Millennials ‘scared’ to cook

CELEBRITY cooking shows might be all the rage but Australians are in danger of forgetting how to cook, with new figures showing we’re eating out and getting takeaway more than ever before.

Millennials — adults under 34 — are leading the trend, now spending at least $100 per week eating at restaurants or ordering deliveries — a rise of 37 per cent from the $73 spent six years ago.

The latest household spending survey, by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, shows the average Australian spends $80 a week dining out, up by nearly a third on the $63 spent in the 2009/10 financial year.

According to cooking teacher Laurent Villoing, who runs the Paris International Cooking School in Sydney, many young adults and teenagers come to his classes at unable to cook the basics, scared it’s all “too hard”.

He points the finger at a growing number of public schools closing down their home economic kitchens, which can be costly to run.

“In the past when we asked if students had done cooking at school most would put up their hands, but it’s more rare now,” he said.

Social researcher Ashley Fell, from McCrindle Research, said many people in their 20s had delayed marriage and buying homes, so had more disposable incomes to eat out.

“Eating out with your peers is a very social thing for the millennials,” she said. “Particularly the opportunity to share a photo of the meal.”

“This generation is very experiential as well — they want to go and try the new food or restaurant that turns up.”

Food delivery company Deliveroo said it had recorded 20 per cent month on month growth in Australia.

Flatmates Jack Dostine, 30 and Ellie Susko, 25, get deliveries — particularly burgers from their favourite Bonditonys — “at least” three or four nights a week.

“I can definitely cook, but I can’t bake,” Mr Dostine said.

“Getting a delivery of Thai takeaway is not much more expensive, and the time saving is huge, so it’s just easier to order.

“It’s a no brainer.”