One in three Brits have never cooked a Xmas dinner, says survey

Almost one in three adults (29%) in the UK admit they have never cooked a traditional Christmas dinner, according to a nationwide study.

A One Poll survey of 2,000 Brits, commissioned by cheese brand Port Salut, revealed whilst we may be a nation of cookery show lovers, one in four of us spend less than half an hour planning meals for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. That’s an average of six minutes each.

More than a third (34%) will cheat on Christmas Day by using ready-made stuffing, 12% will make their job easier by using frozen roast potatoes, 19% will use packet sauce, 37% will resort to instant gravy and 25% will cook frozen vegetables.

What’s more, 18% of Brits don’t cook their first Christmas dinner until after their 30th birthday, and 22% confess to lying about their culinary knowledge to impress dinner guests.

To round off the festive treats, almost one in five households (19%) indulge in a cheese board only at Christmas, voting it the most impressive end to a Christmas dinner party. Other foods eaten only at Christmas include mince pies, turkey, pigs in blankets, Brussels sprouts, parsnips and chestnuts.

Aude Romelly, brand manager at Port Salut, said: “The number of adults who have never attempted to cook Christmas dinner is certainly surprising but there are a number of social trends changing the way the family tradition is upheld. Brits cooking less from scratch or preferring to let someone else take the strain are both factors, along with the growing availability of ready-made meal ingredients.”