Many wives notice the same thing: the day a husband retires, he often heads straight for the kitchen.
It is more than anecdote. According to a University of Michigan study published by the Institute for Social Research, American men have steadily increased their share of housework since 1965. Other research, however, finds the kitchen remains contested ground.
According to a University of Washington economic study, wives gain more influence over the household budget once the paycheck stops, but husbands often gain more time and motivation in the kitchen.
Why the sudden interest? According to a study published in the journal Sociology, cooking offers retired men what their careers used to: a project, a measurable result, and something they can take pride in. One participant put it simply, saying he wanted to cook for his own sense of self-worth. The same study found that men who cook in retirement often gravitate toward grilling, baking bread, and ambitious weekend meals rather than routine weekday cooking.
A British survey by Reassured found that cooking is the second most popular hobby for retired women but ranks lower for retired men, who prefer walking, hiking, and travel.
A word to wives: the new chef may rearrange your cabinets. Patience, and a few clear ground rules about the pantry, will help.
