How To Get Your Hubby To Help In The Kitchen

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My husband knew how to cook before I did. When the kids were younger, before we had completely different schedules, seeing him helping out in the kitchen was not an unusual thing.  Sometimes he did it on his own. Sometimes I asked. There was always a surefire way to get him in there though, and that was to involve him in something with one of the boys. The most memorable time is when they had a potato peeling throwdown, which I shared a video of back in 2008. Mom didn’t have to peel, their little contest took care of all the work for me. Smart Mom, huh! Lydia shared her suggestions for getting your other half to help in the kitchen, which I am sharing with permission. (And for the record, I am strictly a Hellmann’s girl.)

Six Sure-Fire Ways to Get Your Hubby in the Kitchen

Having help in the kitchen is something many women only fantasize about. Hiring a personal chef might be a tad pricey, and creating a chore chart for the kids is tedious in the extreme. What if that sweet guy you married was interested in helping out? That would beat all.

How to get your guy in the galley? Simple. Let him think it was his idea. It’s been known to work in countless other areas of marriage, so there’s no reason it can’t do the trick here, too. Read on for some nifty ways to inspire a masculine presence in the cucina.

1. Praise Him

You’ve probably heard the one about attracting more flies with honey than with vinegar. While catching flies isn’t the goal here, the phrase also applies to getting something good. Guys love to hear encouraging words from their wives, and the nice things you say to him are like honey dripping off your tongue. Anytime your hubby is in the kitchen, tell him what a great job he’s doing, how sexy he looks washing dishes, and how glad you are you married him.

2. Teach Him

Unless your man has natural, untapped culinary talents, he’ll probably need some instruction from you. Start with something easy, like pasta. Most men love physical encounters with their wives, so take this opportunity to turn a teaching moment into a romantic moment. Stand close, side-by-side, touching as much as possible. Go ahead and teach real-life cooking skills, but do it in a way that makes it seem like foreplay. Just be careful with the knives, and avoid garlic and onions if possible.

3. Allow Him

Sometimes men avoid the kitchen because they don’t want to step on your toes. Let your husband know that you would be thrilled to share the cooking responsibilities with him, no matter if his style differs from your own. Relinquishing control of the counter space is a small price to pay for a meal that you didn’t have to prepare by yourself. If you’ve always handled the menu planning and grocery shopping on your own, allow your husband to help in those areas as well. He’ll be more likely to stay involved if his opinions matter to you.

4. Challenge Him

If your husband thrives on competition, use it to get him in the kitchen. If he has a favorite food, such as chili, spaghetti, or pork chops, challenge him to a cook-off. It doesn’t have to be between the two of you; consider asking other couples to join in the fun. As an incentive, the winner can request a special dessert or other treat, which the loser has to make from scratch. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a new tradition in your family.

5. Make it Easy for Him

If hubby is making a meal, let him prepare whatever he feels like. Sticking to a planned menu might feel restrictive, while having the freedom to choose the menu can be very inspiring. Keep in mind that cooking dinner doesn’t have to involve a complicated, multi-course meal. If your husband agrees to share kitchen duties, let him cut corners here and there. Rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes or quick rice and a pre-bagged salad dressed with one of the new varieties from hamptoncreek is an example of a satisfying weeknight meal. After all, he still has to do the dishes.

6. Brag About Him

Once your husband is in the kitchen regularly, help keep him there by telling your friends what a wonderful cook he is. Men love to get compliments in private, and they love it even more in front of others. For some reason, guys who cook are more impressive than gals who cook. Having skills in the kitchen puts your guy ahead of the other guys, which can be seen as an advantage by most men.

In decades past, kitchen duty was reserved exclusively for women. Thankfully, times have changed and men who cook are viewed as being progressive partners. Cooking together can add steam to your marriage and inspire benefits that go beyond the mere consumption of food, such as deeper conversation and a desire to spend more time together.

If your guy doesn’t see the benefits of cooking, and you don’t want to let him starve, use the above tips to motivate him. Chances are, once he has become proficient in the kitchen, he’ll think it was all his idea in the first place.