Britons own £11 billion of unused kitchen devices

Survey finds more than half have no idea how to use most of their equipment

From sushi mats to bamboo steamers, sous vides (water baths) and even professional chef knives, Britons have a staggering £11 billion worth of kitchen equipment they never actually use, according to a new study.

New research has revealed the extent to which modern Britons have “all the gear” when it comes to their kitchens with the average UK household boasting a staggering £415 worth of unused cooking gadgets and utensils.

According to the study by Hellofresh to mark the launch of their new Rapid Box, 58% of Britons admit they have absolutely no idea what to do with most of the equipment in their kitchens.

Among the list of most redundant kitchen items include bamboo steamers (53% of people who have one have never used it), tagines (53%), sushi mats (52%), spiralisers (52%) and pasta makers (49%).

Waffle makers (45%), tapas dishes (37%) and pestle and mortars (45%) also featured in the most redundant items within the nation’s homes.

The poll found 62% of adults said they were guilty of buying the latest musthave gadgets, with over a quarter of Britons owning a bread maker and 17% boasting an ice-cream machine.

A quarter said they were inspired by the top-of-the-range machinery on shows like Masterchef and Bake Off, while a quarter said they liked the way gadgets look on their kitchen worktop.

The study of 1,500 adults by Hellofresh found despite the initial excitement, the average new-fangled kitchen gadget gets consigned to the back of the cupboard after just 24 days.

Almost half (56%) said they have brought items home from holiday with the intention of cooking recipes they had sampled abroad but 11% said they ended up throwing the likes of herbs, spices and cured meats in the bin.

Indian food was revealed as the most popular food for Britons to attempt recreating after a holiday or meal out, followed by Spanish and Chinese.

However, 10% who tried to replicate a dish they had abroad said it was a disaster – and seven in 10 said it was edible but nothing like what they had experienced on holiday.

According to the poll, despite having a well-equipped kitchen, 11% said they find it too hard to follow complicated recipes and a quarter said there is not enough time in their day to cook from scratch.

Eighteen per cent said after a hectic day at work, the last thing they want to do is come home and cook from scratch – and 18% claim their family prefer simple meals.

Claire Davenport, CEO of the UK’S leading recipe kit delivery service Hellofresh, said: “We Brits like to think we’re adventurous in the kitchen, but we know from our customers – and our own personal experience – that a lack of time and energy after a long day often means our good intentions fall by the wayside.

“Our brand new Rapid Box allows our customers to experiment with exciting recipes from around the globe that will be on the table in just 20 minutes.

“In fact, we’re the only recipe box service to offer three meals that take less than 20 minutes, to help even the busiest of customers.”

The survey revealed the average Briton attempts to cook from scratch just five times a month.