Unstoppable Price Hikes Reduce 'Cooking Satisfaction'; Over 60% Feel 'Dissatisfied with Their Own Cooking' Due to Excessive 'Price-First' Mentality <Survey on Home Cooking Amid Rising Prices>

Panasonic Corporation conducted a survey of 800 men and women nationwide who cook at home regularly, to investigate changes in awareness and behavior regarding 'home cooking' amid the recent surge in prices. Due to the recent price hikes and the impact of food and beverage price increases in April 2026, consumers' saving orientation has strengthened, and the trend of 'eating in' to avoid dining out is accelerating. This survey revealed that even in home cooking, the tendency to prioritize price when purchasing ingredients is accelerating, with many people taking specific actions such as 'avoiding buying expensive ingredients (like beef)' and 'choosing discounted items.' It also highlighted that an excessive focus on low prices is leading to monotonous menus and compromises on ingredient quality, resulting in people feeling unable to find confidence or joy in their cooking. Amidst this, expectations are rising for new cooking styles that leverage home appliance technology, not just personal cooking skills, as a means to maintain and improve the quality of home cooking. Panasonic's Panasonic Cooking@Lab, a team of food experts developing cooking programs for kitchen appliances, introduces appliances that help discover new ingredient possibilities and ways to enjoy cooking.

● Due to recent price hikes, over 60% have increased their 'price-first' approach when buying ingredients. The price increase in April this year has accelerated the saving mindset. 63.5% of people said they have increased their emphasis on 'low price' when buying ingredients for cooking due to the recent price hikes. 71.2% responded that their awareness of saving when purchasing ingredients has further increased due to the food and beverage price increases in April. ● Many people take actions involving compromise and restraint, such as 'not buying expensive ingredients' and 'choosing discounted items.' When asked about specific actions, the top responses were 'I try not to buy ingredients I feel are expensive (like beef) (30.1%)' and 'I try to choose discounted items (24.3%),' indicating actions accompanied by compromise and restraint. ● The 'price-first' mentality leads to fixed recipes and compromises on taste and quality. People feel dissatisfied with their cooking, experiencing a decline in 'cooking satisfaction.' It became clear that prioritizing price is reducing the quality of home cooking and motivation to cook. Among those who increased their 'price-first' approach, 55.5% felt that 'ingredients and recipes have become fixed,' and 39.0% felt they had to 'compromise on taste and quality.' Furthermore, 60.8% of people feel they 'cannot cook their ideal meal and are dissatisfied with their own cooking' due to these influences. ・Surveyor: Panasonic Corporation ・Survey Name: Survey on Home Cooking Circumstances Amid Rising Prices ・Area: Nationwide ・Survey Target: 800 men and women in their 20s to 50s who 'cook at home regularly (3 times a week or more)' ・Survey Period: May 14, 2026 - May 15, 2026 ・Survey Method: Internet survey *When citing survey results, please attribute them to 'Panasonic survey.' Due to recent price hikes, over 60% have increased their 'price-first' approach when buying ingredients. The price increase in April this year has accelerated the saving mindset. In response to the question, 'Have you increased your emphasis on 'low price' for saving when buying ingredients for cooking due to the recent price hikes?', 63.5% answered 'Yes.' This highlights how prolonged price hikes are significantly raising consumers' cost awareness regarding their daily meals. Furthermore, 71.2% said their saving awareness when purchasing ingredients has further increased due to the food and beverage price increases in April 2026. This suggests that the recent price revisions, on top of the daily price hikes, are burdening household budgets and rapidly accelerating cost-cutting moves in home cooking. Many people take actions involving compromise and restraint, such as 'not buying expensive ingredients' and 'choosing discounted items.' Specific actions taken by those who have increased their emphasis on low prices include 'I try not to buy ingredients I feel are expensive (like beef) (64.4%)' and 'I try to choose discounted items (52.0%)' at the top. Other actions include 'If I feel an ingredient I want is expensive, I try to choose a similar, cheaper alternative (43.5%)' and 'I try to choose ingredients of lower quality or grade (35.4%),' revealing that people are buying ingredients while restraining themselves and compromising on what they really want to buy due to price concerns. The 'price-first' mentality leads to fixed recipes and compromises on taste and quality. People feel dissatisfied with their cooking, experiencing a decline in 'cooking satisfaction.' Regarding the impact of prioritizing price, 'Ingredients and recipes become fixed (55.5%)' was the top response. Furthermore, 'I have to compromise on taste and quality (39.0%)' and 'The number of dishes decreases (33.1%)' were cited, and 'I am worried about nutritional imbalance (26.2%)' was reported by more than one in four people. Over 90% of all respondents felt some negative impact from the 'price-first' approach, highlighting that menu variety and meal quality are being sacrificed. Moreover, among those who felt some negative impact, 60.8% responded that 'due to the impact of prioritizing price, I cannot cook my ideal meal / I feel dissatisfied with my own cooking.' This reveals that an excessive focus on low prices prevents people from cooking the meals they originally wanted, resulting in a decline in 'cooking satisfaction.' ● Product Introduction As compromises in home cooking increase due to rising prices, why not consider incorporating the latest home appliances as a way to maintain the quality of home cooking? We introduce refrigerators that can deliciously preserve ingredients and manage them without waste, and automatic cooking pots that propose new ways to enjoy cooking with continuously added recipes. Freezer Refrigerator NR-F55HY3 The 'Compact BIG' series, which fits neatly in the kitchen and offers ample storage capacity. The freezer compartment, in particular, provides plenty of storage space on both the upper and lower shelves, so even those who buy ingredients in bulk can feel secure. Furthermore, it is equipped with 'Frost Suppression Freezing' to keep frozen ingredients delicious. Refrigerator AI Camera NY-PCZE2 An AI camera that can be installed in Panasonic refrigerators (*). By linking with the 'Kitchen Pocket app,' you can check the inside of the refrigerator from outside the home, preventing forgotten purchases and duplicates. Additionally, the AI automatically recognizes the type of vegetable and the date it was stored from images of the vegetable compartment. It notifies you of vegetables that should be used soon based on their shelf life and suggests recipes, helping you use up ingredients. *Limited to certain models Auto Cooker NF-AC1000 With its unique 'pot bottom stirring' mechanism, the blades rotate to scrape the bottom of the pot. High heat stir-fries ingredients to a crisp finish, and the pressure function allows for quick, tender simmering of stews. It comes with over 270 recipes, and new recipes are continuously being added. ● What is 'Panasonic Cooking@Lab'? With the motto 'Scientifically analyze deliciousness and deliver smiles and excitement to the dining table,' it is a team of cooking software development members from all categories of Panasonic's cooking business, including 'microwaves,' 'rice cookers,' 'cooking utensils,' 'IH cooking heaters,' and 'refrigerators.'