January 4 marked National Spaghetti Day, which begs the question: How do Americans handle their spaghetti sauce? New CivicScience data show the majority of Americans with an opinion say they buy premade spaghetti sauce, compared to 20% who say they tend to make it themselves. Meanwhile, one-quarter say ‘it depends,’ signifying that this isn’t always a clear choice.

This majority extends across nearly every age group, with the exception of Gen Z, aged 18-29, who are most likely to say it’s a situational decision. Gen Xers are the least likely to report that they make their own sauce. 

Beyond a demographic view, how do those who say they make their own spaghetti sauce compare to those who typically buy premade sauce? Here’s what these consumers are telling CivicScience:

Trying New Food: More than half (52%) of those who make their own spaghetti sauce say they seek out and try new foods more than most other people they know. This percentage compares to 37% among those who buy pre-made spaghetti sauce. 

Daily Meal Cooking Skill: When asked about the daily meal they feel they’re best at cooking, 43% of those who prefer to make their spaghetti sauce say breakfast, outpacing premade sauce buyers by 15 points. Conversely, premade buyers are roughly twice as likely as sauce makers to say lunch is their cooking specialty. 

Movie Habits: Those who prefer to make their own sauce are more than twice as likely to say they go to the movies at least once per month or more. When it comes to favorite movie genres, sauce makers are more likely to say horror and drama, while pre-made sauce buyers are more likely to favor action and comedy movies.

Sleeping with Socks On: Americans who tend to make their own spaghetti sauce are more than twice as likely as those who buy pre-made sauce to say they’re okay with sleeping with socks on (47% to 23%, respectively).

Crossword Puzzle Fandom: Those who make their own spaghetti sauce are 2.3 times more likely than pre-made sauce buyers to say they do crossword puzzles daily. Those who buy their spaghetti sauce, meanwhile, are seven points more likely to say they do crosswords ‘a few times per year’ and six points more likely to say they never do them.

The divide between sauce-makers and premade buyers isn’t just about who has more time in the kitchen; it’s a proxy for deeply contrasting lifestyles. Whether it’s a preference for horror movies or a knack for cooking breakfast, these habits suggest that our culinary choices are tied to our broader identities. These two segments embody different approaches to routine and discovery, proving that a single question about spaghetti sauce can be a remarkably effective tool for understanding a consumer’s media tastes, hobbies, and even their specialized skills.

How do you handle spaghetti sauce prep? Take this poll now:

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This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.