Almost six in 10 people have tried a cooking hack or recipe they have seen on social media, with many people feeling inspired “more than once a day” by the cooking or baking content they see online.
This is according to a new study, commissioned by Samsung, which reveals the extent viral cooking hacks and recipes on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook influence the nation’s cooking habits.
When it comes to viral food trends the nation have built into their cooking routine, air frying came out top, with four in 10 UK adults (42 per cent) now using air frying as a healthier option to deep fry food. Chips, chicken and potatoes are the most popular foods to air fry, followed by less obvious foods such as salmon, meatballs and steak.
In terms of gender, more women (45 per cent) then men (38 per cent) air fry their food, with the 18 to 24-year-olds age group air frying the most (62 per cent).
To give the nation some air frying inspiration, Samsung has teamed up with Jenny Tschiesche, author of Sunday Times Bestseller ‘Air Fryer Cookbook’ – which features 101 delicious, tried-and-tested recipes to help you get the most out of your air-fryer – to share her top five air frying hacks:
- If you would like to cook something but only have oven cooking instructions, fear not. You can reduce the cooking time and the temperature;
- You can air fry in baking sheets and trays; foods that lend themselves best to this include flapjacks, gratin dishes and anything with a sauce;
- Space out your food. The most efficient and effective air frying happens when there is space between food items so that hot air can circulate all around it and cook the food evenly;
- Invest in a digital food thermometer, to give you confidence when air frying and ensure your food is cooked to a safe temperature;
- Buy a pair of tongs for turning food for even cooking. Those with silicone tips will be the easiest to clean.
When it comes to the reasons why people use viral cooking hacks and make recipes they see online, creating more affordable meals (53 per cent), simplifying the cooking experience (44 per cent) and wanting to save time in the kitchen (43 per cent) ranked top.
Dan Harvie, VP, Head of Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics UK, said: “We know the impact cooking hacks and recipes found on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook have on our customers cooking routines, which is why we continually introduce new features to meet changing lifestyle needs, such as air frying.
“Earlier this year, we launched the 5 and 6 series cooking appliances, including multiple ovens which come with an air frying function built in, helping to promote healthy eating. Simply place food on the tray and use the Air Fry mode to cook food using a little oil and without a deep fryer. Plus, with SmartThings Cooking, you can get personalised recipes and a weekly meal plan that promote healthy eating, ensuring you always stay on track.”
