Nearly two thirds of Gen Z adults admit they lack basic cooking skills – with around 61 per cent of those surveyed saying they do not know how to cook an omelette.
A study by dating app FindingTheOne has revealed that young adults aged between 18 and 28 prefer eating at a restaurant or takeaway because they do not know how to cook.
The poll surveyed 1,500 participants across different age groups and showed a growing number of young people who are useless in the kitchen.
Nearly 64 per cent of Gen Z respondents said they prefer dining out because they ‘can’t cook’.
Just under half described the act of cooking as ‘stressful’ and said the anxiety about cooking is what often caused the reliance on takeaways and restaurant meals.
Even simple meals seemed to be a struggle for many, 42 per cent said they could not cook a stir-fry and 27 per cent said they struggled to make soup.
Shockingly even omelettes, which at their most basic feature just one ingredient proved a problem for 61 per cent of Gen Z adults in the survey.
One in four also admitted to deception, passing off food which was ordered in from a restaurant or takeaway as a home-cooked meal.
More than 50 per cent of Gen Z responders admitted they did not know how to cook an omelette
Respondents aged 18 to 28 said they prefer dining out because they ‘can’t cook’
The survey found Gen Z adults opted for takeaways instead of home cooked meals, which they said were ‘too stressful’ (file image)
More complex meals seemed entirely out of reach for most, with more than 80 per cent saying they wouldn’t know where to start for cooking lasagne or roast chicken.
One Gen Z participant, 23-year-old student Mia, said: ‘I feel like a lot of us just didn’t grow up in kitchens the way older generations did.
‘Plus, with food delivery apps and ready meals I can just stick in the microwave, it’s easier to get by without cooking.
‘But when it comes to dating, I’ll admit it’s a little embarrassing. I wouldn’t dare invite someone over for a home-cooked meal unless I had help.’
Gen X adults, who are aged between 44 and 59, were the most confident cooks with 85 per cent saying they felt at ease in the kitchen and 72 per cent saying they learned the skills from their parents.
Millennials, aged 29 to 43, fared better than their juniors, with 68 per cent saying they feel comfortable cooking at home.
The lack of cooking skills has also affected the dating lives of younger people, with 21 per cent admitting they have enlisted their parents to cook for a date so they could pretend they had made it themselves.
The romantic dinner date may also be a thing of the past, as just 17 per cent of Gen Z adults said they preferred home cooked meals as part of the dating experience.
More than 80 per cent of Gen Z said they wouldn’t know where to start for cooking lasagne or roast chicken
A simple one-ingredient omelette has proved too stressful for the majority of Gen Z adults
In contrast, Gen X and Millennials saw home cooking as a way to show intimacy and effort in a relationship.
Dating expert at FindingTheOne, Sylvia Linzalone, said: ‘For Gen Z, the kitchen isn’t just a source of uncertainty but also a space where they feel out of their depth.
‘The preference for restaurant dates isn’t solely about luxury or convenience – it’s about staying in their comfort zone and avoiding potential embarrassment when hosting guests because they lack confidence in their cooking skills.’
It comes as another study suggested Gen Z adults are refusing to do basic DIY tasks and are instead choosing to hire a professional.
A survey by Halfords of 2,000 adults showed that those aged 18 to 27 were most likely to pay a professional for basic tasks around the home or car.
One in five did not know what a spanner was and nearly a quarter could not change a ceiling light bulb, often saying that going up a ladder was ‘too dangerous’.
One in five of the age group said they would call in a professional to change the bulb on a ceiling spotlight.
Gen Z respondents said they prefer dining out for a date and did not see a home cooked meal as an essential part of a relationship
Gen Z are also taking more days off at work due to stress than any other age group.
A survey found a third of Gen Z workers took time off due to stress last year.
High stress among young workers was mostly caused by having to regularly work unpaid overtime, and taking on extra hours to deal with the increased cost of living.
However, among older workers aged 45 and above, just one in 10 needed time off last year due to stress.
Another study has revealed that Gen Z adults are unable to fix their clothes because they cannot thread a needle.
A report from YouGov has revealed that 32 per cent of young people would not know where to begin when it comes to patching a hole or sewing a button.
Nifty needlework is much more common with Baby Boomers, as a whopping 88 per cent of over-65s can wield a needle and thread with ease.
It’s not just clothes Gen Z are neglecting, with 1 in 10 only changing their bed sheets once every three months.