I like to offer chopping services, i can do that someplace else without being in the way and still do something helpful

If you haven't cooked professionally before, or are "just trying to help", you're darling for wanting to contribute but likely unaware of the added complications you're bringing to the effort. 😅 🤷🏼‍♂️

We love cooking together but it usually means she cuts an onion very very slowly and tells me a story, while I cut the rest and cook the food. But we still love it both spending time together this way.

eh, it can work. when my wife was well enough to cook we'd divide it like she washes, I chop and prep, and she cooks, then we split cleaning. Now I'm doing all of that and I really appreciate the occasions where we have a friend visiting who is willing to do some prep and cleaning. I usually do the cooking even when I have help, mostly because it's rare to find someone who knows how to cook what we eat. But I'm always eager to have help.

A game called Overcooked matches what I experience when there's more than one person in the kitchen.

I like cooking with a partner, but we tend to choose before starting who is the chef and who is the sous for that meal. The sous just preps and keeps the space tidy and fetches shit while the chef orchestrates and cooks. This is a heck of a lot more fun, and then the chef can be like "go set the table" or "start washing up" once there's nothing else needed. Keeps it moving

I used to be married to a chef, cooking together was one of our primary bonding points. They taught me how to cook at a professional quality but I've never gotten to a professional speed. Usually that meant I'd do prep work while they did a million things around me but as long as I was in my station it worked really well. Even now we're not together I love cooking with people in general doesn't matter if they get in my way or not. It's just such a fun way to interact with people and I'm more invested in that than whatever the food result is

Cooking dinner together is one of my favorite dates. Making it work is all about good communication and working together for a shared goal.

It's easier to cook by yourself, sure, but it's also less fun.

It’s baffling to me that people actually enjoy cooking. I don’t, and likely would just starve if left to my own devices.

Luckily, my partner loves cooking (we have a pretty symbiotic relationship). When I offer the help, the response is usually, “Stay over there, out of the way, and look pretty” lol

If we cook together what really happens is one of us does the actual cooking and the other person preps ingredients/cleans cookware.

I love cooking together, especially if it's something complicated that requires a lot of prep and multiple steps. If you have good communication with your partner it can be fun, it really feels like team effort, and it can speed up the cooking quite a bit. Overall it's probably easier to cook alone, but cooking together is faster and more fun in my experience.

i would say cooking together works when one is the main cook and other is prepping or both work on different components of the meal

I feel so seen

My partner says she "wants to cook together" what she actually means is she puts the stuff in the pot and spices it and I chop the veggies and clean up. But if I don't she's not quick enough to get dinner done before the children eat my skin.

Our kitchen is tiny so cooking is a solo sport in this house. I simply won't go near when she's cooking (95% of the work). Won't even come close when she's cleaning. Doesn't bitch at me, but her body language is clear, does that shooing-away-a-fly thing, "You're in my space and I'm busy."

When I'm up to bat, "GET. OUT. I got this." She didn't think men could cook, never having met such a male. (Asian thing?) Took me some time to prove her wrong. She no longer tries to help. :)

In either case. Sit down. STFU. Await dinner.

Yo so true. Get the fuck out of my kitchen! My wife always comes in when I’m juggling 2+ tasks lol. “NO, DONT TRY TO HELP! Love youuuuuu, go grab a drink” lol

My ex cooked well and liked to, but was SHIT at prep. Veggies sliced as thick as your wrist. Meanwhile I'm eh at cooking and also don't like to, but I can prep like nobody's business.

We had a system where she'd do the cooking but I'd do the sous chef prep, made her learn the few cuts I know like juilenne, cube, dice, mince, etc just well enough to tell me which to do.

Worked really well, probably the most well functioning part of that relationship, rimshot.

There seems to be a sharp divide here.

I have a friend who is like this, used to be a physical chemist, knows exactly what she is trying to make and it's a calibrated procedure that she needs to be focused for.

I like hanging out in the kitchen and I certainly like having someone willing to help out with stuff.

Depends how big your kitchen is, what you're making and how organized you are. If you're working in an appartment kitchenette you can hardly turn around in, probably not. If you're making a family dinner for a dozen people or more in a big room sized kitchen in a family home, then yeah maybe you want some help.

this meme doesn't apply to everyone. my dad helps my mom cook all the time. When i was with my ex i would of loved her help, and offered mine.

I used to work a restaurant and can get a dish done in half an hour that would take my wife 2 hours. I just prefer to do it on my own at my speed. I tell her she can set the table and we can do dishes together

I’m not even in a relationship and I tell people to get out.

When I want help is when all dishes need to finish at about the same time and each dish requires attention and input. Then I explain the steps and delegate the easiest dish to whoever is within shouting distance just before that time comes. If you want a chill experience with me in the kitchen, come see me during prep work.

And while we're at it, yes the plate from what you are eating from is hot. We're serving hot food to here, not microwaved instant noodles.

My most common response to people asking what they can do to help is, “get the fuck out of my kitchen.”

Bruh, this hits so hard. I used to work a line, and loved/hated everyone I worked with. I still cook at home occasionally and will happily do so for an SO. But don't fucking bother me while I'm making you fucking ragu from scratch! This shit takes hours of boiling after cutting up everything, we can talk then!

If I'm cooking, I don't mind someone in there helping by doing some of the recipe steps on the other counter out of my way

If my wife or I are cooking, and the other is in the kitchen, there's an argument. Every damn time. Like girl, get the hell out my way, these onions ain't chopping themselves and you keep knocking into me.

I always had this romantic notion growing up of cuddling my beloved from behind when she is cooking, but my wife fucking hates it. Conversely, I don't like having other people in the kitchen when I'm cooking so I fully understand.