Nadia Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director and President Yoshiki Katsuragi), which operates the cooking media "Nadia" (URL: https://oceans-nadia.com/), conducted a survey (※) on "Changes in home cooking awareness and behavior comparing 3 years ago, present, and the next 3 years."

(※) Survey period and number of respondents: January 23-29, 2026, 1046 Nadia users responded / Survey institution: In-house survey / Target: Users registered with Nadia / Survey method: Recruitment of survey respondents via email newsletter

Overcoming the Burden of Increased Home Cooking with "Cost-Effective Ingredients" and "Time-Saving Cooking Tools"

In a survey comparing home cooking frequency between three years ago and now, the number of respondents who answered "0 days a week (do not cook at home)" decreased from 3.5% to 1.6%, while the "daily (7 days a week)" group increased from 49.2% to 55.0%. The overwhelming reasons cited were the impact of rising prices, such as "eating out is expensive" and "want to save money," followed by "changes in work and lifestyle" and "health consciousness."

Regarding changes in cooking time, the "time-saving group" who efficiently finish cooking within 30 minutes increased from 42.6% to 45.9%, while the "meticulous group" who spend 60 minutes or more carefully preparing meals decreased from 31.3% to 29.6%.

The background to the trend of increased home cooking frequency alongside shortened cooking times includes time constraints due to work and childcare, with respondents commenting, "I started incorporating one-pan cooking and microwave cooking" and "I utilize frozen foods and meal prep." This indicates a situation where "the normalization and efficiency of home cooking" are progressing simultaneously, smartly reducing the burden per cooking session even as the frequency increases.

Regarding changes in what people consider when choosing ingredients and cooking utensils (multiple answers) compared to three years ago, "saving money (49.9%)" ranked first, followed by "health/nutrition (42.1%)" and "ease of cooking (41.6%)."

Specifically, the most frequently used ingredients that increased in use were "chicken breast (39.5%)" in first place, "atsuage (fried tofu) (25.2%)" in second, and "broccoli (19.4%)" in third. These are supported as inexpensive, nutritious, and volume-adding "bulk-up ingredients," reflecting the balance between saving money due to recent price hikes and nutritional aspects. Furthermore, the increased use of "pre-cut vegetables (19.3%)" and "frozen vegetables (19.1%)" indicates a time-performance consciousness aimed at skipping pre-processing and securing time.

【Reference: Trend in Nadia search volume for ingredients with increased frequency of use】

・Chicken breast: 2023 → 2025 119.3% (19.3% increase)

・Atsuage: 2023 → 2025 111.7% (11.7% increase)

・Broccoli: 2023 → 2025 101.3% (1.3% increase)

・Pre-cut vegetables: 2023 → 2025 163.7% (63.7% increase)

Furthermore, in cooking tools, the frequency of use for "microwave cookware" and "kitchen scissors" has also increased. Cooking methods that lower physical and psychological hurdles, such as "not using fire," "not using knives or cutting boards," and "reducing dishes to wash," are gaining popularity. The combination of "cost-effective ingredients x time-saving cooking tools" seems to be a major characteristic of the home cooking style in 2026.

Differences in "Food Investment" per Household Beyond Shared Awareness

In response to the question, "What do you want to spend the most money and time on regarding food in the next three years?", for "child-rearing households (households with children below high school age)" currently raising children, "time-saving/convenience (14.9%)" ranked second, following "health/nutrition (48.6%)". This indicates that solving the daily life challenge of "how to efficiently manage daily meals" has become a priority amidst increasing home cooking frequency.

On the other hand, for "adult-centered households (single, couple, empty-nester households, etc.)," "cooking environment (16.2%)" was cited after "health/nutrition (40.4%)". This group places more importance on creating a comfortable environment for enjoying cooking than on "time-saving/convenience (3rd place: 14.9%)," suggesting a more hobby-oriented approach to home cooking.

Notably, in both household types, the desire for "health" and "efficiency/environment" surpassed the inclination towards luxuries such as "taste/quality" and "eating out/food experiences."

Amidst the increase in home cooking due to rising prices, the tendency to prioritize not only saving money but also "how to make cooking easy and time-saving" is particularly pronounced for child-rearing households juggling childcare and work. This survey result symbolizes a busy daily life where "time-performance" is prioritized in daily meal preparation, while also considering health and nutrition.

Increased Health Consciousness and What People Want to Utilize to Sustain Home Cooking Without Strain

Regarding ingredients and cooking tools that respondents feel will be utilized more in the future (free answers), many practical items for continuing home cooking without strain were mentioned.

Specifically, items that reduce pre-processing effort such as "frozen foods/frozen stock," "meal kits/pre-processed ingredients," and "pre-cut vegetables." Furthermore, there is notable attention to health-conscious items like "fermented foods" and "high-protein ingredients," "automatic cooking appliances" that complete a dish without much effort, and "freezing/meal prep" for efficient preparation when time allows.

These indicate that they are deeply rooted in daily life as "strong allies" for continuing home cooking without strain. It is predicted that a home cooking style of "smartly incorporating convenient items to create daily余裕" will become the new standard.

Nadia's Proposal! 3 Cost-Effective and Time-Saving Recipes to Support Increased Home Cooking

Here are three recipes that are perfect for the current home cooking style, as revealed by this survey, and that you'll want to try right away.

A money-saving trio of chicken breast x atsuage x broccoli!

Voluminous and satisfying ◎

【Chicken and Broccoli Chili Sauce Stir-fry】A money-saving side dish that goes well with rice! by RINATY

https://oceans-nadia.com/user/236306/recipe/491151

Quickly cut with kitchen scissors, no knife or cutting board needed!

Then leave it to the microwave ♪

Easy in the microwave ♪ No need to rehydrate ♪ No knife needed ♪ Rich and refreshing! Pork and Chive Vermicelli by Emi Matsuyama

https://oceans-nadia.com/user/45109/recipe/435885

After cutting the ingredients, put them in a plastic bag with seasonings.

A pre-seasoned freezer recipe that helps on busy days!

【Bulgogi-style Stamina Stir-fry】Easy seasoning in a plastic bag ♪ Just stir-fry! by coto

https://oceans-nadia.com/user/484627/recipe/440538

If you have any other data you are interested in, please use the keywords: Nadia, home cooking, rising prices, saving money, recipes, cooking, health, kitchen, cost-performance, time-performance.

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: News