dishes Brits are too scared to cook

The Classic Dishes Brits Are Too Scared to Cook

Friday 05th Sep 2025 |

Brits Too Scared to Cook These Classic Dishes

We may drool over Bake Off and MasterChef – but when it comes to our own kitchens, most of us crumble under the pressure.

A new survey has revealed that a staggering 87% of Brits admit there are dishes they’re simply too terrified to cook from scratch – with the soufflé crowned the nation’s scariest recipe.

More than a third (36%) said the famously tricky dessert was just too risky to attempt at home.

Also, on the list of “fear foods” are filo pastry (33%), béarnaise sauce (29%), and the notoriously fiddly Beef Wellington (27%).

And in a shock twist, even humble Yorkshire puddings strike fear into 26% of home cooks, while the same number wouldn’t dare roll their own sushi.

It doesn’t stop there: a quarter (25%) refuse to attempt beef Bourguignon, and one in four say spatchcocking a chicken is beyond them.

The study uncovered that seven in ten (70%) find the idea of cooking a French classic too intimidating, while two-thirds (66%) say French food is the hardest to make. In fact, only 14% will attempt French dishes outside of a special occasion – with 67% believing French cuisine is more indulgent and sophisticated than any other.

The study was conducted by Mindful Chef, to mark the launch of their new partnership with Côte Brasserie, which offers a new range of recipes celebrating the joy of good French food without the fuss. 


Jesse Kempner, Head of Food at Mindful Chef said: “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.”

Despite all that fear, we’re still a sneaky bunch: four in ten Brits admit they’ve passed off a posh takeaway as their own cooking.

When it comes to confidence, Sheffield is home to the UK’s boldest cooks, with 21% there saying they can tackle any dish. But the real foodie capitals are Manchester and Cardiff, where 47% of residents proudly call themselves “foodies.”

Here’s the full list of dishes Brits are most scared to cook:

The Top 25 Dishes Brits Are Too Scared to Cook – HOW MANY HAVE YOU TRIED?

  1. Soufflé – 36%
  2. Filo pastry – 33%
  3. Béarnaise sauce – 29%
  4. Beef Wellington – 27%
  5. Yorkshire puddings – 26%
  6. Sushi – 26%
  7. Beef Bourguignon – 25%
  8. Dauphinoise potatoes – 24%
  9. Boulangère potatoes – 24%
  10. Vietnamese pho – 22%
  11. Salmon en-croute – 22%
  12. Puff pastry – 22%
  13. Chocolate fondant – 21%
  14. Sourdough bread  – 21%
  15. Hollandaise sauce – 20%
  16. Risotto – 19%
  17. Consommé – 18%
  18. Homemade tagliatelle – 17%
  19. Pavlova – 17%
  20. Indian curry from scratch – 16%
  21. Thai curry from scratch – 16%
  22. Fondant potato – 16%


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