19 Food Preparation Time Statistics

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These food preparation time figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.

Key Food Preparation Time Statistics

The main findings are:

  • U.S. civilians age 15 and older spent an average of 0.67 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024; 63.1% engaged in it on an average day (2024 annual average; United States civilian population age 15 and older).
  • People engaged in food preparation and cleanup on 64% of average weekdays and 62% of average weekend days in 2024 (2024 annual averages by day type; United States population age 15 and older).
  • Adults with a youngest household child under age 6 averaged 0.91 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024, versus 0.80 hours when the youngest child was age 6 to 17 (2024 annual average; United States adults by youngest household child age).
  • In 2023, adults responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 8.51, 20.77, 34.69, 52.63, and 55.12 minutes per day, respectively, on food preparation and cleanup (2023 average day; United States civilian population age 18 and older).
  • ATUS 2024 respondents reported activities in a diary window from 4 a.m. on the diary day to 4 a.m. on the interview day (2024 ATUS collection protocol; United States ATUS respondents age 15 and older).
  • Among participants in 2024, food preparation and cleanup averaged 1.06 hours per participating day; men averaged 0.86 hours and women 1.20 hours (2024 annual average; United States civilian participants age 15 and older).
  • U.S. civilians spent 0.65 hours per weekday and 0.70 hours per weekend day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024; participants averaged 1.02 and 1.14 hours, respectively (2024 annual averages by day type; United States civilian population age 15 and older).
  • Among adults with a youngest household child under age 6 in 2024, men averaged 0.59 hours and women 1.14 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup (2024 annual average; United States adults by sex in households with youngest child under 6).
  • In 2023, men responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 6.57, 18.38, 29.68, 38.40, and 38.01 minutes per day on food preparation and cleanup (2023 average day; United States civilian men age 18 and older).
  • Approximately 7,700 people were interviewed for the 2024 ATUS, which produces annual estimates of daily time use (2024 data collection; United States ATUS).
  • Men spent an average of 0.46 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024, while women spent 0.86 hours; participation was 54.2% for men and 71.6% for women (2024 annual average; United States civilian men and women age 15 and older).
  • Among adults with a youngest household child age 6 to 17 in 2024, men averaged 0.48 hours and women 1.09 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup (2024 annual average; United States adults by sex in households with youngest child age 6 to 17).
  • In 2023, women responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 14.35, 26.03, 41.44, 60.75, and 63.61 minutes per day on food preparation and cleanup (2023 average day; United States civilian women age 18 and older).
  • Among 2023 online grocery purchasers, 48.1% named time constraints as the main reason for purchasing groceries online (United States residents age 15 and older who purchased groceries online).
  • Adults in households without children under 18 averaged 0.62 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024, compared with 0.84 hours among adults in households with children under 18 (2024 annual average; United States adults by household-child status).

Contents

Food preparation and cleanup time in 2024

  • U.S. civilians age 15 and older spent an average of 0.67 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024; 63.1% engaged in it on an average day (2024 annual average; United States civilian population age 15 and older).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Among participants in 2024, food preparation and cleanup averaged 1.06 hours per participating day; men averaged 0.86 hours and women 1.20 hours (2024 annual average; United States civilian participants age 15 and older).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Men spent an average of 0.46 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024, while women spent 0.86 hours; participation was 54.2% for men and 71.6% for women (2024 annual average; United States civilian men and women age 15 and older).

(American Time Use Survey News…)

ATUS primary-activity measure; preparation and cleanup are combined.

Participant-day averages exclude nonparticipants; preparation and cleanup are combined.

All-person averages and participation rates are distinct measures; preparation and cleanup are combined.

Weekday and weekend food preparation time

  • People engaged in food preparation and cleanup on 64% of average weekdays and 62% of average weekend days in 2024 (2024 annual averages by day type; United States population age 15 and older).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* U.S. civilians spent 0.65 hours per weekday and 0.70 hours per weekend day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024; participants averaged 1.02 and 1.14 hours, respectively (2024 annual averages by day type; United States civilian population age 15 and older).

(American Time Use Survey News…)

Day-type participation rates are not weekly totals; preparation and cleanup are combined.

Population and participant-day averages are separate measures; preparation and cleanup are combined.

Food preparation time by sex and household children

  • Adults with a youngest household child under age 6 averaged 0.91 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024, versus 0.80 hours when the youngest child was age 6 to 17 (2024 annual average; United States adults by youngest household child age).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Among adults with a youngest household child under age 6 in 2024, men averaged 0.59 hours and women 1.14 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup (2024 annual average; United States adults by sex in households with youngest child under 6).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Among adults with a youngest household child age 6 to 17 in 2024, men averaged 0.48 hours and women 1.09 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup (2024 annual average; United States adults by sex in households with youngest child age 6 to 17).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Adults in households without children under 18 averaged 0.62 hours per day on food preparation and cleanup in 2024, compared with 0.84 hours among adults in households with children under 18 (2024 annual average; United States adults by household-child status).

(American Time Use Survey News…)

Household-child subgroup averages; preparation and cleanup are combined.

All-person subgroup averages; preparation and cleanup are combined.

Descriptive subgroup comparison, not causal; preparation and cleanup are combined.

Meal-preparation responsibility and time in 2022–2023

  • In 2023, adults responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 8.51, 20.77, 34.69, 52.63, and 55.12 minutes per day, respectively, on food preparation and cleanup (2023 average day; United States civilian population age 18 and older).

(USDA ERS 2023 EHM Table…)
* In 2023, men responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 6.57, 18.38, 29.68, 38.40, and 38.01 minutes per day on food preparation and cleanup (2023 average day; United States civilian men age 18 and older).

(USDA ERS 2023 EHM Table…)
* In 2023, women responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 14.35, 26.03, 41.44, 60.75, and 63.61 minutes per day on food preparation and cleanup (2023 average day; United States civilian women age 18 and older).

(USDA ERS 2023 EHM Table…)
* In 2022, adults responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 11.57, 20.05, 35.02, 55.12, and 54.68 minutes per day, respectively, on food preparation and cleanup (2022 average day; United States civilian population age 18 and older).

(USDA ERS 2022 EHM Table…)
* In 2022, men responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 10.59, 15.81, 29.09, 43.27, and 34.11 minutes per day on food preparation and cleanup (2022 average day; United States civilian men age 18 and older).

(USDA ERS 2022 EHM Table…)
* In 2022, women responsible for none, a little, some, a lot, or all of meal preparation averaged 14.36, 28.48, 43.52, 61.80, and 64.69 minutes per day on food preparation and cleanup (2022 average day; United States civilian women age 18 and older).

(USDA ERS 2022 EHM Table…)

Responsibility is self-reported; preparation and cleanup are combined.

How food-preparation time is measured

  • ATUS 2024 respondents reported activities in a diary window from 4 a.m. on the diary day to 4 a.m. on the interview day (2024 ATUS collection protocol; United States ATUS respondents age 15 and older).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Approximately 7,700 people were interviewed for the 2024 ATUS, which produces annual estimates of daily time use (2024 data collection; United States ATUS).

(American Time Use Survey News…)
* Among 2023 online grocery purchasers, 48.1% named time constraints as the main reason for purchasing groceries online (United States residents age 15 and older who purchased groceries online).

(Eating and Health Module (ATUS)…)
* Among 2023 online grocery purchasers, 13.9% named convenience as the main reason for purchasing groceries online (United States residents age 15 and older who purchased groceries online).

(Eating and Health Module (ATUS)…)

Protocol context, not a food-preparation outcome.

Sample-size context only; not itself a food-preparation statistic.

Related grocery-shopping context, not a direct food-preparation duration.

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