From sushi mats to bamboo steamers - Brits have £11 Billion worth of UNUSED kitchen equipment gathering dust in British homes

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

New research has revealed the extent to which modern Brits 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 percent of Brits 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 percent of people who have one have NEVER used it), tagines (53 percent), sushi mats (52 percent), spiralisers (52 percent) and pasta makers (49 percent).

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

The poll found 62 percent of adults said they were guilty of buying the latest must-have gadgets, with over a quarter of Brits owning a bread maker and 17 percent 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 percent) said they have brought items home from holiday with the intention of cooking recipes they had sampled abroad – but 11 percent 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 Brits to attempt recreating after a holiday or meal out, followed by Spanish and Chinese.

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

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

18 percent said after a hectic day at work, the last thing they want to do is come home and cook from scratch - and 18 percent 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 Brit attempts to cook from scratch just five times a month.

MOST UNUSED PIECES OF KITCHEN EQUIPMENT

1. Soufflé dishes
2. Expensive BBQs / outdoor grills
3. Ice cream makers
4. Escargot forks
5. Chop sticks
6. Bamboo steamers
7. Tagines
8. Sushi mats
9. Spiralisers
10. Sous Vides (water bath)
11. Pasta rollers
12. Pestle and Mortars
13. Waffle makers
14. Bread makers
15. Potato ricers
16. Pastry forks
17. Tapas dishes
18. Juicers
19. Cake tins
20. Blenders
21. Slow cookers
22. Knife sharpeners
23. Mixers
24. Woks
25. Chef knives

ENDS

Contact harriet@gingercomms.com for more details