TV chef Radhika Howarth joins forces with Hamilton Beach to inspire Britain to rediscover the joy of home cooking, build kitchen confidence and make delicious meals from scratch, as new research reveals a nationwide cooking confidence gap.
From HelloFresh and Gousto recipe boxes delivered to the doorstep to Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats offering dinner at the touch of a button, Britain’s relationship with cooking is changing. But as convenience becomes an increasingly familiar part of everyday life, are we losing the confidence to create meals from scratch?
New research commissioned by kitchen appliance brand Hamilton Beach reveals that more than half of Britons (54%) don’t feel fully confident cooking from scratch, highlighting an opportunity to help more people feel comfortable preparing meals, experimenting with ingredients and discovering the enjoyment of home cooking.
The findings from the Hamilton Beach UK Home Cooking Index 2026* have prompted the brand to join forces with TV chef, food writer and author Radhika Howarth to encourage more people to get back into the kitchen and discover just how rewarding cooking at home can be.
Rather than relying on complicated recipes or expensive ingredients, Radhika wants to show how simple cooking techniques, everyday ingredients and quality kitchen appliances can help people prepare delicious meals with greater confidence, while saving time and making everyday cooking more accessible.
For Radhika, cooking at home is about much more than putting food on the table. It offers an opportunity to unwind, switch off from the pressures of everyday life and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something from scratch. Preparing meals at home can also help households manage their food budgets, make better use of ingredients and reduce their reliance on expensive takeaways and ready-made meals.
“There’s nothing wrong with convenience. Recipe boxes can introduce people to fantastic ingredients and new cuisines, and we all have evenings when ordering dinner is the easiest option,” says Radhika, Hamilton Beach’s UK and Europe brand ambassador.
But there’s a real difference between following a recipe step by step and understanding how to create a meal yourself. Cooking is about knowing how ingredients work together, building flavour and having the confidence to make decisions without someone telling you exactly what to do. My concern is that if we become too dependent on convenience, we risk overlooking those fundamental skills that allow us to cook independently.”
Through her partnership with Hamilton Beach, Radhika hopes to demonstrate that home cooking doesn’t need to be time-consuming or intimidating. From preparing quick family dinners to experimenting with new flavours, her focus is on helping people develop practical skills and discover how the right appliances can take much of the effort out of cooking, without taking away the creativity and enjoyment.
The research also highlights a desire among consumers to become better cooks. Leicester emerged as Britain’s most ambitious home-cooking city, with 51% of respondents enjoying learning new cooking techniques and 37.1% aspiring to restaurant-quality results at home. Brighton & Hove topped the overall Home Cooking Index, while Norwich recorded the highest proportion of people who felt confident preparing meals from scratch.
Modern kitchen appliances also have an important role to play. Air fryers, slow cookers, blenders and food processors can reduce preparation time and simplify everyday cooking, allowing people to focus on experimenting with flavours and ingredients rather than spending hours preparing meals.
With convenience now an established part of modern food culture, Radhika believes helping people develop practical cooking skills is more important than ever.
Radhika Howarth is a TV chef, food writer and Hamilton Beach UK ambassador. and author of Flavours Without Borders. Follow her culinary adventures, recipes and food inspiration on Instagram @radikalkitchen.
Hamilton Beach recently launched its Professional Range in the UK, offering professional-inspired kitchen appliances designed to combine performance, versatility and durability for the home kitchen.
To find out more, visit – www.hamiltonbeach.co.uk/pages/professional
