1 week ago
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The great British fry-up may face an uncertain future as Gen-Z is increasingly finding the breakfast classic too fatty or too time consuming to put together, research has found.
A new poll of those aged between 18 to 34 finds almost 15 per cent may only touch a cooked breakfast once or twice-a-year, while one in ten never do.
Home appliance maker, Breville, which commissioned the research, suggested youngsters were being turned off the cult classic by health influencers on social media.
The study found almost four in ten worry that the meal is too fatty or greasy to tuck into any more than they usually do, while a similar number are concerned about the number of calories on the plate.
For many, it is the sheer number of ingredients that may be a turn-off, as almost a third of the 1,000 young Britons surveyed claimed cooking a fry-up takes too much time.
The clean-up also seems to be a problem, while others suggested that the trouble of juggling so many ingredients at the same time was a frustration.
The classic fry-up may be in danger of dying out, as health conscious Gen-Z shun the fatty and time-consuming dish
There is huge variety in what goes on the plate across the British Isles, and in Northern Ireland, the 'Ulster Fry' is the preferred variety
What exactly goes into a fry-up varies across the UK. While eggs, mushrooms, baked beans, sausages and bacon, are mainstays on the plate, there are often national varieties.
In Wales, cockles and laverbread are often added, while in Northern Ireland, soda bread and potato bread sometimes manage to muscle onto the menu.
However, the study suggested some hope for the fry-up as 70 per cent of young Britons said that they would be more inclined to eat the big breakfast feat if these problems could be overcome.
'It's perfectly possible to create a traditional fry up that's a little more guilt-free and less hassle,' said Lydia Baker of Breville, which commissioned the research.
'There's still time to save the iconic dish. It's a beloved institution for a reason.
'Social media has spread an endless number of accounts giving advice on what's 'good' and 'bad' to eat, with the humble fry-up often falling into the latter camp.'
Among young Britons, a staggering 89 per cent said that they had experienced 'food guilt' after wolfing down the breakfast, while almost one in four also said that they thought it was 'outdated'.
There are, however, some new institutions trying to modernise the traditional English breakfast and opening their doors as proud greasy spoons. In London, Norman's Cafe in Archway has offered an up-to-date take on traditional fare like the fry-up.
The rise of the air fryer as a must-have kitchen appliance may also help. Of those that owned an air fryer, researchers found that almost 60 percent had used them to make a less greasy and less time-consuming version of the traditional fried breakfast.
Zoe McClean, senior home economist at Breville, said: 'A fried breakfast is quite an involved process with lots of moving parts, which means there are lots of opportunities for improvement. The way you prepare something is almost as important as what you're making.'
