We cook less and less: consumption of precooked dishes has increased by 150% in the Basque Country and 133% in Navarre

While food consumption for home cooking is decreasing, prepared dishes are gaining ground in the shopping basket. 

According tothe latest EITB Data report, this change  is not new, but has accelerated significantly in the last five years. In the last 25 years, consumptionof precooked dishes has increased by 150% in the Basque Country and 133% in Navarre.

This trend has been particularly accentuated between 2019 and 2025, when consumption of food purchased for cooking at home has continued to decline, while consumption of dishes ready for consumption has increased.

Although the Basque Country and Navarre are below the national average in the consumption of prepared dishes, the trend is clear: we eat less and less, and we outsource more and more the work of preparing meals.

We're not just talking about pizza and fast food.

When we talk about prepared food, we're not just talking about frozen pizzas or fast food. This category includes tortillas, soups, creams, salads, chilled dishes, and all kinds of recipes ready to be consumed or heated.

The report also shows that these products are part of daily household consumption, as 86.6% of prepared dishes are consumed at home.

Why is the consumption of prepared dishes growing so much?

The reason most mentioned by consumers is the lack of time , which more than six out of ten people consider to be the main reason for using these products.

There are also other factors, such as comfort,a wider supply of dishes, or the possibility of repairing meals without having to cook at certain times.

The evolution of working habits, changes in family organization and the need to provide rapid responses to everyday life contribute to consolidating a trend that has been manifested for years.

Convergence with hospitality

The increase in prepared dishes is also changing the role of supermarkets. According to the report, more than eight out of ten euros spent on prepared dishes are spent on supermarkets, hypermarkets and the like.

These shops are no longer just places to buy ingredients to cook at home, but more and more are also places to buy meals ready for consumption. In recent years, sections of prepared meals, specialized counters and spaces adapted for eating inside the establishment have proliferated.

After all, supermarkets are not just places to buy food, but more and more places to fix daily meals.

Consumption of precooked meals in the Basque Country and Navarre is still below the State average . In 2025, each Basque citizen consumed an average of 14.9 kilograms and spent 87.5 euros on these products, while in Navarre 14.3 kilograms and 72.7 euros. 

However, the trend in recent decades shows that these products are gaining ground in household food.