We love to watch Bake Off and MasterChef, but when it comes to tackling the scariest recipes in our own kitchens, most of us turn into quivering wrecks faster than a collapsed soufflé.
A new survey has revealed that an astonishing 87% of Brits are too terrified to cook certain dishes from scratch – with the mighty soufflé crowned the nation’s scariest recipe.
More than a third (36%) of home cooks said the wobbly dessert was simply too risky to attempt, proving that Gordon Ramsay isn’t the only one capable of striking fear into a kitchen.
Britain’s “Fear Foods”
The soufflé may take gold, but it has plenty of company on the culinary chopping block. Filo pastry (33%) comes in as a close runner-up, followed by béarnaise sauce (29%) and the ever-demanding Beef Wellington (27%).
And in a twist worthy of a plotline on EastEnders, even the humble Yorkshire pudding – that Sunday roast essential – sends 26% of Brits running for cover. The same number wouldn’t dare roll their own sushi, which is probably for the best if you value your fingers.
The terror list doesn’t stop there. A quarter (25%) of the nation refuses to attempt beef Bourguignon, while one in four say that spatchcocking a chicken is a challenge best left to professionals with sharper knives and stronger nerves.
Fear of the French
According to the research, seven in ten (70%) Brits find the idea of cooking a French classic too intimidating, while two-thirds (66%) label French cuisine the hardest of all. Only 14% will risk cooking French dishes outside of a special occasion – yet 67% also believe it’s the most indulgent and sophisticated style of food on the planet. Clearly, we respect it… we just don’t want to cook it.
The study was conducted by Mindful Chef to mark the launch of their new partnership with Côte Brasserie, which promises to bring “the joy of good French food without the fuss.”
Jesse Kempner, Head of Food at Mindful Chef, explained: “It’s clear from the research that there are some dishes that we’re intimidated to cook.
“It shouldn’t matter if you feel confident or not rustling up one – or even all – of the dishes on the list – the point is, your confidence shouldn’t feel like a barrier to creativity in the kitchen.
“We appreciate that some classics can be a real effort midweek, and that’s exactly why we’ve partnered with Côte – to give these French favourites a healthy twist and make them simple to enjoy, any day of the week.”
Fake It ‘Til You Make It
Despite all this culinary fear, it seems we’re not above a little deception. Four in ten Brits admit to passing off a fancy takeaway as their own handiwork – proof that the nation’s appetite for French sophistication remains strong, even if the oven gloves stay firmly in the drawer.
When it comes to confidence, Sheffield boasts the UK’s boldest cooks, with 21% of locals saying they can take on any dish. But Manchester and Cardiff proudly wear the crown of foodie capitals, with nearly half of residents (47%) happily declaring themselves “foodies.”
Britain’s Scariest Recipes – The Top Fear Foods
The Top 22 Dishes Brits Are Too Scared to Cook — How Many Have You Tried?
Rank
Dish
Share
1Soufflé
2Filo pastry
3Béarnaise sauce
4Beef Wellington
5Yorkshire puddings
6Sushi
7Beef Bourguignon
8Dauphinoise potatoes
9Boulangère potatoes
10Vietnamese pho
11Salmon en-croute
12Puff pastry
13Chocolate fondant
14Sourdough bread
15Hollandaise sauce
16Risotto
17Consommé
18Homemade tagliatelle
19Pavlova
20Indian curry from scratch
21Thai curry from scratch
22Fondant potato
So there you have it: soufflés still haunt our kitchens, Yorkshire puds make some of us sweat, and French food reigns supreme as the culinary boogeyman. Until then, perhaps the safest recipe is the number of your local takeaway.
Dining and Cooking