Survey Finds Food Cravings Peak at 3:42 p.m. Among Americans

m. The study, which included 5,000 participants evenly distributed across all states, determined that the average person experiences two cravings daily. One in four respondents reported having cravings more frequently than that, at 24%. Nearly six in 10 respondents, or 57%, cannot resist their cravings for more than an hour, while 21% give in within 15 minutes or less.

Residents of New Mexico were found to withstand cravings the longest, whereas those in Maine and West Virginia tend to give in sooner.

cravings occur, 33% of respondents seek comfort foods, 22% prefer fried foods, and another 22% opt for salty items. Comfort food is particularly popular in Michigan at 23% and Arizona at 20%. Soul food ranks high in Mississippi at 12%, Georgia at 10%, and South Carolina at 8%.

Spicy foods are favored in North Dakota at 16%, Arizona at 15%, and Texas at 12%. Seafood is a top choice in Louisiana at 13% and Mississippi at 12%. Beyond sweets and snacks, the most craved dishes include pizza at 30%, burgers at 22%, french fries at 19%, tacos at 18%, and fried chicken at 15%.

of Americans prefer to satisfy cravings at home rather than through takeout. Additionally, 35% said their cravings from the previous week influence their grocery lists for the following week. On average, respondents cook a meal based on a craving 56% of the time.

Residents of Maine, Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, and Mississippi cook craving-inspired meals most frequently. Nearly half, or 49%, have spent more than an hour preparing a complex recipe to satisfy a craving, and 43% have tried recreating a professional-level dish seen online.

in creating new dishes varies by state, with respondents in Arizona, Massachusetts, and South Carolina each at 24% reporting the least confidence in achieving desired flavors. One-third of Americans view meals seen online as unrealistic for the average person to cook.

Among parents surveyed, 43% feel guilty at least once a week about not preparing meals that appear influencer-worthy. When attempting online-inspired recipes, respondents estimate they achieve about 60% of their envisioned result, though 29% fall short of 50% accuracy.

“You don’t need to spend an hour in the kitchen to make something worth craving. For most people, the barrier isn’t cooking itself, but it’s the mental load of planning, deciding and executing a meal from scratch." — Benjamin Grebel, senior culinary development manager at EveryPlate (nypost.com). The survey was administered online between March 19 and March 31, 2026.”