One in seven Britons have never cooked steak at home because they fear they will spoil the food, a new poll has found.
A recent survey of 2,000 people found that a third of respondents were so nervous about ruining the expensive food that they avoided trying it altogether.
The survey, carried out by Asda, discovered that one in seven (14 per cent) said they had never cooked a steak – whether fillet, sirloin or ribeye – as they did not think they had the culinary skills.
A quarter of Brits said they also avoided experimenting with new ingredients due to concerns they would spoil their meal – and one in five (18 per cent) admitted to throwing a piece of meat in the bin due to poor cooking.
The health benefits of red meat have been a hotly debated topic over the years, especially amid the rise of vegetarian and vegan diets.
Earlier this year, a survey by Finder, a comparison site, estimated that around 16 per cent of the UK population has a meat-free diet, with 1.1 million going vegan in the past year.
Official UK advice recommends eating no more than 70g of red or processed meat a day – which is the size of a deck of cards – but there is no official guidance on white meat (chicken and turkey).
But despite the mixed reports on the health benefits of red meat, the red meat diet has been praised by some.
Weight loss
Guy Ritchie earlier this year credited a new steak diet he had started with helping his weight loss.
Speaking on Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast, the 56-year-old film director said the diet helped him lose a stone in weight.
“Usually what I eat is a ribeye five or six days a week,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bear Grylls also ditched his previous vegan diet this year in favor of a heavy red meat alternative – eating a steak a day.
Red meat is one of the best available sources of iron, zinc and B vitamins. However, studies have linked overconsumption with an increased risk of bowel cancer.
Following the survey, Asda announced it is launching a concierge service to help aspiring chefs brush up their skills.
David Hills, chief customer officer at Asda, said: “With three in 10 people lacking confidence in their culinary skills, we’ve launched our Culinary Concierge service to provide Michelin-level support to match our restaurant-worthy food.
“From our delicious steaks sold by the ounce to the exceptional ultimate pork crackling joint, Chef Kate Austen will be on hand to provide her expert insight to support our customers in making the most of their quality ingredients at home.”