Looking to please your partner? Start in the kitchen, not the bedroom.
Seven in 10 Americans polled in a new survey agreed that whipping something up for their partner in the kitchen is far more intimate than having sex.
The study asked 2,000 Americans in a relationship how cooking plays into their relationships and found 79% believe good food is the most surefire way to someone’s heart.
The ability to cook is so important, in fact, 43% of respondents said they’ve ended relationships in the past if their partner was a bad cook.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of meal kit company, HelloFresh, the survey found three-quarters of those polled said they’re more likely to go on a date with someone they know can cook.
In fact, in addition to being kind and having a good sense of humor, the ability to cook is considered one of the most attractive traits a potential partner can have.
Food and romance appear to be quite connected. Sixty-five percent agreed that if the meal on a date is bad, the date will be bad too, whereas 72% said the outcome will be better if the food hits the mark.
The ability to cook may be a turn-on, but going out to eat can raise some red flags about a new partner.
Over half of respondents said if their date is rude to the staff (56%) or chews with their mouth open (52%), they may not be calling them for a second date.
If you’re thinking about snagging a fry off your date’s plate – think twice; 47% said it’s an immediate turn-off when their date eats off their plate without asking first.
Just over a quarter (27%) of respondents are also turned off when their date doesn’t tip well or has one too many cocktails (26%).
Respondents shared that it takes four dates for them to feel comfortable shifting the environment of their dates to their partner’s home and five dates for them to feel comfortable hosting their date for dinner.
After you reach this point, 81% of respondents agreed that the relationship is serious when you start cooking for your partner – and men were more likely to agree with this than women (85% vs. 78%).
Once their dates are in the comfort of their own homes, 78% of those surveyed said their cooking skills actually improved – citing that they're more likely to cook at home than go out to dinner (67%) and use this as an opportunity to spend more time with their partner (58%).
“Cooking can be an intimate activity that creates bonds and brings people together, so we encourage couples to get in the kitchen to spend some quality time together preparing a meal,” said Kristin Bryan, Director of Culinary Innovation at HelloFresh. “Cooking should be fun and easy, no matter your culinary experience so we are proud that 48% of survey respondents attribute their improved cooking skills to using meal kits.”
When it comes down to deciding what to do for date night, 49% of respondents prefer a home-cooked meal over going out (33%).
In fact, 73% agreed certain foods are more romantic when cooked at home – with chocolate and strawberries topping the list of “sexiest” foods.
Forty-five percent said the top disagreement they have with their partner is where to go out to eat and 35% often quarrel over what to cook for dinner.
SEXIEST TRAITS TO HAVE IN A PARTNER
Kindness - 46%
A sense of humor - 42%
Intellect/intelligence - 40%
Good listener - 39%
Confidence - 35%
The ability to cook - 32%
Similar political views - 26%
TOP ARGUMENTS COUPLES HAVE
Where to go out to eat - 45%
My partner doesn’t cook as often as I’d like them to - 42%
Stories and infographics by ‘Talker Research’ are available to download & ready to use. Stories and videos by ‘Talker News’ are managed by SWNS. To license content for editorial or commercial use and to see the full scope of SWNS content, please email [email protected] or submit an inquiry via our contact form.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.