“A lot of us just didn’t grow up in kitchens”: Study reveals two-thirds of Gen Z can’t even make an omelet

Welcome to the culinary circus that is Generation Z, and if you ever thought cooking was a rite of passage, think again. Recent surveys reveal that for many in this digital-native generation, even whipping up a simple egg can feel like preparing a five-course meal for the Queen. Gen Z is officially struggling in the kitchen, and they're not afraid to admit it.

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The egg-citing findings

As revealed by the dating app FindingTheOne, over two-thirds of Gen Z admitted in a survey conducted that they cannot handle basic cooking tasks. The highlights are as follows:

42% cannot even fry up a basic stir fry without breaking into a sweat.

61% would rather face a lion than try to make an omelet.

80% wouldn't know lasagna from a lasagna-shaped rock if their lives depended on it.

Dating expert, Sylvia Linzalone, was quoted as saying by Daily Mail:

“For Gen Z, the kitchen isn’t just a source of uncertainty but also a space where they feel out of their depth.”

Cooking anxiety: The real kitchen nightmare

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It’s not just about the skills or lack thereof. Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z feel like they’re auditioning for a horror movie every time they step into the kitchen.

That’s because cooking is stressful!

As one respondent put it:

“I feel like a lot of us just didn’t grow up in kitchens the way older generations did.”

And let's not forget the art of deception: a majority of Gen Z admits to having passed off takeout as home cooking.

"Oh, this? I just whipped it up in my kitchen," they say while secretly praying their friends don't ask for the recipe.

Generational cooking showdown

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According to a survey by Home Run Inn, only 33% of Gen Z feel they're good cooks, 47% of Millennials, and an eye-popping 85% of Generation X can probably cook the whole Thanksgiving feast blindfolded.

Only 17% of Gen Z associates home-cooked meals with love. They're more likely to swipe right on a pizza than on someone who can sauté vegetables.

As they say:

“With food delivery apps and ready meals I can just stick in the microwave, it’s easier to get by without cooking.”

So, what's behind this kitchen catastrophe?

Lack of early exposure: Most Gen Z grew up without ever seeing their parents cook or even helping in the kitchen. Rather, they mastered how to order food online—the most important lesson any modern adult needs to know.

Convenience culture: If you can get gourmet meals delivered faster than it takes to microwave, why bother cooking? End.

Education disparities: Home economics classes are as common as unicorns these days. Only 37% of Gen Z had some formal cooking education compared to nearly half of Millennials.