Favourite dishes such as lasagnes, curries and spag bol could be at risk of dying out as four out of five shun cooking meals they fear will stain their favourite crockery, cutlery and pans. Numerous classic Brit dishes, including cheesy pasta bakes and sticky toffee pudding, all face the chopping block as 83.9% of houseproud foodies admit there are dishes they may never cook again for fear of stains.
Because of this, more than half (54%) of us are resorting to using disposable cookware, crockery and cutlery so they can bin the mess and 'save' their homeware. The survey, conducted by Finish, revealed that more than half of Brits (60%) admit feeling embarrassed in front of guests by their day-to-day crockery and cookware like pans and casserole dishes due to stains.
Curry was a dish a fifth (18%) of Brits avoid cooking, closely followed by sticky toffee pudding (17%) due to staining potential.Hot on its heels was lasagne and moussaka (both 14%) while cheesy pastas including bolognese (12%) and macaroni cheese (11%) were ones Brits avoid whipping up in the kitchen.
Of those quizzed, three-quarters of Brits said they'd only use their 'best' crockery when entertaining guests and in-laws - with 17% claiming they'd feel 'judged' for their everyday dishes.
The research, of 2,000 dishwasher owners, also revealed that on average Brits have a repertoire of just six recipes that they cook on rotation.
Not only is 'dishwasher doubt' steering Brits away from delicious ingredients such as beetroot, turmeric and red wine, but it’s also leading to water wastage.
A whopping 83% of Brits pre-rinse their dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. According to Finish, skipping this could save up to 1,000 litres of water per year in the UK.
Finish has just launched dishwasher tab Finish Ultimate Plus, formulated to restore faith in the dishwasher and keep Britain experimenting with recipes without fear of burnt-on stains.
Master Chef critic Grace Dent decided to put the new dishwasher tab to the test by rustling up a Mediterranean Turmeric Chicken Casserole.
The meal contains the ingredient turmeric, a spice notorious for leaving a yellow stain on dishes.
In a 90-second clip, Grace films herself cooking the casserole and eating it before sticking the stained casserole dish into the dishwasher - that emerges clean.
Kamila Golebiewska, Dishwasher Expert at Finish, said: "Finish Ultimate Plus has been years in the making and is our best innovation yet."
Finish and WWF have worked together on a project highlighting the importance of freshwater and how to save water at home, such as by avoiding pre-rinsing dishes.
Tanya Steele, Chief Executive of WWF, said: "Using less water in our homes means there’s more left in nature for our amazing freshwater wildlife, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to reduce their impact."
Finish is taking over Waterloo Station on April 25th with Masterchef's Grace Dent - who will be cooking a stain-inducing dish to test the product - before moving to Kings Cross Station on April 27th. People will also be able to receive free samples of Finish Ultimate Plus.
For more information, visit https://www.finish.co.uk/
TOP FIVE DISHES BRITS AVOID COOKING DUE TO 'STAIN PAIN'
1. Pasta bakes (such as lasagne)
2. Cheesy bakes (such as macaroni cheese)
3. Curry
4. Sticky toffee pudding
5. Moussaka
TOP FIVE INGREDIENTS BRITS AVOID USING DUE TO 'STAIN PAIN'
1. Beetroot
2. Turmeric
3. Red wine
4. Eggs
5. Coffee