One in four Brits have never boiled an egg

One in four Brits have never boiled an egg, a Waitrose survey has found.

In the supermarket chain’s annual Cooking Report, it was found that more than a quarter of UK adults have never boiled an egg and do not know how to.

It was also found that fewer than a fifth of people have made a salad dressing.

Of the 4,000 UK adults surveyed, 27 per cent had never boiled an egg, while (45 per cent) had not baked a Victoria sponge cake.

The report also found more than a third of people (35 per cent) rate themselves as “very good” or “excellent” cooks.

Other findings include:

Martyn Lee, executive chef for Waitrose, said: “Food is a daily joy and the cost-of-living crisis has hastened a change in how we cook.

“For too long we’ve been looking down on microwaves. You can do so much more in them than heat a cup of coffee.

“I make a great sponge in mine. I think it’s time to remember the enjoyment we get from the anticipation of their pinging.

“When you reheat a stew, or a slice of lasagne in your microwave after the flavours have had time to develop, you enjoy what’s known as the sixth taste sensation ‘kokumi’ — which is lesser known than the other five tastes — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.”