Social media is transforming the way Americans are cooking, survey suggests

One in five Americans would sooner take cooking advice from a “food-fluencer” than from their own mom (18%), according to new research.A survey of 2,000 adults found that for many, social media is overtaking traditional ways of learning to cook — so much so, that even our own mothers can’t compete.Only 33% say their mom’s recipes are on par with cooking advice from social media.The tradition of passing down treasured family recipes to the next generation is being rewritten as those surveyed are looking toward social media for recipes.Instead of reaching for a stained recipe card or a well-loved cookbook, younger Americans are especially looking to social media instead of cookbooks.Nearly half believe that social media has been instrumental in helping younger generations learn to cook more than traditional recipes have been (47%).Americans are increasingly turning to social media for what to make (47%), how to make it (40%) and discovering which food items are actually worth trying (26%).Conducted by Talker Research for Maruchan (https://maruchan.com/), the survey found that from ingredient shopping to enjoying what’s on their plate, social platforms have become central throughout the entire cooking journey.Seven in 10 Americans surveyed say that cooking videos on social media have made them want to try new foods (71%) — and half have even fulfilled that desire to try new foods after they went viral (51%).Regardless of age, the algorithm has become the modern cookbook for 54% who say that social media has transformed the way they cook.From improving their kitchen confidence (38%) and creativity (38%), to normalizing unconventional food combinations (64%), respondents are regularly inspired by the recipes they see online.Some of the must-try viral recipes include “fancy instant noodles,” “whipped coffee,” “baked feta pasta,” “chia seed pudding,” and “cucumber salad.”For the average respondent, all of these recreations have turned out...