Citterio-YouGov: for 8 Italians out of 10, convenience, quality and taste win in the kitchen

According to a new study conducted by YouGov for Citterio , September brought Italians back to their routine and into the kitchen: for 8 out of 10, convenience, quality and taste win.

The research

The survey, conducted on a representative sample of 1.035 Italians, was prompted by the company’s desire to gain an ever-closer understanding of consumers’ needs and habits and to continue responding to them with a broad and diverse range. From Tagliofresco to Sofficette and La Merenda, through to Aiuti in Cucina, Citterio’s various product lines accompany different consumption occasions and preparations, from the simplest and quickest to the more elaborate.

The research provides a snapshot of a country seeking a balance between time, the pleasure of eating well and simple solutions to serve at the table. During the week, in fact, 64% spends no more than 30 minutes preparing lunch and 58% does the same for dinner. There is little time available, then, but without giving up on taste: the 86% of Italians say they love simple and tasty recipes, while the 84% are in favour of practical solutions with just a few quality ingredients.

The stress of cooking

Returning from holiday brings good intentions and the desire to start afresh, but also the need to reorganise everyday life. For 50% of those who go on holiday at least occasionally, returning home also means feeling better because they resume healthier habits, return to eating a balanced diet or set new goals. At the same time, however, returning home can become a source of stress: for the 35% managing meals is in fact one of the main pressures, including having to think about what to cook (17%), do the shopping (13%) or find the time to prepare meals (12%).

Choosing recipes

Choices at the table also change. On returning from holiday, the 29% of Italians prefer easy and quick recipes, the 26% choose lighter meals to get back into shape, and 17% start or resume following a diet or meal plan. Time remains a decisive factor: while quick preparations prevail during the week, at weekends Italians are willing to spend a few more minutes at the cooker, especially at lunchtime, when the average time devoted to preparation rises to 38,9 minutes compared with 27,2 minutes for weekday lunches.

Taste is not sacrificed

The search for simplicity does not mean a desire to give up taste. Rather, the data tell of a different way of cooking, in which convenience, quality and tradition must coexist. The 86% love simple, quick and tasty preparations; 43% also appreciate the possibility of reinterpreting traditional recipes and ingredients in a modern way; 35%, on the other hand, say they appreciate more demanding recipes and preparations that require a few hours in the kitchen.

What emerges above all is the need to have ingredients available that can simplify preparations without sacrificing quality. Overall, 73% of respondents express at least one desire related to finding ingredients: the 38% look for affordable but quality ingredients, 31% for ingredients that are easy to use, and 29% for traditional Italian ingredients. At the same time, 63% express at least one desire related to new recipe ideas, with 40% wanting more inspiration for quick and easy preparations—a percentage that rises to 43% among weekly consumers of cured meats—and 35% looking for ideas for original and tasty dishes.

Citterio’s “Aiuti in cucina”

It is in this context that Citterio’s “Aiuti in cucina” range fits in: a product range designed to simplify the preparation of dishes without giving up the quality and taste of the great products of tradition. Practical and versatile solutions, designed for everyday use and suitable for both the quickest recipes and more elaborate preparations.

Among the products in the range, Citterio Guanciale brings a great protagonist of Italian tradition to everyday preparations, in formats designed to make it even easier and more versatile to use. Tagliette di Guanciale, made with 100% Italian guanciale, as if freshly sliced with a knife and offered in a 90 g format, ideal for two portions and also designed to reduce waste. Sliced Guanciale, also 100% Italian, reinterprets a traditional product in a practical, contemporary format, also thanks to the double tray, separable into two sections of four slices each.

Sliced Bacon, on the other hand, draws on an American flavour, a product that is increasingly used in Italian preparations too and able to adapt to different consumption occasions, from the timeless hamburger sandwich to more refined and gourmet dishes. Citterio offers it made with 100% Italian meat and naturally smoked with beech wood, in a pack of eight slices divided into two separately opening compartments, designed to preserve its freshness and reduce waste.

The Aiuti in Cucina range is completed by Tagliette di Pancetta Dolce e Affumicata, Tagliette di Speck and Cubetti di Prosciutto Cotto.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.