REVEALED: The traditional cooking skills that are DYING out - how many can you do?

TRADITIONAL cooking skills such as poaching an egg, making home-made gravy and tomato sauce from scratch are dying out, according to a new study.


Traditional cooking skills are dying out, according to a new study

Researchers found that a number of age-old kitchen skills are on the wane - including making real cheese sauce, 'proper' stuffing and home-made batter.

Other cooking techniques on the decline include making white sauce from scratch and rustling up your own salad dressing, 

Many also do not know how to make fresh stock instead of using cubes.

Overall 80 per cent of the 2,000 people polled said they simply didn't have enough time to cook from scratch.

It's a shame traditional cooking skills appear to be falling by the wayside

Ulster Weavers spokesman

More than three quarters said they rely on convenience foods such as ready meals and pre-chopped vegetables in order to get by.

The research, commissioned by home textiles company Ulster Weavers, also found meals such as toad in the hole, bubble and squeak and hot pot were enjoyed by families on a daily basis in the seventies.

But today, families are more likely to eat quick-fix dinners such as pizza, curry and spaghetti bolognese.

A spokesman for Ulster Weavers said: "It's a shame traditional cooking skills appear to be falling by the wayside.

"The results suggest people are strapped for time as a result of their busy lifestyles, meaning they aren't able to go that extra mile in the kitchen.

"This could have an impact on future generations who may grow-up unable to cook and prepare certain foods." 

Researchers found other cooking skills falling by the wayside include browning mince, braising steak and melting chocolate properly.

Making roast potatoes also features in the list, along with putting an omelette together and making Yorkshire puddings.

It also emerged around half of the population wish they had learnt more traditional cooking skills when they were younger.

And nearly three quarters agree traditional cooking skills are dying out.


While 67 per cent were taught to cook by their Mum, just 16 per cent learnt to cook from their dad

But while 67 per cent were taught to cook by their Mum, just 16 per cent have learnt how to cook from their dad.

Amid this, three in ten said their family have secret recipes - including recipes for cakes, meatballs and stews.

Half of families regularly cook together - typically six times a month - and 80 per cent of families often eat together - on average 19 times a month.

A spokesman for Northern Ireland-based Ulster Weavers added: "It's such a shame that traditional cooking skills are dying out.

"We think it's so important that we offer the opportunity for families to cook together again which is where we offer a children's range as well as easy to cook recipes on our website."

Bechamel sauceGETTY

Declining cooking skill - 1. Bechamel sauce from scratch


1. Bechamel sauce from scratch 

2. Homemade stuffing

3. Short crust pastry 

4. Stock

5. Cheese sauce 

6. A tomato sauce from scratch

7. Yorkshire puddings

8. Gravy

9. Braising steak

10. Salad dressing


Declining cooking skill - 14. Pancake mix

11. Batter

12. The perfect steak

13. Chillies

14. Pancake mix

15. Stuff and roast a chicken

16. Knead dough

17. Pound/tenderise meat

18. Brown (cook) meat (excluding beef mince)

19. Cream butter and sugar

20. Poach an egg


Declining cooking skill - 21. Omelettes

21. Omelettes

22. Roast potatoes

23. Brown (cook) beef mince

24. Melt chocolate properly

25. Crush garlic

26. Separate an egg

27. Chop garlic

28. Cook rice

29. Boil an egg

30. Bake a potato