A study of 2,000 Brits revealed more than one in five think having pineapple on their pizza is daring, while 13 per cent consider the ever-popular avocado to be a wildcard when it comes to food.
And 20 per cent would be ‘out of their depth’ if they nibbled on a bit of blue cheese, while one in 10 consider simply having mustard in a sandwich to be a gamble.
It also emerged 35 per cent consider themselves to be ‘stuck in a rut’ when it comes to trying new foods – with 56 per cent admitting they eat the same rotation of dinners at home each week.
Playing safe
The study, commissioned by National Geographic for the launch of season two of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, also found nearly one in five feel they are missing out by ‘playing it safe’ when it comes to food.
But 36 per cent feel they are more adventurous with their food when abroad, with frog’s legs, fried crickets and bird’s nest soup among some of the most popular exotic dishes Brits have tried.
A spokesman from National Geographic said: “Whether you’re a little cautious or more daring, it’s always good to test yourself.
“Our study has shown that being adventurous with food is certainly subjective, but it’s still great to try and get out of your comfort zone – whatever that may be.
“If you’ve never been a fan of something like mushrooms, it’s worth trying them more than once as sometimes you find you like them in certain dishes and not in others.
“Despite this, it’s impressive to see so many trying such quirky flavours abroad though – including crickets, grasshoppers and worms.”
Gordon Ramsay’s new TV show
Season two of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted follows Ramsay as he explores world cultures through food, feasting his way through Tasmania, South Africa, Indonesia, Louisiana, Norway, India and Guyana.
Gordon Ramsay said: “We are exploring seven new regions this season, each with vastly different culinary customs and history.
“We get the opportunity to learn from the locals and hear their stories, and that gives us a much deeper experience and understanding of the world around us.”
Stick to what you know
The study also found that of those who don’t feel they are daring with the meals they try, 43 per cent will judge a book by its cover and won’t eat food if they don’t like the look of it.
And 57 per cent prefer to just stick to what they know.
As a result, 16 per cent of adults will turn their nose up at a dish weekly, when it includes an ingredient they don’t like in it.
But of those who like to try new tastes and flavours, 17 per cent do so for the stories they can tell friends afterwards, while more than one in 10 ‘do it for the gram’ – to post about their food adventures on social media.
Despite this, many draw a line at certain types of ‘daring’ foods, with two-fifths admitting they wouldn’t be willing to give fried scorpion a try even though it’s a delicacy in parts of Asia.
Caviar and octopus a no-no
A further three in 10 wouldn’t be willing to give octopus a go, and nearly one in four wouldn’t be up for trying caviar.
But the research also found nearly two-thirds believe their travels have influenced their exploration of food, with the average adult sampling dishes from 13 different countries.
And 17 per cent have even travelled abroad specifically to try a certain cuisine.
A spokesman for National Geographic added: “We can’t all love everything that’s put on a plate in front of us, so just giving things a go is a great step forward.
“When trying new foods, it can be a good idea to let someone experienced cook it for you first to ensure it’s made correctly – before then attempting it yourself.
“But if you can cook something exotic for the first time yourself AND enjoy it, then even better.
“The new season of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted will start on Wednesday 16th September at 9pm, so tune in if you want to catch a glimpse of some of the world’s most incredible – and daring – foods, and how to prepare and cook them.”
National Geographic have also created a quiz – https://www.drench-design.com/
Top 25 everyday food Brits consider to be ‘adventurous’:
1. Oysters
2. Calamari
3. Haggis
4. Chilli chocolate
5. Anchovies
6. Hot sauce
7. Blue cheese
8. Quinoa
9. Tofu
10. Aubergine
11. Olives
12. Avocado
13. Asparagus
14. Hummus
15. Peppers
16. Kale
17. Mushrooms
18. Salmon
19. Salami
20. Mustard
21. Garlic
22. Courgette
23. Red onion
24. Cottage cheese
25. Dark chocolate
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