Ordering Takeout Might be the Reason You’re Single! New Survey Finds Cooking Can Improve a Relationship

Dating in today’s world has become somewhat of a mystery, and I know I’m not the only one who is getting confused. With all the trends on social media telling you what to do and what not to do, how’s a girl supposed to know what to expect?

Finding someone who matches your freak and lets you go into goblin mode is harder than it looks, and thanks to the recent season of “Love Is Blind,” a new controversy has come up — is it unattractive when your partner doesn’t know how to cook? 

According to our recent survey, 75% of participants said they find someone more attractive when they know how to cook, with 47% claiming it is “very important” for a partner to have cooking skills. Home-cooked meals tend to bring people together and can be a beneficial component to strengthening relationships, but are they a dealbreaker? 

It seems the desire to cook with your beau is simply because couples want to spend more quality time together. Exactly 90% of participants believe that cooking together can improve a relationship, and I must agree. I mean, what isn’t better with food and a little flirty food fight in the kitchen? 

But don’t worry, you don’t have to be the best chef in the world. According to our survey, 80% of participants said they would still eat a meal a partner cooked even if they didn’t like it. Is that not the most romantic thing you’ve ever heard? 

Couples are all about acts of service, and putting in the effort truly goes a long way with our surveyors. Over 60% claimed that they love it when their partner cooks for them, and over 90% stated they would learn how to cook if their partner asked (OK, that actually might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard).

“A lot of couples simply want to see that their partners care and are thinking about them,” said Dr. Terri Orbuch, relationship expert and psychologist. “It’s not about the quality of the meal, it’s about the effort the other person is putting in. People love knowing that they’re being thought about, and don’t necessarily need a grand performance to feel loved.”

Even knowing your partner’s favorite and least favorite foods can show them that you care and are paying attention to them. Everyone feels touched when people notice these little details!

Something as simple as remembering your girlfriend has that weird cilantro gene that makes it taste like soap, or the fact that they absolutely cannot stand onions on anything can show your other half that you actively listen to their needs. 

Social media has shown us the importance of spending quality time with your loved one to keep a relationship thriving, and thankfully, this doesn’t always mean an extravagant date night. The survey found that 80% of individuals said cooking is a “love language” in a relationship.

However, it’s OK if you’re not the next Gordon Ramsey. While being able to cook will score you some brownie points with your beloved, over 80% of respondents claimed that they wouldn’t break up with someone because they didn’t know how to cook. 

“Cooking is just one example of how you can show your partner you care.” — Dr. Terri Orbuch

Constantly ordering takeout food could be your enemy, though, as over 60% did state that only ordering takeout food is a dealbreaker. So don’t feel like you have to be a gourmet chef to make your boo fall in love; even if your skills extend to buttered toast, your significant other is likely to be over the moon about It. 

“Cooking is just one example of how you can show your partner you care, which is one of the main things most people are looking for in a relationship,” said Dr. Orbuch. “It is also a great way to spend quality time together, while doing an activity as a couple, without spending too much money. When couples do an activity together where there is an outcome (that they both participated in like cooking a meal together), it builds and strengthens closeness and intimacy in the relationship. Designating one night a week to a meal together can help couples avoid getting into a rut and keep relationships fun and exciting.”

It’s not a crime to have a go-to fast food order or indulge in a meat lover’s pizza more often than you should, but it could be playing a role in your relationship status. Cooking can be such an intimate and enjoyable experience for couples and is something worth considering. 

Not only can it help improve your relationship, but it might also save you some money and help you eat healthier! 

In November 2024, we surveyed 500 individuals about cooking in relationships. The respondents ranged from ages 18 to 65+, with an average age range of 26 to 45. Participants were 58% female and 42% male. Additionally, 100% of the surveyors were in the United States.