Time use · 2025
Food prep & cleanup
Americans spend an average of 43 min per day on food prep & cleanup (2025). 65% do it on a given day; among those who do, it averages 1 hr 5 min.
43 min
Avg per day (everyone)
65%
Did it on a given day
1 hr 5 min
Per day (among doers)
Food prep & cleanup by sex
Male30 min
Female54 min
Food prep & cleanup by age
15–2422 min
25–3443 min
35–4452 min
45–5449 min
55–6442 min
65+48 min
Food prep & cleanup by education
Less than high school38 min
High school42 min
Some college41 min
Bachelor's degree47 min
Graduate degree46 min
Food prep & cleanup by employment
Employed38 min
Unemployed1 hr 4 min
Not in labor force48 min
Food prep & cleanup — FAQ
How much time do Americans spend on food prep & cleanup?+
On an average day in 2025, Americans spent 43 min on food prep & cleanup, per the BLS American Time Use Survey. 65% did it on a given day; among those who did, it averaged 1 hr 5 min.
Do men or women spend more time on food prep & cleanup?+
Men: 30 min/day; women: 54 min/day (average over everyone, 2025).
Where does this come from?+
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey (2025) — a national, weighted survey of how people spend a 24-hour day. PUMSdata is independent and not affiliated with BLS.