The naked chef? Chimpanzees can 'cook' and prefer cooked food – study

Findings suggest chimpanzees have the intellectual abilities required for cooking, which could have an impact on our view of human evolution

They may lack the secret of man's red fire, but chimpanzees possess most of the intellectual abilities required for cooking, according to scientists.

A study found that chimpanzees prefer the taste of cooked food, can defer gratification while waiting for it and even choose to hoard raw vegetables if they know they will have the chance to cook them later on. The findings suggest that our earliest ancestors may have developed a taste for roast vegetables and grilled meat earlier than previously thought, potentially shifting the timeline for one of the critical transitions in human history.