Should Everyone Learn to Cook?

We all eat so why shouldn’t everyone learn to cook? It’s a basic necessity, yet one that’s deeply intertwined with culture, health, and even our sense of independence. But here’s a question I’ve been pondering lately: Should everyone know how to cook?
In a family settingor even in smaller, shared living arrangementsshould the ability to prepare meals be a collective skill, or is it acceptable for the responsibility to fall on a few individuals?

These thoughts have been swirling in my mind lately, perhaps sparked by my current lifestyle. I live alone, managing not just the house but also my meals. And this experience has given me a deeper appreciation for the skill of cookingnot just as a means of survival but as a way of caring for myself.

Cooking has traditionally been seen as the responsibility of a fewwhether it’s one parent in a family or a designated cook in a shared living arrangement. But as our lifestyles evolve, perhaps it’s time to challenge that assumption.

What if cooking wasn’t seen as a chore but a shared responsibility? A skill that everyone, regardless of their role in the household, should cultivate?
Of course, there are plenty of reasons why people might avoid the kitchen: lack of time, lack of interest, or even the availability of convenient pre-made meals. But there’s something empowering about knowing you can take care of yourself in such a fundamental way.

What do you think? Should cooking be a skill everyone learns? Or is it fine for it to remain the domain of a select few?