How Long Brits Really Cook on Christmas Day: Festive Food Trends Revealed
With festive planning underway, recipe box Gousto set out to understand how the nation will really eat this Christmas. Despite growing demand for convenience, many Brits are still spending a long time in the kitchen.
Whilst one in five (17%) now skip cooking altogether, almost two-thirds of Brits (65%) still spend time preparing at least part of their Christmas meal. The majority (28%) continue to cook most dishes from scratch on the day, while 23% combine on-the-day and pre-prepared elements, and 14% prepare everything in advance. For many, Christmas Day remains a home-cooking marathon — even as people say they want more time to relax and socialise.
A Fairer, But No Faster Festive Kitchen
Perhaps the biggest cultural surprise this year is that men and women now spend almost identical amounts of time in the kitchen. Nearly 28% of both genders cook most dishes on the day, while 17% of each skip cooking altogether. Among those putting in the longest shifts, 38% of men and 35% of women spend three to four hours cooking, showing that the festive workload is now shared, but not shortened. Despite rising access to pre-prepped and time-saving options, many households are still spending hours cooking rather than relaxing together.
UK’s Worst Cities for Spending 5+ Hours in the Kitchen
- Leeds (10%)
- Brighton (9%)
- Manchester (8%)
- London (7%)
- Newcastle (7%)
Regional differences also reveal distinct Christmas kitchen habits. When it comes to marathon cooking sessions, Leeds tops the list of cities where residents are most likely to spend long hours in the kitchen, with 10% saying they cook or prepare food for five or more hours. Brighton (9%) and Manchester (8%) follow closely behind, whilst London and Newcastle (7%) also feature among the cities most likely to clock serious time behind the stove.
Meat-Free Meals Mean Fewer Minutes in the Kitchen
The rise of plant-based menus shows that sustainability and simplicity can go hand in hand. Over half (55%) of those cooking plant-based meals spend just one to two hours in the kitchen, compared with 52% of venison cooks, who average 2.9 hours. Going green, it seems, can mean a calmer, quicker Christmas.
In an age of busy lives, rising costs, sustainability concerns and mounting festive pressure, this new chapter is emerging in how the UK celebrates. Less about perfection, more about participation. Less time cooking, more time together.
Cook Up Effortless Christmas Showstoppers with Gousto
For those looking to enjoy a delicious, plant-based Christmas without spending hours in the kitchen, Gousto has you covered. Their festive recipes are designed to help you save time whilst still serving up impressive, flavour-packed dishes. Want to know more about how Britain is celebrating the season? Further insights into British Festive Feasting habits can be found on Gousto’s Festive Feasting blog.
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