A growing number of people in the UK plan to serve ready-to-cook roast potatoes with their Christmas dinner rather than making them from scratch. New research suggests this shift reflects changing habits as households look for ways to reduce pressure in the kitchen during the festive meal.
Research from Nanna Tate shows that 53% of UK adults buy roast potatoes that are already prepared for Christmas Day. The figures point to a clear age divide. Around 70% of Gen Z adults plan to use ready-to-cook roasties this year, compared with 30% of those aged over 65.
The research also shows that many people do not always admit to taking this shortcut. Of those who have served prepared roast potatoes, 46% say they have presented them as homemade. Among Gen Z respondents, this rises to 73%.
Almost half of those choosing prepared roast potatoes say they would not feel guilty about doing so. People cite limited oven space, cooking for large groups, and a lack of confidence in cooking roast potatoes well as the main reasons for avoiding scratch cooking.
Time pressure also plays a role. Around 29% of people say Christmas dinner takes between two and three hours to cook. More than one in ten say they start their preparations over a day in advance.
Despite these changes in how the meal is prepared, roast potatoes remain a firm favourite. The study shows that 89% of people choose roasties as their preferred Christmas potato. Mash follows at 39%, while 14% add chips and 7% include a jacket potato with their festive meal.
Lucia Washbrook, at Nanna Tate, said:
“Brits care about making Christmas dinner special, but they also want to enjoy the day. The survey shows that prepared roast potatoes help people manage the meal without losing out on potential precious moments with family while also enjoying a flavoursome meal they expect.
“Guests will focus on how something tastes and not whether every element was made from scratch, so people feel confident choosing options that save time while still delivering on quality.”
Nanna Tate continues to support demand for potatoes through a mix of fresh and prepared products, including its Super Crunch Roasties, aimed at helping households manage Christmas cooking while still serving the roast potatoes many expect on the day.
More information about the brand and its full product range is available at www.nannatate.com.