It may come as a surprise to anyone who’s been on a French holiday and experienced the luxuries of Gallic cuisine, but British people are actually more interested in cooking than their continental counterparts.

UK research from Olive, the BBC Food Magazine, reveals a surprising twist on the standard stereotypes when compared with research from French magazine Madame Figaro.

It appears that though 72% of British people cook at home every day, only 59% of French people do the same. British cooks also spend more time in the kitchen and amazingly, have a wider variety of tastes.

Around half of all UK respondents said that they spent at least 30 minutes each day cooking, compared with just over 25% in France. The British also said they frequently prepared dishes such as Italian, Indian or Chinese, whilst the French were likely to be more conservative.

This twist on national stereotypes is perhaps explained by another finding; French consumers eat out more often than the British, going to a restaurant at least three times a month.

This will probably ring true with anyone who has gone on a French holiday; cafés, bars and restaurants are far more popular on a day to day basis over the channel than they are in the UK. Simply put, the French cook less – because they can get better food when they eat out.

Commenting on the survey, Olive editor Christine Hayes said: “Although the French have an enviable food heritage, it’s fascinating to see how much British people have embraced home cooking and international cuisine over the past few years.”

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