NEW YORK — A new survey of Americans with an annual household income of at least $150,000 found that 45 percent invest more money into their kitchens than any other room in the home — and 72 percent feel like their kitchen is “priceless” when compared to other rooms.
However, 82 percent still have an ideal “dream kitchen” in mind, with the most coveted features being an extra-large fridge (50%), extra counter space (50%), additional pantry space (48%), and extra shelf space (45%). When asked to name their most beloved tool or equipment they use in their kitchen, cast iron skillets take the top spot (26%), followed by stainless steel hand tools (16%) and baking sheets (11%).
Commissioned by Signature Kitchen Suite and conducted by OnePoll, the study found that people are strongly attached to their kitchens, with many describing feelings of satisfaction (66%), joy (49%), and productivity (47%) when they’re in the “heart of the home.” In fact, the survey shows that the average person is open to spending up to $74,000 to remodel their kitchen.
Close to half the poll (45%) only use high-end equipment when they cook, while four in five have started using smart technology, and two in five need a specific kitchen utensil for everything they cook.
“There’s a definite relationship between the amount of effort people put into their kitchens and the end result being a source of pride and satisfaction — and, of course, deliciousness,” says Nicholas Ritchie, Executive Chef at Signature Kitchen Suite, in a statement. “That is why it is so important to create a dream kitchen space that feels inviting and energizing to be in.”
For home chefs, practice makes perfect
The study also revealed that quality cooking comes from years of practice and embracing a bit of kitchen chaos. For half of respondents, cooking tends to be frantic, fast-paced and not exact. Meanwhile, 37 percent prefer a slow, methodical approach.
The average respondent also says they’ve been cooking independently at home for nine years, but it took them five years to really feel like they knew what they were doing in the kitchen. Now, they cook 10 meals at home per week on average, and two out of three (67%) have a passion for cooking difficult meals. Many credited their learned cooking skills to themselves (55%), their parents (55%), or YouTube (30%).
“With many people spending more time at home these past few years, homeowners have become more comfortable and confident in the kitchen,” Ritchie continues. “Now is the time to capitalize on that new-found confidence and surround themselves with innovative tools and technology to ensure that their meals are made in the best possible way.”
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 Americans with an annual household income of at least $150,000 was commissioned by Signature Kitchen Suite between Nov. 12–21, 2022. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).