Brit dad and mom spend ‘a whole month’ of the 12 months cooking – and concern the inevitable

Parents are spending the equivalent of a whole month each year cooking for their families, according to a new study. The research by Philips, the creators of the airfryer, and Currys found that 23% of parents spend between 30 minutes to an hour preparing the evening meal, while one in ten admit to spending over two hours at the stove.

This adds up to a staggering 730 hours a year spent on meal prep. The study also revealed that one in ten use as many as six items of cookware, with most using three pots, pans or trays.

Half of the nation (52%) find planning meals a daily stress. These findings coincide with the launch of Philips’ first airfryer with a built-in steamer – the Philips 5000 Series Airfryer and Steamer. For many parents, the clean-up is a barrier to cooking, with 82% admitting to avoiding cooking due to the amount of washing up required.

The study also uncovered that equality is on the rise in the kitchen – though mums are still at the forefront of cooking in 40% of households, dads are hot on their heels, with a hefty 33% taking the reins at dinnertime. Yet, the chores tell a different story: women bear the brunt of washing up twice as often as men, with 50% versus 24%.

And it seems many parents are cutting corners to keep bellies full, with over half (51%) admitting to sacrificing taste and one in five turning to frozen meals eight times a week just to feed the family. When kitchen duty calls, convenience (39%) is king, followed by taste (32%), simplicity (14%) and affordability (13%).

Philips’ Senior Product Manager Sara Vaum sympathises with the struggle for balance, saying: “For many parents, when it comes to feeding the family, finding that balance between tasty, healthy and simple is not straightforward.”

She acknowledges the hard graft in the kitchen: “It means some mums and dads are spending up to a month a year in the kitchen, juggling multiple pots, pans, and a dose of often daily stress in order to keep their little ones fed.”

Eager to lend a hand, Vaum reveals Philips’ new kitchen marvel: “At Philips we want to help people achieve a better balance, which is why we’re proud to unveil our latest innovation – the Series 5000 Airfryer and Steamer. ” She highlights the gadget’s prowess and convenience: “By combining traditional Airfryer technology, with a unique steam fry function – a delicious and nutritious family meal is at your fingertips in a matter of minutes – without a mountain of washing up to confront afterwards.”