Aarhus University Seal

Men and women are equally good at cooking

In Danish households, men and women generally have equal cooking skills; however, women take the lead when it comes to baking and desserts. This appears from a recent report from Aarhus University.

[Translate to English:] Det er generelt vigtigere for kvinder end for mænd, at måltiderne indtages i fællesskab. Foto: Colourbox

In Danish households, men and women have equal cooking competences. This is one of the results from a new report “Quality index 2017 – Focus on family meal patterns”. Since 2014, quality indexes have been published to e.g. demonstrate the development of the Danes’ perception of food quality.

Each year, the index report focuses on other aspects of Danish food habits; and in the recent report scientists from the MAPP Centre at Aarhus University focus on meal patterns in Danish families. Among other issues, they have examined the cooking competences of men and women living in the same household.

Women are better at baking

-          The cooking skills of men and women are very equal, but women are more sophisticated when it comes to baking and desserts, says Associate Professor Tino Bech-Larsen, MAPP Centre at Aarhus University, and one of the authors of the report ”Quality index 2017”.

The Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark commissioned the report based on a wish to encourage and follow the Danes’ interests in quality foods. The report was published by DCA – Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture, and is a part of Aarhus University’s agreement on research-based policy support.

-          Both men and women agree, that women usually decide when it comes to food shopping. In addition, women tend to find more inspiration from cookbooks, TV programs and food blogs than men do; and they are better at teaching others how to cook, says Tino Bech-Larsen.

Meals together with the family

Eating together as a family, considering the meal as a unifying factor, is more important to older Danes than the youngest ones.  

-          In addition, it is generally more important to women that the family eats their meals together. Men tend to find more barriers to this, such as e.g. time pressure and various leisure activities, says Tino Bech-Larsen.  

Read the entire DCA report ”Quality index 2017 – Focus on family meal patterns” here. (in Danish)


You may also read the article ”Increasing consumer satisfaction with foods in the retail industry” 


You can read more about Danish food habits and attitudes to foods in ”Food index 2017”, recently published by Madkulturen. 


Further information

Associate Professor Tino Bech-Larsen

Department of Management – MAPP Centre, Aarhus University

E-mail: tib@mgmt.au.dk

Tel.: +45 24 22 25 92