End of the recipe book? Most Brits now use phones for cooking inspiration instead 

New research has found most of us now use our mobiles for cooking inspiration and advice

The smartphone has become Britain’s newest kitchen essential with 72% of Brits using it for recipes and cooking inspiration,according to new research.

More than half (58%) use their mobiles while cooking or baking while 33% say it’s their go-to source for recipe ideas.

Gen Z are leading the charge,with smartphones already central to how they discover and consume content,according to research from The Great British Bake-Off sponsor Lebara Mobile. Around 83% now turn to their phones to find new recipes.

Meanwhile social media is replacing traditional recipe books with 29% of Brits using platforms to discover new dishes ahead of search engines (26%),recipe websites and apps (10%) and AI chatbots (7%). YouTube (14%),TikTok (10%) and Instagram (4%) are the most popular. 

Smartphones aren’t just helping Brits decide what to cook. They’re also becoming digital sous chefs,with people using them to check recipes (31%),set timers (27%) and play music or podcasts (26%) while preparing meals.

Mayur Jauhari,commercial director at Lebara Mobile UK,said: “The way we find and follow recipes is changing,with our phones now helping us discover new ideas,solve problems and make smarter choices in the kitchen.

He added that the company had recently launched a new brand platform “It’s All Good” which brought together everything customers needed in one place and helped them make the most of their time.