Cooking facts & stats

Question 1

In 2025, what share of their disposable income did U.S. consumers spend on food?

Accepted Answer

9.7%. That split almost evenly: 4.9% on food away from home and 4.8% on food at home.

Question 2

Of the $2.51 trillion spent on food in the U.S. in 2025, how much went to food away from home?

Accepted Answer

$1.41 trillion. Food at home — groceries we cook ourselves — accounted for $1.10 trillion.

Question 3

How many private household cooks held jobs in the U.S. in 2025?

Accepted Answer

35,400. It's the smallest category of cook — far fewer than the 138,700 short order cooks.

Question 4

About how many openings for cooks are projected each year in the U.S. over the decade to 2035?

Accepted Answer

about 393,200 per year. Overall employment of cooks is projected to grow 7% over the same decade.

Question 5

What is the safe minimum internal cooking temperature for all poultry, according to U.S. food safety guidance?

Accepted Answer

165°F (74°C). Ground beef is 160°F, while beef steaks, roasts and fish are 145°F — steaks and roasts with a 3-minute rest.

The basics