New data from leading kitchen appliance brand Ninja shows Christmas cooking stresses are at an all-time high. The findings from the new 2,000-person study have revealed time spent in the kitchen (40%), soaring energy bills (39%) and lack of oven space (20%) as Britain’s biggest festive cooking woes.

In fact, nearly two thirds (64%) of the nation admitted to spending up to a staggering six hours prepping Christmas lunch, with over half (54%) agreeing that because of their limited oven space, they prioritise keeping certain components of the meal warm over others.

People in Northern Ireland spend the most amount of time cooking, with almost a third (32%) admitting they take between five to six hours preparing a festive feast, followed by more than one in five (21%) in the North West. But, according to the survey, the nation is increasingly keen to cut down on time spent in the kitchen.

Conducted in a bid to explore the nation’s culinary Christmas angst, the research revealed nearly half (48%) of consumers plan to stray from traditional cooking techniques and use their air fryer to help cook this year’s Christmas meal with less stress – with two in five (40%) citing timesaving as their main reason for the switch. [1]

In fact, the survey revealed Northern Ireland to be the UK region with the most air fryer fanatics, with three in five (58%) residents planning to use the popular appliance this year, as a way of making the festive cooking a little less stressful.

But the amount of time spent in the kitchen isn’t the only cause for concern this year – worries about the energy cost associated with cooking our festive favourites are, unsurprisingly, equally high.

In fact, over three quarters (76%) of the nation report noticing an increase in their energy usage over the Christmas period in previous years. As such, the current cost-of-living pressures have converted over a third of the nation (39%) to using an air fryer, as a way to help reduce energy bills this year[2].

For many, concerns about serving up a delicious feast for family and friends make stress levels worse, with nearly a third (31%) of the nation concerned about how to get the turkey and trimmings onto the table at the right time.

Meanwhile, the pressure of hosting means festive feuds are all too commonplace in many UK households over the Christmas period. In fact, one in five (20%) admit that catering for fussy eaters and different dietary requirements are the most stressful part of cooking, with one in ten (9%) revealing unsolicited advice from family members is top of their list.

Other common causes for arguments include who gets lumped with the post-dinner washing up (16%) and controversial food faux pas, with the survey revealing that adding ketchup (32%), going without gravy (29%) and serving dry meat (23%) are most frowned upon.

Despite these Christmas dinner controversies, almost half (47%) of the nation agree they would like to be healthier over the festive period – a time notorious for overindulgence.

Greater London is the most health-conscious region, with nearly three in five (57%) keen to make healthier food choices this year, followed by Yorkshire (55%) and the North East (48%).

But by preparing dishes in an air fryer, eating healthier doesn’t have to mean compromising on flavour. With its range of innovative and easy-to-use kitchen appliances that give perfect results every time, Ninja is on a mission to prove that cooking Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be a stressful and expensive experience everything Ninja makes is designed around consumers from conception to completion.

From the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer (AF500UK), the large 10.4L capacity air fryer with lower energy usage than a conventional oven[3], to the Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer (ON400UK) which cooks food in as little as 15 minutes, whilst retaining up to 90% of nutrients[4], Ninja appliances do the hard work for you, with incredible results.

Lana Sanleandro, Chief Marketing Officer EMEA, SharkNinja, said: “It’s well documented that cooking a traditional Christmas dinner can be a time-consuming and stressful occasion, despite being a season for joy and festivity,

“At SharkNinja we are dedicated to making consumers’ lives easier, all while giving perfect results every time. Our range of award-winning air fryers – available in different sizes to suit all household and culinary needs – make it quick and easy to prepare delicious, nutritious food, without having to spend hours in the kitchen or racking up energy bills.

“Whether you’re cooking for extended family or hosting a large group of friends, Ninja’s range of appliances mean the days of an overcrowded oven and lukewarm trimmings are a thing of the past.

“We hope that our research findings shine a light on the wide-ranging benefits that air fryers can bring to home cooks this Christmas and inspires people to consider cooking their traditional festive meal in an alternative way this year.”

As a final festive favour, Ninja is leaving you with some top tips for using an air fryer to make this year’s Christmas dinner your best yet:

With so many different ways to cook, including roast, bake and MAX crisp, the opportunities are endless – so make sure to utilise the wide range of functions as much as possible.
Ninja air fryers require less fat than traditional frying methods, consider using the air fryer to cook some of the trimmings, like potatoes, that you might usually roast in the oven with goose fat.
The baking function is also equally useful, so why not try baking some delicious festive gingerbread or your Christmas cake in the air fryer this year? For recipes and inspiration, search online for Ninja’s Test Kitchen. We’re always keeping an eye on social media to see what our customers are creating.