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!

Yes please!! But obvs cost dependent. I’d actually love this. I don’t want to buy mass produced meals under the home cooked guise. I’d also only want to there when it’s convenient as we both WFH. But yes I want a chef and I can’t afford one so perhaps this is the next best thing!

If i could afford it i absolutely would.

I somehow now follow various people on Instagram who do essentially this so it's definitely a thing. I think it's often referred to as a personal chef rather than a probate chef and they essentially cook meals for the week to be reheated. It's a luxury service though, I don't think the average mumsnetter in a 3 or 4 bed house would be a captive audience for it.

Yes this would be more efficient. I used to batch cook but would spend a week in the school holidays making 40 meals to cover half a school term. It was a marathon but much more efficient to be able to make enough chili for 8 family meals and lasagne or curry for another 8 family meals etc.

Would hygiene not be a concern? You could turn up to someone’s home and find it’s not a clean enough space to work. Lots of people wipe around appliances, don’t clean the cooker hood, or the ceiling of the microwave, etc. Dishes can get a bit musty if they’re not properly stored. All fine and well when they’re living on take aways, but you’d be trying to diplomatically do a deep clean before starting.

can you get a hygiene certificate if you’re cooking in someone else’s kitchen? That doesn’t seem right. I thought it was about the kitchen set up, process, cleanliness, etc. How would you certify best before dates etc.?

The Cook meals aren’t ultra processed and you can order online or buy from the shop. A lot of the M&S meals aren’t ultra processed either, if you want to just buy stuff for the freezer.

For me, having a cleaner is amazing, but we make sure the place is tidy (so they can clean properly and not spend time moving things or tidying). Having someone come over and using the kitchen, all the pots and pans, stuff from the fridge and cupboards, then them have to tidy up and clean down. You’d have to trust them with a key to your house as well. It sounds such a hassle to me.

Home cooked meals for the freezer or a week's dinners- yes
Me sorting out or ordering ingredients- no
You cooking in my house- don't mind either way so long as you bring everything you need and clear up afterwards

But surely from your perspective cooking for more than one client at the same time is more efficient?

Ooo thank you , I’ll take a look !

Exactly! What if they claimed they got food poisoning?!

I think for more appeal what you could do is this but from home/ a hired kitchen. Id advertise on social media and make 4/5 dishes (people will need clear lists of the ingredients/macros).
Id prob have it as a Sunday night/early Monday delivery service. Perhaps 5 meal prep meals that they can buy as single serves and then perhaps a meal for 4 option where you do some lovely lasagne s or other yummy things like that which busy parents can order for family meals.
Then you would juat have to do one big cook day, and one delivery eve and have the rest of the week to advertise/ plan/ shop.
Thats what I think would work better anyway..
The people who want the other posher service would probably look for a qualified personal chef I think.

Potentially one day but at the moment I live with housemates so can’t use my kitchen.

Yes depending on price. Though I think you should just bring all the ingredients to make it simpler.

And then a snazzy order system so you know how many of each meal to make. Some will want the same lunch x5 some will want a different one daily. Perhaps using some local vegetables to make it a step above other meal prep companies.

No. I’d just do a delivery service for that sort of thing. I don’t want someone in my kitchen.

I think its a fab idea, wish you all the best with it :)

Yes I would but to be cooked at yours not mine, then delivered to me . I have a social care package and use it on hellofresh but I specifically looked to see if a service like this existed first.

@Ppppoppyi’d pay handsomely for someone to batch cook proper food but would not want it done in my house I’d want it delivered and no human transaction. I’m too busy for it that’s why I need the cooking. Wouldn’t want the mess and time it takes either

I think ‘person good at cooking’ is good enough for most of us - the kind of stuff you’d make yourself, just made by someone else.

As I say - most of the people I know with this kind of arrangement have a housekeeper that do it, they won’t be professional chefs.

People who don’t want someone in their kitchen - why not?

Do you use a cleaner? I can’t really see how it would be any different!

I would love this but prefer you didn’t cook in my house. Delivery would be perfect.

I don't no. We have autistic household members and don't want someone in the house. It's bad enough when you have to have a tradesperson in.

I have an afterschool nanny who does us one big batch cook meal a week (something I can freeze) but I don't think I would get this service individually.
I would also combine it with a cleaner if they did it.
Would probbaly work out to be very expensive per meal.
You might be better off selling meals you made at your own home. If that was reasonably priced and healthy id be interested. Like a better version of the Cook frozen meals.

If I wanted the convenience of batched cooked food made for me, I wouldn't want the faff of discussing meals, buying ingredients and having a stranger in my house cooking for however long it took.
I think the better option is you cook the food either in your own kitchen or get a business kitchen and offer set meals at a set price.

I don't get what the benefit of having you going to someone's house is, unless it brings the cost down because the customer pays for the ingredients and you are using their equipment and gas/electricity so don't have many overheads to consider.

Sounds marvellous to me! I would love this, the only exception I would like is that you order all the ingredients. We eat out a bit so 3 - 4 meals per week would be amazing. I used to cook and enjoy it but I work more hours now and have a family so feel like I’ve really gone down hill on the food side. Please tell me you’re in Derbyshire and would like a Guinea pig!

I have worked in F&B for 5 years What is F&B? Farrow and Ball?

No, I wouldn't use your service. IF I needed pre-cooked meals, I'd contact a local restaurant or catering service which already do this and cook in their own kitchens. It would likely work out cheaper because of the scale. I'd still be having to still buy the ingredients, pay the electric/gas being used in my home, pay you and also clean up afterwards.

Are you competent using an aga? I'd be worried you'd try someone's oven and it either burnt or under cooked things.