Would you pay for someone to batch cook meals in your home?

[Ppppoppy]

Hello, just floating a question as it's a very new thought I've had (not seriously considering this as an all in, quit my job, start a business kind of thing haha, more just thinking out loud and curious what people think)
Cooking is my lifelong hobby/interest and I'm pretty good at it if I do say so myself. I've got varied and pretty extensive knowledge of food styles, recipes and prep, and lots of experience cooking for friends (usually family style, big dishes to share). I've also cooked for large group dinners in a b&b/hostel setting (this was a volunteer position but I learnt a lot about catering for bigger numbers there). I don't have professional chef experience but I have worked in F&B for 5 years so I've been around professional kitchens a lot, know how they run, processes, dietary stuff etc.
Wanted to ask if the idea of someone coming into your home for a few hours to meal prep for your family would appeal to you at all.
There's obviously a fair bit I'd need to sort before this could actually be a real thing, but here's roughly the shape of it in my head:

• I'd sort out hygiene certificates, insurance, etc, whatever's actually required to do this properly and safely (this one feels non negotiable to me tbh, letting someone into your home with your kids around, you'd want to know they're checked out)
• An initial call or chat first, talk through what you're after, how many people, how many meals, preferences, any dietary stuff, and specifically allergies and individual preferences likes and dislikes too
• Also chat through how involved you'd want to be, some people might want to pick the dishes themselves, others might just want to hand it over and be surprised, or anwhere in between
• You'd provide/ pay for the groceries, this could include using stuff you've already got in (only what you're happy for me to use obviously, not going through your cupboards uninvited lol) and then I'd put together an order for anything else needed. I'd do the actual ordering bit but always from your usual shop and sticking to your preferences on brands and budget and okay before it’s ordered etc
• I'd come at a time we'd agree in advance, could be while you’re in or out lit depending on what you wanted . I bring my own basic kit /appliances (knives , maybe frying pan / pot ) and seasonings if you'd rather I not use yours, then prep, cook, portion it all up and clean up properly after myself before I go
• Would want to talk about whether you're picturing freezer stash type meals, ready to eat that week, or a mix of both, probably depends on the person
• First session would basically be a trial for both of us really, see if it works, see if you like my cooking, see if it's not weird having someone in your kitchen haha

I do get that having a stranger cooking in your kitchen isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea and that's completely fair enough, just wondering if this is something anyone would actually want or if I'm being a bit mad haha
(also would maybe suit certain people more, new parents, people who've just had surgery or are recovering from something, elderly relatives, just busy families in general, so if you fall into one of those categories especially curious what you think)
Again very much just an idea floating around my head right now, not a proper plan yet!

No.

You would be better off with a service whereby home cooked meals are delivered to people’s homes rather than coming to their houses I think

No, I wouldn’t want this in my house and it seems quite a lot of work if I need to work out which ingredients I already have, get them out, buy the rest. I wouldn’t want someone there whilst I was out and if I was in I’d either be working or kids would be there so it wouldn’t be convenient. I’d rather place an order, you sort everything and cook it at yours then deliver portioned up food to me.

No. I don’t want to chat to someone about the cooking, and I certainly don’t want to do all the flipping shopping for it and then let you cook on my kitchen. Sounds like far more faff than batch cooking myself. I don’t think anyone would would want batch cooking done for them would want have as much communication and faff as you suggest

No. I like cooking and don’t like the idea of someone I don’t know in my kitchen, I’d never want a cleaner either. I think people who like food but don’t have the time, skill, inclination, ability to cook have more options than ever these days to buy in. Sorry.

No. Ready meals are available online or in supermarkets. Wiltshire foods exists for those that need a more balanced meal than busy people who can’t be arsed to cook, and Gousto exists for people that aren’t confident cooks.

I think most people would prefer you to do the cooking in your own kitchen OP. Is there a particular reason why you're planning to come to people's houses?

The chat was more about understanding what people like, I’d have examples / preset options if people didn’t want to input , but some might want things tailored that requires talking

Yes I would.

It probably seems quite niche but I think in areas where people are short on time but have cash, you might find success.

I have a very full on job and a young family and I just cannot find the energy to cook properly but value it.

I know a few people with housekeeper type people who do this for them (usually alongside other domestic duties).

No but it might work for clients to give you their favourite recipes and you batch cook in your kitchen and deliver the results.

No!
I would feel very weird having someone in my kitchen, and also batch cooking for me is about saving money.

No it’s weird

Not the same as home cooked meals made by a chef though are they.

I struggle to resolve our ‘what to eat midweek’ question as I don’t eat ready meals, don’t want to eat processed food, but also do struggle increasingly with finding time to do it (and not resent it!).

Id love it if someone came round on a Monday and filled my fridge with meals for the week!

It’s too much. If you have your own recipes I have to remember to buy all the stuff you want, if I give you my recipe I have to faff giving it to you and then still shop for it. Cooking in your own home with your own ingredients from your own recipe list is the only way itd work. But there’s already so many options available out there

Stocked is a similar idea but much more appealing in that you just order the dishes you want already batch cooked and freezer ready.

I think I am your perfect customer cos I'm rubbish at cooking and I'm always envious of people that can batch cook and save money etc
What area are you in ?
😊
X

I think people would like to put orders in and you deliver it, freezer ready.
also for your business if you cooked in your own home you could do the same meal for several clients making it more efficient.

Yes I would like someone to batch cook meals that suit my family, where I can pick how many people are eating it, whether it's to go in the fridge or the freezer, maybe even tell you which meals I want cooking.

No, I don't want that happening in my house.

So I like half the idea

OP isn’t a chef though

Why don’t you offer two paid services. One where you plan a meal plan based on requirements they have (dietary, goals, likes and dislikes), and then the next tier where you come and cook it if people want you to do that. Then you can use the plan you created to generate a shopping list, the client orders it in and you come and cook it. You’d need to figure out how to let people try your food as well - they’re not likely to have you spend all that time and money cooking without trying it.

i don’t know if id use the service myself we eat a lot of pizza in this house.

We have a shop that does that near where I live. I like OPs suggestion.
X

This isn't your audience! Go to Reddit on the HENRY forum and there are a number of people that use services such as there and quite often are asking where they can find them

I love cooking too but if I didn't and I was time short then I would use your service if that helps

Depending on how many meals you are making batch cooking can take hours and maybe even a few days. I can’t imagine the practicalities of doing it for people in their own kitchens.

I think to offer such an individually bespoke service the time you are offering for chats, meal planning, shopping and cooking would require you to charge such a premium to make it worth your time.

I think I would find having someone in my kitchen more stressful than doing it myself to be honest.

I’ve seen requests for exactly this type of service in my local fb group. It’s mostly from young professionals who want to eat healthy but don’t have the time, energy, or skill to do it themselves. A recent one was specifically looking for someone who can cook Mediterranean food as he misses eating home-cooked food from his country, but isn’t in a position (or willing) to do it himself. I can understand not wanting to live off of restaurant food and takeaways, and being happy to pay someone to replace it with home cooked food.

However, I agree that you’d probably get more interest if you took on a bigger share of the shopping and planning as well.

I know someone who had someone do this for him, so it obviously exists as a service! The chef/cook came to his house and used his kitchen to prepare everything. She put everything into single-serve containers for him and packed everything into the fridge etc.

He was on track to be a partner in a management consultancy and worked all hours, but he liked home-cooked food. With a job like that you have so little time that even the effort of unpacking grocery delivery is a huge hassle.

I assume this would be your market.