More and more men are entering the kitchen to cook at home. What motivated them to do so?

For a very long time, men have kept themselves “away” from the home kitchen with the main reason of “not knowing how to cook”. This occurs not only in Asian countries but also in many Western countries – which are more open and equal in the relationship between men and women.

However, more and more men are “brave” to break that stereotype. Men in the kitchen are now in fashion! Aren’t you still looking for men who are willing to share the housework and cooking? Let’s explore the increasingly popular “boys in the kitchen” trend and find out why you should do the same.

Man of the kitchen

Many men do not want to cook. For them, this is really tedious, time-consuming work and after a long day at work, not many of us are willing to put in the extra time and effort to cook a dinner.

However, when times change, people’s opinions also change. If in the past, the image of men cooking in the kitchen was often exploited by movies with sarcastic attitudes such as clinging to their wives’ skirts, growing beards or being afraid of their wives, today it is the media that encourages men to cook with very clever ways.

One of the “strategies” to lure men into the kitchen is to add masculine elements to home cooking. Many men often get the impression that cooking is too “feminine” and that’s why they stay away from the kitchen. This may be because the “hunter-gatherer” mentality left over from prehistory in men makes us feel like we need to shoulder the heavy lifting rather than “bury our heads in the kitchen”.

Over time, famous male chefs in the culinary industry have also played a part in changing that perception by creating a masculine image of cooking and “food culture”, so they also become a role model for a part of men to start learning to cook.

Another reason is the difference in opinion and attitude towards cooking in both men and women. Men see learning to cook as a hobby, something they want to do when they feel like it, for example in the kitchen to impress on a date or for a special occasion.

On the other hand, for women, cooking at home is more “responsible”. This difference affects the content that the media creates for both sexes. Cooking guides for men are more experimental, while for women, the content of TV shows will be deeply focused on recipes that are quick, easy to make, save time and money. effort.

Men’s competitiveness is inherently higher than women’s, so when they have cooked a dish well, they will want to show more effort and compare their talents with others. This is like “adding fuel to the fire” in a good sense and will motivate them to keep doing more and better.

Move cooking location from outdoor to indoor

A very interesting fact is that among the few times men show an interest in cooking is when they are outdoors. It could be flipping pieces of meat on the grill when holding a lake party or roasting potatoes and cassava by a campfire.

If this is your vision of “cooking”, congratulations, you are not alone! According to a 2015 report by Maxim Online magazine, men are twice as likely to take on the job of “baking food” than women. The feeling of cooking food on a bare fire brings a magical atmosphere that any man would crave.

While this is a good start to learning to cook, cooking at home will require more skill and technique. However, once you have mastered a few skills such as using a fancy knife, tossing food, flipping a pan, etc., even standing in the kitchen will give off a wonderful aura and look real. “cool cool”.

When the show’s cooking competition on the set has lost its appeal, professional chefs have come up with ways to build cooking shows at home. There, they focus more on how you can create delicious food on par with real restaurants while still being able to cook from the comfort of your own home.

Home kitchen versus Professional kitchen

Another example can be seen of the gender divide in cooking – that is when cooking becomes a job. Ironically, more men cook in professional kitchens than cook at home.

In fact, 2018 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that only 19.7% of women “run” kitchens at restaurants, despite the U.S. workforce as much as 47%. are women, and women make up 51% of the Culinary Academy of America’s student body. This proves that: the concept that men do not like to cook is only half true! The reality is that men just love to cook professionally.

However, cooking at home doesn’t mean any less fun, even if it’s not your main occupation. The best way a woman can involve her husband or partner in the kitchen is to ask them to help with the cooking to an increasing degree.

At first, it was just asking to go to the market, going to the supermarket together, then gradually it was thanks to washing potatoes and onions, chopping vegetables, marinating meat… While standing in the kitchen and talking, it was an opportunity for two people to have a good time. learn from each other and make the relationship stronger.

Once men understand the hardships and difficulties of women when cooking, they will sympathize and reduce criticism and grumbling when this dish is too pale, or the other dish has more salt than usual. !

Cooking is now easier, happier

Technological advances in the kitchen can also help men get more inspired to stand in the kitchen. For example, instead of agonizingly fanning the charcoal to make it pink and then grilling it with um smoke – both hot and dirty, there is now an oven. The man just needs to marinate the meat, shape it into a ball, put it in the oven and turn the knob to adjust the time and temperature. The feeling of watching the pieces of meat change color, the fat flows down the sizzling tray in front of you is really interesting.

One type of kitchen appliance that has been on the rise for the past few years is the air fryer (or air fryer) that also has its own appeal to men. Many models of air fryers use induction with very beautiful and “futuristic” designs.

With just a few quick steps, the husbands themselves can produce batches of golden fries or crispy fried dishes that are not inferior to women – and importantly, with no effort.

What perhaps not only men but also women are not interested in – washing dishes after eating – now has a dishwasher to take care of. Dishwashers not only use less water, but also clean much more than washing by hand.

So, once you have a dishwasher in your home, the kitchen work is considered to have been reduced by more than half of the burden!

Men – are you ready for the challenge?

Learning to cook can be a daunting task for most of us, but it’s an important survival skill to have and everyone should know. Cooking will teach you independence, helping you learn how to save time, money, and energy.

Moreover, the image of a man who can cook (and cook well) will make a very strong impression on women. Above all, it gives you a sense of joy and accomplishment when you create something with your own hands, and you yourself can enjoy the fruits of your labor on the spot.

With the help of modern cooking equipment, standing in the kitchen becomes easier and at some point it will be a joy for men. So let’s go to the kitchen, put on an apron and start cooking now!