North Olmsted, Ohio… Over the years, behaviors in the home have dramatically shifted. When it comes to socializing, many people prefer a night in with close company to a night out on the town. Sharing meals and entertaining guests have become more popular, and Americans have adapted to these adjusted routines initially brought on by the pandemic.
According to a new survey by Moen*, the number one consumer faucet brand in North America, Americans prefer to host at home, but this comes with its struggles.
How the Pandemic Has Impacted Kitchen Routines
In fact, according to the Moen survey, nearly 30% of Americans cook daily, and of those who do, 35% reported an increased frequency since 2020.
But why the change? Nearly half of U.S. homeowners say it’s healthier for their families and would rather stay home. Interestingly, though, the survey revealed a gender difference: For instance, men were more likely than women to report they cooked more often after the pandemic.
Hosting Comes with Hurdles, but Being Home Reigns Supreme
While many homeowners routinely cook throughout the week, the study found that, in many cases, it is driven by choice: the desire to entertain. As a way to create more social environments, 42% of Americans claim they host as a reason to spend time with friends and family they love.
While hosting should allow people to connect and enjoy company, meal preparation can pull hosts away from the party. Although 45% find it enjoyable but stressful, 65% say preparation and cleanup are their biggest hurdle. To combat this, 53% "clean as they go” to curb post-party stress.
Though mouthwatering dishes certainly contribute to a memorable gathering, the pressure of planning, shopping and prepping can eclipse the joy of entertaining and hinder hosts’ abilities to fully enjoy their company.
This data begs the question, why do Americans prefer to have people over? Affordability and comfort were among the primary reasons. Whether relaxing with family, inviting a small group of friends, or throwing a bash, the benefits of being home can outweigh the tasks affiliated with hosting.
Homeowners Enjoy Cooking for Guests but Seek Solutions to Minimize Struggles
When it comes to achieving the perfect meal, it’s easy to enjoy the moment, savor the food, and embrace company. But the reality is not that simple. The survey found the biggest setbacks with the cooking process saw cleaning the kitchen and time consumption tied for first and expensive ingredients and doing the dishes tied for second.
Moen discovered that the typical meal takes one to two hours between preparation and cleaning up for most Americans (54%), while 61% wish it were far less demanding, taking less than an hour. Between the packed schedules and demanding priorities many people experience routinely, whipping up breakfast, lunch and dinner can feel more like a burden than enjoyment.
“The kitchen is the centerpiece of the home and often where people spend a lot of their time,” said Sinit Rin, group category manager, kitchen, Moen. “At Moen, we are developing products that help homeowners alleviate everyday struggles throughout the home and make their experiences positive, especially in the kitchen.”
Starting with preparation, Moen Luxe Chef™ Workstation System Sinks offer unparalleled customization and efficiency to elevate culinary endeavors. Thoughtfully designed to streamline users’ workflows and simplify tasks, the sink’s space-saving design includes an exclusive under-sink pullout storage bin to keep accessories organized. This enhances the kitchen's functionality and aesthetic appeal while reinventing the user’s meal prep experience.
As Moen's research shows, cleanup is among the least desired tasks in the kitchen. Enter Moen Garbage Disposals. This line of products helps make kitchen cleanup a breeze, minimizing the number of trips to the garbage can and allowing for efficient food disposal. Moen designed various options based on how people use their kitchens and offers a fit for everyone—from the at-home chef and frequent entertainer to TV dinner connoisseurs.
As American homeowners opt to spend more time at home, cooking and entertainment trends are changing. However, people are looking for products that make staying home less demanding and more fulfilling. Moen strives to address these challenges through innovative product technology that helps streamline kitchen workflow and transform everyday tasks into rewarding experiences.
For more information on Moen, visit www.moen.com.
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*The Moen 2024 Homeowner Trends Survey was conducted in partnership with Falls & Co. December 28, 2023-January 2, 2024, among 1,000 U.S. homeowners aged 18 and up. The survey had a margin of error of +/-3.1%, estimated at a 95% confidence interval.
ABOUT MOEN
Moen is the #1 consumer faucet brand in North America, offering a vast array of stylish and innovative kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products, kitchen sinks, garbage disposals, leak detection products and connected home offerings for residential applications that give consumers more power than ever before to understand and control the water that flows through their homes. These thoughtful designs deliver an exceptional user experience and elevate how people interact with water daily. In addition, Moen® Commercial offers superior-performing products that can deliver lower lifetime costs for today's facilities.
Moen is part of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: FBIN), a brand, innovation and channel leader focused on exciting, supercharged categories in the home products, security and commercial building markets. Moen anchors Water Innovations (WINN), which also includes several brands under the House of Rohl® including Perrin & Rowe®, ROHL®, Riobel®, Shaws® and Victoria + Albert®. Fortune Brands’ other brands include Fiberon® composite decking and railing products; Master Lock®, Yale® residential, August® and Sentry® Safe security products; LARSON® storm doors and windows and Therma-Tru® entry door systems. For more information, please visit www.FBIN.com.
CONTACT:
Samantha Eastman or Emily Baker
Falls & Co.
(216) 696-0229
seastman@fallsandco.com
ebaker@fallsandco.com