Over 1/2 of American Home Cooks Say They're As Good As The Pros

Famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Julia Child are considered by many to be the gods and goddesses of the kitchen, whipping up delicious gourmet meals and showing America how to turn weeknight dinners into five-star meals. However, a recent study shows that many American home cooks believe that they can hold their own with the best.

Some Americans view cooking as a chore and a necessity, but a survey by OnePoll and commissioned by Signature Kitchen Suite reveals that 77% of Americans say that cooking is one of their favorite activities. This subset of Americans  make an average of nine meals at home every week and enjoy every second of it.

Home Cooks or Professional Chefs?

Not only do these American home cooks love the time spent in their home kitchen, most of them also feel confident enough in their cooking abilities to match the cooking of professional celebrity chefs. Out of the 2,000 adult home cooks surveyed, 63% say that they could compete with professional chefs, and 2/3 of them even feel that they have all the cooking skills necessary to open a restaurant or catering business.

Out of this group, 62% also feel that they could run their own TV cooking show. However, when asked about how they'd do as contestants in a cooking competition TV show, only 5% felt confident in their ability to win.

Although most of these home cooks don't see themselves winning a TV cooking contest anytime soon, over half of them describe themselves as "professional home cooks." Whether they're making classic American cuisine like meatloaf or branching out with dishes like Moroccan chickpea and lentil soup, it seems that many Americans don't think you need to attend cooking school to be a pro in the kitchen.

The Positive Outcome of The Pandemic

Nick Ritchie, an executive chef at Signature Kitchen Suite feels that the pandemic is one reason for the high confidence of home cooks in America. "One positive outcome of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic is that it has bolstered Americans' confidence in the kitchen, with many rediscovering their joy of cooking like never before."

"Whether it's taking on a more complex recipe or learning an entirely new skillset or cooking technique like sous vide, the pandemic has caused even the most timid at-home cooks to tap into their "inner chef." It's not surprising that so many believe their culinary talents are on par with those of a professional chef."

These home cooks who have rediscovered their love of cooking use a variety of ways to learn, from looking up new recipes online to watching step-by-step tutorials to dusting off old cookbooks and magazines like Cook's Illustrated. About half of them also say that they learned many cooking tips from family members.

The survey also uncovered American home cooks' perspectives about cooking and what it takes to make a delicious meal. About a third feel that you should follow your recipe to a T and refrain from substitutions, while about half of those surveyed describe cooking as "improvised jazz," where you can switch up the ingredients as you feel.

Although some home cooks might stick to their tried-and-true cast iron pan or wok, 64% feel that the best way to make the perfect meal is by using high-tech equipment like Instant Pots, Air Fryers and Kitchen Aids.

From feeling proud of themselves for their culinary creations to receiving compliments from loved ones, these cooks named many upsides of cooking from home, which are balanced with the con of how tiring it can be to cook up a delicious meal. Do you feel that you can compete with the best of the best in your kitchen, or is it better to leave professional cooking to the pros?