The nation is dusting off its hosting skills as millions are staying in instead of going out in a bid to help with money-saving , according to new research from Tesco - with the supermarket also encouraging customers to try a ‘Use Up Night In’ to make the most of the ingredients they already have in their kitchen, and save money.
This is an effective way to cut food waste and spending, as according to Tesco, implementing a Use Up Day each week could save households an average of £260 per year*.
Data shows that over the last 12 months, 68%** of UK adults have cut back by spending less on going out, with many preferring to play host to friends or family instead.
Almost half (47%) of those who said they are spending less on eating and drinking out or going out to socialise are recreating a night out in the comfort of their homes, using ingredients from supermarkets.
Return of ‘potluck’ dinners
As the country switches nights out for nights in, the research indicates 48% UK adults who are spending more time at home instead of going out, are having friends and family over for meals. And while bringing a bottle is still deemed a helpful contribution by some hosts (48%), one in ten (11%) hosts prefer a contribution to the meal in the form of a dish or ingredient – with 37% of those saying they would like to receive a dessert and 18% appreciating a contribution of snacks and nibbles.
BYO takes on a new meaning for under-35s
Tesco analysis found 1 in 4 under-35s (26%) are likely to ask dinner party guests to come bearing a dish or ingredient, compared with only 13% of 55+.
A Use Up Night In to help your pocket and our planet
To support our nation’s hosting habits and help reduce the amount of food wasted in homes, Tesco has created a ‘Use Up Night In’ guide containing recipes, smart ways to use up leftovers and even how to host a potluck party where each guest is encouraged to bring their own ingredients. It forms the next phase of Tesco’s Use Up Day campaign, which encourages people to cook a meal once a week using food they already have at home, helping customers with money saving and stop good food from going to waste.
Jamie Oliver, renowned chef and Tesco Good Food ambassador said: “Having a dedicated night of the week to use up the food you already have is such a brilliant idea. Not only does it mean less food going in the bin, which can only be a good thing for the planet, it also means you’re not spending as much. This is where flexible recipes, the ones where you can easily swap ingredients in and out, are your best friends. I love Tesco’s ‘Use Up Night In’ campaign for encouraging everyone to have a go at doing this, because it really can make a difference.”
*The potential saving from a Use Up Day is a calculation based on the Hellmann’s finding that a family can cut food waste in the home by a third each week. We used the annual cost of wasted food in the home, according to WRAP – approx. £800 – divided by three, to demonstrate the saving if a third of this waste is being saved each week.
**All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,114 UK adults aged 18+. Fieldwork was undertaken between 8th-9th March 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 18+.