Fear of cooking (mageirocophobia)

Mageirocophobia is a fear of cooking. It can involve worry about burns, kitchen fires or making someone ill with food poisoning, and for some it is more about cooking for others and feeling judged.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek mageiros, meaning cook. It is a rare term, but the fear itself is easy to recognise, as it often mixes safety worries with performance anxiety. It can overlap with a fear of fire or a wider worry about germs.

What it feels like

• Avoiding the oven or hob and relying on ready meals or takeaways
• Checking food again and again in case it is undercooked
• Dread at the idea of cooking for guests

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Why do some people feel scared to cook?

Common reasons include a past kitchen accident, worry about making others ill, or fear of getting it wrong in front of people. Starting with simple, low pressure dishes can make the kitchen feel less daunting. If the fear means eating much less or losing weight, speak to a GP.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices