A survey of 2,000 adults found that 53% of Brits admit there are dishes they would love to cook but are too intimidated to attempt. The research, commissioned by home appliance brand Siemens, revealed that soufflé and lobster tie for the top spot as the most feared meals, closely followed by the British classic beef Wellington.
Classic dishes top the fear list
The study also identified crème brûlée, steak cooked to the perfect doneness, and eggs Benedict with homemade hollandaise as completing the top five most intimidating dishes. The list extends to scallops, Korean curry, duck breast, risotto, and spring rolls.
The research found that 47% of people feel more pressure to impress guests than five years ago, while 57% admit social media has raised culinary expectations. Google Trends data shows searches for 'hosting at home' have soared 400% since 2022.
How Brits cope with cooking disasters
When things go wrong in the kitchen, Brits have developed creative ways of saving face. A shocking 16% have pretended a cooking mistake was intentional, while around one in three have hidden a disaster beneath sauce, icing, or garnish. Meanwhile, 37% have desperately Googled how to rescue a dish while it was already cooking, and 24% have made an emergency call to a parent, partner, or friend for advice.
The biggest challenges are said to be knowing exactly when food is cooked (33%) and getting temperatures right (23%). Almost three quarters of Brits say they would be more willing to attempt a difficult dish if technology could help them achieve more consistent results.
Technology as a confidence booster
Siemens says its Camera in Oven technology uses an integrated AI camera to recognise up to 100 common dishes and select the appropriate heating setting, temperature, and cooking time. Its fryingSensor technology monitors are said to control pan temperature to help prevent overheating.
Emma McLoughlin, a cooking expert at Siemens, said: "Some of the dishes we love most can be the ones we hesitate to cook ourselves. From getting a steak just right to mastering a soufflé or coordinating a roast dinner, it's often the small details around temperature, timing and technique that can make people think twice. Great cooking should feel inspiring, not intimidating, and we want our technology to give people the confidence to take on the dishes they have always wanted to master."
Natalia Rudin, a chef and food creator known as Nat's Nourishments, added: "Even as someone who cooks all the time, I know there are dishes that can feel daunting. This is especially true when you're making them for other people. But cooking doesn't need to be complicated or perfect to be delicious and having a little extra support can make trying something new feel much more achievable. For me, cooking is about enjoying the process and experimenting."
