their siblings (51%) were a strong influence during their most in their formative years. Grandmothers (34%), cousins (32%) and grandfathers (31%) ranked highly as well.

However, many participants say they still struggle to make certain family recipes just “right,” mainly because, as 59% agreed, they don’t have the same kitchen tools and appliances that their forebears did.

Still, 56% of all respondents are proud to keep recipes from their own cultural heritage, and another 64% want to learn even more about foods and customs.

“There is an increased interest in connecting with our culture or somebody else’s,” Acker also said. “In fact, 62% of Americans say they are proud to know recipes from cultures other than their own.”

“The key to bringing longevity to these family recipes is appliances that offer precision and repeatability,” Acker insisted. “Nearly half (49%) of Americans agree that a precise cooktop is the most important feature in their household when preparing a family meal.”

Looking to save some time in the kitchen? Earlier this week, a woman on TikTok went viral for her “life-changing” method to quickly dice an onion.