First and foremost, THIS ARTICLE isn’t going to win any Pulitzer Prizes so don’t think we’re sending you off to read something life-changing. It is extremely short and basically states that a recent poll from an entity that we’ve never heard of conducted a study where individuals from different generations assessed their own ability in the kitchen.
It isn’t very in-depth but it does state that about 5% of millennials rated themselves as “very good” cooks. It also talks about Baby Boomers’ inability to identify a salad spinner (baby boomers are the only population I’ve ever seen use a salad spinner) and millennials’ inability to identify a butter knife.
This is actually a major reflection of how the world is changing. Younger generations are becoming more minimalist and materialistic at the same time. While many covet wearing the hottest brands of clothing and iPhones, they show little interest in collecting anything that isn’t seen as practical, or isn’t really seen in public. That change in the world, especially in urban areas in the United States, is in great part due to the technological advances that we’re making, many of which allow us to do nearly everything through our phones. As food delivery services become more competitive, prices and wait times will drop, so this trend will most likely continue to grow.
Facebook videos that last 15 seconds and provide simple recipes rack up hundreds of millions of views, but only a fraction of those individuals will ever try to recreate those dishes. Why? They might not have the tools necessary; whether that means the proper knives or skills. Knife skills aren’t just about dexterity; confidence is a huge part of being in the kitchen.
Titles are all about baiting individuals to click and I’m not a huge fan of this one: Millennials are the Worst Generation of Cooks in the Kitchen. Sure, that might be the case per capita, but young chefs are mastering classic techniques and innovating these dishes with touches of molecular gastronomy to change the way the world looks at food.
It becomes even more complicated when you think about the growth of fast food in our country. I’ve been reading Chew on This, which essentially pins baby boomers as the reason why fast food grew the way it did. I haven’t finished the book yet, so more thoughts to come later, but instead of pointing out what individuals aren’t capable of and who is to blame for it, let’s all work together so we can all eat happily for years to come! Stay hungry and fit!
I know one millennial who can cook …best tuna and beans meal that I have ever had 🙂
Parents that teach their kids how to cook are a huge reason why any Millennials would know how!
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