To feel that sad that basic cooking skills are dying out

[SingleDoubleWhippedClotted]

Me and my brother were taught to cook by my gran and mum. Dad used to cook too but worked away a lot so wasn't around as much.

So many people now seem to be incapable of basic food prep and spend a fortune on food. Cooking seems to be an undervalued life skill, I think its so important to have the skills to be able to prepare simple cheap healthy meals.

I have taught my teen to cook and she could fend for herself if she left home tomorrow. She can cook healthy cheap meals.

I see so many threads on here where people can't boil rice, boil an egg etc

I know people who aren’t keen on cooking, and would rather order a takeaway. And people who aren’t very good at it. But I’m not sure I know anyone who can’t cook at least enough meals to get through a week.

People with disabilities exist.

I think this is pretty much bollocks tbh.

Pretty much everyone in my circle is a good cook, and will happily and regularly make everything from homemade bread, to British classics, to Mexican/Vietnamese/Indian food, from scratch.

My mum (in her late 50s) though? Can bake and do meat and two veg. Anything else she makes tends to be … interesting. And UPF laden. Know quite a lot of my mums friends cook similarly poorly.

There is very possibly an issue - or will be an issue- for the many children and young people now growing up, through no fault of their own or their parents- in abject poverty and/or temporary accommodation, who don’t have the facilities to cook full meals, or money for ingredients. This IS something to be genuinely (not faux) sad about, will likely be another push factor for many families towards another intergenerational cycle of socioeconomic deprivation, and is another example of the dereliction of duty that has come to epitomize this government.

if this does really sadden you, OP, and this wasn’t intended to be a smug/ goady post, then I suggest you vote accordingly in your local and upcoming general elections, and make donations to (eg) the Trussel Trust or similar.

I don’t see cooking dying out at all. I learned to cook growing up - my dad was a chef and we were in the kitchen before we were in school. By age 10 I could cook a roast dinner. My DC both spend time in the kitchen with me learning basic skills, my DD learns cooking from scratch in home economics and also has lessons in school with a professional chef teaching her how to cook in a commercial kitchen.

I think as food costs increase, cooking becomes more of an essential skill.

Haha. The youth of today…. Plato whined about this 2000 years ago. nothing has really changed.

I think your premise is flawed. There have always been lots of people who can’t cook, especially men in previous generations. And plenty who can (and do) cook but don’t enjoy it and/or don’t do it well.

children today have the same opportunities to learn.

I think this is not true. Most people can cook basic things and if they can’t they can Google. Cooking came back in fashion some time ago OP! Also most kids have some cooking lessons at school still.

Anyone can look at youtube and follow a recipe, showing all the steps needed. I think you're over worrying.

My teen is a really good cook - MUCH better than me! She gets her recipes off social media, buys the ingredients and cooks really delicious meals.

It's not 'dying out' OP just wanted to come across all smug and superior because her daughter made a bog standard dinner from scratch

I've been on mn for 15 years and yet to see loads of threads where people can't boil eggs

My late Mum was a good old fashioned English cook, as was her Mum before her. Roasts, casseroles, shepherd's pie, cakes and bakes, you get the picture. But my Dad, well, he could turn out curries, chili con carne, kedgeree, stir fries -- this was all in the 60s. He was a real foodie. (But we did live abroad.)
I'm very lucky that I learned from both of them. As a family we were all 'live to eat' rather than 'eat to live.'
If you're the latter I can see that cooking would hold no interest for you.

Disabilities.
Conditions like ADHD or autism.
Learning difficulties.
Severe arthritis.
Mobility problems.

But you know that.

Me too!

They are really easy, honestly. Small non stick frying pan. Whisk 2-3 eggs.

Melt a good knob of butter to foaming, pour in the eggs, turn the heat to medium. Don't touch for 20 secs or so, then take a fork and gently draw sides to middle a few times, swirl pan to pour uncooked eggs from middle to the outer sides of pan. Leave again. Season. Add cheese or other fillings.

Lift edge gently to have a peep if its browned. Slide half out of the pan onto a plate and flip over.

I know some people may only be able to follow a recipe without improvising, even if they then have to buy everything rather than use what they have. Then they think it's expensive to cook from scratch.

I agree on the types of food though, I have no interest in making pastry when I can just mash potato to top a pie, or eat alongside the 'filling'. Or for an apple pie when I can eat stewed apple or rhubarb with yogurt or porridge instead. I don't know how to make a white sauce but I can take meat or legumes, and vegetables and herbs or spices and make something cheap, tasty and nutritious.

Where are all these numerous threads you cite where people can't boil an egg?

Made up to suit the narrative...

I don’t know a single adult who actually can’t cook. I know people who prefer really basic food, people who choose to outsource to restaurants/takeaways or food prep companies, people who aren’t particularly interested in food, people who can’t be arsed, people who eat the same few meals in rotation, but I don’t know anyone who actually can’t do it. My mother can’t be arsed, she isn’t interested in food so I was brought up on crispy pancakes, potato waffles, pasta with grated cheese, boil in the bag fish, but even she can cook.
I wasn’t taught to cook by anyone else, I just learned myself. It’s not hard, although I’m another one who struggles with an omelette.

That's silly really because unless you're rich you need to cook. Can't afford to just eat tv dinners a la Charlie Bingham or whatever his name is 😂

I don’t think you’re really sad, are you?

Smug perhaps, but not sad.

I think it’s never been easier to learn to cook. There are so many avenues to learn and great videos online.

But I haven’t encountered anyone who’s told me they can’t boil an egg. It’s odd you’re meeting so many people in that position.

I used to be able to cook, hosted dinners, made elaborate puddings, I lost the knack. I would really like to take a basic cooking class on a range of topics.

Why are you bothered about what other people chose to do or not do/learn. Some people like cooking or have time for cooking. Others don't. I hate cooking so i dont. who cares . If you get stuck there's youtube. If you have time to be sad about this you are lucky

My daughters both cook and I didn't teach either of them! Both teens, the older one is a better cook than me. She loves following YouTube tutorials.
You are being unreasonable!!

I think a lot of it is to do with how people define a "good cook".

I can cook all the usual, a roast, shepherd's pie, stir fry, steak, pasta and rice dishes. They all are decent but I'm not obe of those people that has a natural flair for it or that automatically knows, an extra splash of X, y or z would really elevate this dish. To be that's what makes a good cook, being able to elevate dishes to another level just using basic instinct. My partner is the same.

My ex used to say he was a great good. He wasn't. Most sauces came from packers or jars. He just knew how not to burn stuff.

Both my adult sons can cook, particularly the older one. He started cooking when father died because he wanted to contribute. When I was ill last Christmas he cooked a delicious roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings (though the roasties were frozen).

So not all of the young can't cook.