Almost all Italians - 95 percent, to be precise - rely on the Internet to look for inspiration in the kitchen, and 67 percent turn their eyes to social media instead. In the context of the web, clearly, Google still holds sway: 56 percent of searches in this area go through it, while in the social universe the most successful platform is YouTube (46 percent): this is what emerged from a recent study on the world of recipes and the most modern search habits.

Interestingly, in this context, we note that among the youngest groups (i.e., those that include 18-24 year olds and 25-34 year olds) it is actually Instagram that is the king (or perhaps the queen?) of cooking, while those just older (34-44 years old) rely mostly on websites or blogs of cooking enthusiasts.

Finishing our generational roundup, we finally note that 45-54 year olds prefer instead the visual demonstration offered by YouTube tutorials, while those over 55 remain faithful to family cookbooks. Before the invasion of social media, on the other hand, 62 percent took their cues mainly from cookbooks and 52 percent from family cookbooks, while just 46 percent looked up the recipe on the Internet.

The most sought-after dishes by Italians, however, remain the simplest ones: pasta (in order, alla boscaiola, with peppers and pasta e fagioli) takes first place.