Australian Winter Bulk Cooking Trend Springs Into Spring as Australians Balance Costs and Health Goals

Consumer insights from Samsung Australia reveals approximately 72% of Australians surveyed are turning to bulk cooking to ease grocery bills and stress.

More than a third say their fridge simply isn't big enough to keep up.

SYDNEY, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Australia has today released a fresh batch of consumer insights that reveals bulk cooking, a habit long associated with cooler months, is extending into spring as Australians look to manage grocery costs and kick-start New Year health goals as the weather warms up.

The Samsung insights reveal that almost two in three Australian respondents (62%) say they have bulk cooked specifically to save money^[1], while over two thirds (69%) believe that bulk cooking helps to reduce their weekly shopping bill^[2]. Beyond the hip pocket, the insights also suggest Australians are turning to bulk cooking as weekly meal prep to support overall health and wellbeing. Sixty-two per cent of Australian respondents say they intend to start the New Year by eating healthier^[3], with over half (59%) claiming that bulk cooking helps meet health and nutrition goals^[4].

Furthermore, the insights reveal that bulk cooked meal prep is also emerging as a genuine stress reliever. Almost three quarters of Australian respondents (72%) agree it reduces their weekly stress^[5]; a figure that climbs to 87% among 25 to 29 year olds^[6]. Further, almost half of Australians respondents (46%) claim to bulk cook breakfast, lunch and dinners to save time and reduce the daily mental load.^[7]

Conversely however, Australians are running into storage challenges, with the insights revealing a third (34%) of Australians want to bulk cook more often, but claim their fridge isn't big enough^[8]. Further, around a quarter of Australians (24%) admit to stacking containers dangerously to make bulk-cooked meals fit^[9], spiking to 45% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 43% among 25- to 29-year-olds^[10].

According to Phil Gaut, Director – Consumer Electronics, Samsung Australia, the national shift towards meal prep to support Australian lifestyles has been occurring subtly over the past few years, and is now firmly reflected in consumer retail trends. "In 2026, larger capacities and energy efficient performance rank as the two most sought-after features among Australians shopping for a new fridge^[11]. This shows that bulk cooking and meal prep isn't just a winter ritual anymore, it's a genuine strategy for Australians to save money, eat better and feel less stressed as we head towards the end of the year," said Mr. Gaut.

As Australians move further into spring, the insights show that 56% have plans to use their weekends to bulk cook, while one in three (37%) say they'll continue to put healthy food at the front of their fridge to remind themselves to eat healthier.^[12] With end of year sales coming up, Mr Gaut suggests that now is a good time for Australians to start researching larger capacity models and notes that many shoppers re-entering the market for the first time in years may be surprised by the technological leaps refrigeration technology has taken in that time.

"AI paired with new design approaches have been the biggest drivers of change in the premium refrigeration category, with smart features working to address some of Australians' biggest pain points every day," said Mr Gaut. "French-door refrigerators are incredibly popular amongst Australians who rely on bulk cooking to stay on top of bills and schedules because they benefit from large internal capacities, flexible shelving, and in-built beverage centres that give easy access to ice and water – all while fitting into most standard refrigerator kitchen cavities.

"Large capacity screen-enabled refrigerators like Samsung's Family Hub go further by using AI to directly address common Australian concerns like reducing food wastage and saving time and energy every day. The Family Hub does this by automatically tracking what goes into the fridge to create shopping lists and bulk-cooking menus based on nutrition goals, while tracking and managing energy use via SmartThings.^[13] Refrigerators like this are made for Australian lifestyles and are designed to offer long-term value by evolving with families and personalising to their unique routines over time," said Mr Gaut.

Available in various styles and capabilities in plumbed and non-plumbed models, Samsung has a refrigerator solution to meet the needs of Australian homes. Australians can also shop with confidence knowing that in 2026, Australian consumers voted Samsung's Refrigerator line-up 'Top Value', 'Most Reliable', 'Top Performance' and 'Most Recommended' in Finder's 2026 Customer Satisfaction Awards.

To find out more about Samsung's range of refrigerators, visit https://www.samsung.com/au/refrigerators/all-refrigerators/  

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, digital signage, smartphones, wearables, tablets, home appliances and network systems, as well as memory, system LSI and foundry. Samsung is also advancing medical imaging technologies, HVAC solutions and robotics, while creating innovative automotive and audio products through Harman. With its SmartThings ecosystem, open collaboration with partners, and integration of AI across its portfolio, Samsung delivers a seamless and intelligent connected experience. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

SOURCE Samsung Australia