In a world of Uber Eats and frozen meals, it really shouldn't come as such a surprise that over half of Americans can't cook. But in case there was any doubt, a new study conducted by Linz Heritage Angus—an Oklahoma-based family-owned butcher—many of us are just as clueless around the kitchen as it seems.
According to the nationwide survey, 54% of Americans said they are "not proficient" at cooking, and 33% admitted to receiving negative feedback about their skills. However, Linz Heritage did much more than just ask folks about their abilities around the stove. They also ranked the country by its "clueless" cooks—and one city is home to the most: Cleveland, Ohio.
The company conducted an analysis of Google search terms related to basic cooking skills to determine its list. And while Cleveland topped the ranking, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Seattle, Washington; and Madison, Wisconsin trailed shortly behind.
Here's the full list of the cities that reportedly have America's most clueless cooks:
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Seattle, Washington
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Lubbock, Texas
- Portland, Oregon
- Austin, Texas
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Nashville, Tennessee
Linz Heritage Angus pointed out that several of the cities on the list, including Austin, Portland, and Seattle, have "thriving restaurant scenes," which might play a role in their lack of skilled chefs. However, what came as a surprise was the survey's number nine and 10 spots: Atlanta and Nashville.
"Rounding out the list are two unexpected cities," the results read. "Despite its cobblers, cornbreads, and collard greens, Atlanta, Georgia, comes in at No. 9. Nashville, Tennessee, with its countless famous down-home dishes, claims the No. 10 spot on our list."
While the survey found that one in five respondents classified themselves as "beginner" cooks, 35% said they aren't interested in even trying to become a better amateur chef. More than one-quarter (28%) also admitted to feeling embarrassed by their cooking skills and three in four have "failed miserably" at their attempts.
Half of Americans said time constraints intimidated them from cooking, while 43% said it was the cleanup. Others blamed complex recipes, lack of experience, and fear of failure on their disinterest in cooking.
