London, Sept. 26: Today’s children may be technologically advanced but they cannot peel a potato, a survey has found.

Almost every child can confidently use a DVD player but fewer than half can boil an egg, a research by the British Heart Foundation shows.

While the technological competence of younger members of the family is confirmed by the poll, it exposes their ignorance when it comes to kitchen craft.

The survey of over 1,000 eight- to 15-year-olds found that 99 per cent “were confident” with the DVD player but only 43 per cent could boil an egg.

Around 82 per cent were happy with the microwave but only 29 per cent were comfortable with a frying pan.

A more encouraging 58 per cent said they could use a vegetable peeler. At least they had tried.

Making a cake or even a salad was a daunting prospect for nearly a third of the children, while under 10 per cent thought that using a mixing bowl or a wooden spoon was altogether too challenging.

Four per cent thought they could not cope with making a sandwich.

The survey was launched to promote the foundation’s Food4Thought campaign, aimed at encouraging children to think about what they eat, where their food comes from and how it is prepared.