Lubbock Ranks In The Top For Most Clueless Cooks In America

Lubbock residents might want to think twice before firing up the grill this Labor Day weekend.

According to a new analysis conducted by the nation’s premier independent meat purveyor, Meats by Linz, Lubbock ranks 5th for cities with the most clueless cooks in America.

To determine our ranking, search terms and keywords related to basic cooking knowledge and queries were analyzed across cities with a population of at least 250,000.

Lubbock conducts an average of 7,388 searches per 100,000 residents related to clueless cooking every month.

But clueless cooks in Lubbock aren’t alone.

According to Meats by Linz’s nationwide survey, more than half of Americans (54%) admit they are not proficient in the kitchen.

Here are additional highlights:

One in three (33%) have received negative feedback about their cooking skills
More than one-quarter (28%) are embarrassed by their cooking skills
One in four are intimidated by the idea of cooking from scratch
Nearly half (49%) say they’re too lazy or lack the motivation to become a better cook
Overall, 55% don’t know the correct temperature for cooking meat
Among married respondents, 31% said their spouse is not a good cook, and more than half (57%) haven’t told their spouse that they’re a bad cook

Top five cities with the most clueless cooks:

#1. Cleveland, Ohio

#2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

#3. Seattle, Washington

#4. Madison, Wisconsin

#5. Lubbock, Texas

The next Texas city behind Lubbock is Austin, TX coming in #7 then it's Dallas at #15.

What holds us back from honing our cooking skills?

The majority of respondents (54%) cited lack of time as the top reason preventing them from cooking more. Nearly half (49%) admitted that it comes down to laziness or lack of motivation.

A significant number of respondents also blamed lack of exposure and access for their reluctance to cook. More than four in ten (44%) said they lack adequate experience, 34% lack the necessary kitchen resources, and one in four (25%) confessed that they simply don’t have the confidence to get started.

Methodology

In May 2024, they conducted a nationwide survey of 2,010 respondents. Respondents were asked about their experiences with cooking and their cooking skills. Among respondents, 59% were female, 39% were male, and 2% were non-binary. The average age of respondents was 41. Income: Under $25,000 (19%); $25,000-$34,999 (11%); $35,000-$49,999 (14%); $50,000-$74,999 (21%); $75,000-$99,999 (14%); $100,000-$149,999 (14%), $150,000 or over (7%). Marital status: Married (37%), single (33%), in a relationship/not married (19%), divorced (8%), separated (1%), widowed (2%).

Total respondents: 2,010

Margin of error: +/- 3%

Country: United States (USA)

Region: All Regions

Gender: All Genders

Age of respondents: 18-84

You can find the full study here.