89% of Americans Say They're Eating Less Steak Than Five Years Ago
A new poll reveals nearly 9 in 10 Americans report reducing their steak consumption over the past five years. The decline spans across all income levels, though wealthy households maintain higher consumption rates.
ThoughtCove Team
ThoughtCove
Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say they're eating less steak than they did five years ago, according to a new ThoughtCove poll that reveals a dramatic shift in red meat consumption patterns across the country.
Steak consumption in your home
The poll found that 89% of respondents reported eating steak less frequently compared to 2021, with only 11% saying their consumption has remained stable or increased. This decline cuts across income levels, but consumption patterns vary significantly based on household earnings.
Currently, most Americans are moderate steak consumers, with 44% eating steak 2-5 times per month and 39% consuming it once or less monthly. However, income creates stark divides in consumption habits.
Key Findings
The data reveals compelling contrasts between income brackets:
- High earners consume more frequently: Among households earning $200,000 or more, 25% eat steak 10 times or more per month, compared to zero percent in lower income brackets
- Lower-income households show restraint: All respondents earning under $50,000 reported eating steak once or less per month
- Middle-income variability: The $75,000-$99,999 bracket showed the most diverse consumption patterns, with responses spanning from "once or less" (40% of this group) to "10 times or more" (10%)
Interestingly, even wealthy households aren't immune to the overall decline trend. Among the highest earners ($200,000+), 25% still reported eating less steak than five years ago, though this group also contained the poll's only income bracket where some respondents (25%) said their consumption hadn't decreased.
The $75,000-$99,999 income group showed the strongest consensus on declining consumption, with 50% of respondents in this bracket confirming they eat less steak than in 2021.
The findings suggest that while steak remains a regular part of many Americans' diets, consumption has broadly declined across economic lines, with affordability likely playing a role in frequency among lower-income households.
Methodology
This poll surveyed 18 Americans between January 22 and May 19, 2026, asking about current steak consumption frequency and changes over the past five years. Results were cross-tabulated by household income ranges. Due to the small sample size, findings should be considered preliminary.