One in 10 people, aged 18-34, never tuck into the traditional breakfast meal – with over a third feeling it is too greasy or fatty
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Fry-up fans amazed as they are served air-fryer cooked breakfasts
Nearly a third of young adults (29%) feel the popularity of the classic British fry-up – is at an all-time low, according to research.
The cooked meal, typically consisting of sausage, bacon, eggs, beans, and toast, has long been considered a British staple – but it seems this opinion is dwindling.
One in 10 18-34-year-olds never tuck into the dish, with 38% considering it “outdated”. And while a fifth, of the 1,000 adults polled in this age group, enjoy the hot breakfast every couple of months, a further 14% do so only once or twice a year.
Some of the top reasons for this include 37% worrying about the calorie count, with the same percentage feeling a fry-up is too greasy or fatty to enjoy on a regular basis. In fact, 89% admit they have experienced “food guilt” after wolfing down the meal.
But 31% simply feel it takes too long to prepare, while others get frustrated over the timing of making sure all the ingredients are ready at the same time to serve up. However, seven in 10 admitted they would be more inclined to eat the morning feast if these “icks” could be overcome.
In a bid to revive the classic meal, Breville, which commissioned the research, has launched the Greaseless Spoon Café – where “lower calorie” fry-ups are cooked only using air fryers.
Spokeswoman Lydia Baker said: “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. But it’s perfectly possible to create a traditional fry-up that’s a little more guilt-free, and less hassle.”
Other reasons younger people rarely eat fried breakfasts include needing too many pots and pans to prepare it, with most fry-ups requiring three.
The study, carried out through OnePoll, also found seven in 10 of those polled own an air fryer. And, of those, 57% have used the appliance to make a less greasy, and less time-consuming, version of the traditional fried breakfast.
Zoe McClean, senior home economist at Breville, makers of the Halo Flexi Air Fryer, 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.”
Mary Ferdinand, 56, from London, who was among those to dine at the Greaseless Spoon Café, said: “I was surprised at how quickly it was served after we ordered, and how little grease it had – especially the sausages.”
And Emmanuel Ojo, 26, a ski festival promoter from Camden, London, added: “I love a Full English, and I’ve got an air fryer, but I’ve never tried cooking one in it – but I will definitely be trying it now.”
