Australians bulk cook year-round as cost pressures bite

Samsung Australia has released consumer research showing Australians are continuing to bulk cook beyond winter, driven by pressure on household budgets and weekly stress.

The findings suggest meal preparation is becoming a year-round routine rather than a seasonal habit. The research found 62% of Australians had bulk cooked specifically to save money, while 69% said it helped cut their grocery bills.

Bulk cooking is also being used to manage time and reduce day-to-day decision-making. Some 72% of respondents said meal preparation helped lower weekly stress, rising to 87% among people aged 25 to 29.

Nearly half of those surveyed, or 46%, said they bulk cook breakfast, lunch and dinner to save time and reduce mental load. Samsung said this reflected a shift in how households organise food shopping and meal planning as cost pressures persist.

Health goals also featured in the results. The research found 59% of respondents believed bulk cooking helped them meet health and nutrition goals, while 62% said they intended to start the new year eating more healthily.

The figures suggest consumers are linking meal preparation with both financial discipline and personal wellbeing. That may help explain why the trend is continuing into the warmer months rather than fading after winter.

Storage limits

The survey also highlighted practical limits at home. More than a third of Australians, or 34%, said they wanted to bulk cook more often but their fridge was not big enough.

About 24% said they stacked containers dangerously to make meals fit. That rose to 45% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 43% among 25- to 29-year-olds, suggesting younger consumers may be more likely to improvise around limited kitchen storage.

Samsung used the research to highlight demand for larger refrigerators, saying features such as increased capacity, food tracking, shopping lists and meal-planning tools could help households manage prepared meals and reduce waste.

The business also cited separate market data showing larger capacity and energy efficiency were the two most sought-after features among Australians shopping for a new fridge in 2026. That places refrigeration purchases within a broader cost-of-living discussion, as consumers weigh upfront spending against convenience and ongoing utility bills.

Consumer shift

Phil Gaut, Director - Consumer Electronics, Samsung Australia, said the pattern had been building for some time.

"In 2026, larger capacities and energy efficient performance rank as the two most sought-after features among Australians shopping for a new fridge. This shows that bulk cooking and meal prep isn't just a winter ritual anymore, it's a genuine strategy for Australians to save money, eat better and feel less stressed as we head towards the end of the year," Gaut said.

Weekend meal preparation also remains common for many households. The survey found 56% of respondents intended to use their weekends to bulk cook, while 37% said they would place healthy food at the front of the fridge as a reminder to eat better.

For appliance makers, that behaviour matters because it ties food habits more closely to product choice. Larger internal storage, flexible shelving and easier inventory management can become selling points when consumers are preparing multiple meals at once rather than shopping and cooking day by day.

Samsung also pointed to more digitally connected models in its refrigerator range, particularly those with screen-based interfaces and links to its SmartThings app. It said these products could track food in the fridge, build shopping lists, suggest bulk-cooking menus based on nutrition goals and monitor energy use.

That pitch positions kitchen appliances more as household management tools. It also reflects a wider trend in consumer electronics, where connected devices are marketed not only on hardware design but also on software functions that promise to organise routines at home.

Still, the survey's central message lies less in technology than in consumer behaviour. Australians appear to be treating meal prep as a way to control spending, save time and lower stress, even as the seasons change.

"AI paired with new design approaches have been the biggest drivers of change in the premium refrigeration category, with smart features working to address some of Australians' biggest pain points every day," Gaut said.