Prue Leith Reveals Blake Lively Uses a Hair Dryer to Defrost Her Food

In a recent interview on the UK programme “This Morning,” renowned cook and former judge of “The Great British Baking Show,” Prue Leith, shared intriguing insights into actress Blake Lively’s unconventional culinary techniques. Speaking to hosts Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle, Leith disclosed that the Hollywood star employs a hairdryer in her kitchen to dry and defrost food, a tactic that undoubtedly raises eyebrows among traditional cooking enthusiasts.

Leith, who has a storied career in gastronomy, noted, “She uses a hairdryer to dry anything that needs drying… it speeds things up a bit.” Her revelation evoked a surprised response from co-host Gibson, who recalled Lively also using the device to defrost her food. Furthermore, Leith added, “Yes, and she dries the icing with a hair dryer,” showcasing Lively’s unique approach to baking.

The 39-year-old actress, known for her roles in productions including “Gossip Girl,” has made an impression on Leith beyond just her cooking style. The esteemed judge reflected on their collaboration in her new cooking programme, “Cotswold Kitchen,” expressing her enthusiasm for Lively’s talent and personality. “She’s a really good cook… she was such good fun and the crew loved her,” Leith said, emphasising the actress’s warm nature during their time together.

Lively’s appearance on “Cotswold Kitchen” is particularly noteworthy, as it comes three years after she and her husband Ryan Reynolds visited the filming set of “The Great British Baking Show” in 2023. Leith recounted their meet, explaining how the couple, whose children are fans of the baking series, spontaneously visited the Bake Off tent at Pinewood Studios. “I said to [Lively], when I started doing Cotswold Kitchen, ‘If you’re ever in the Cotswolds, give me a ring and we might just happen to be filming,’” Leith remembered.

To her surprise, Lively took her up on the offer. “She said, ‘I’d absolutely love to.’ Of course, I thought she was just being nice,” Leith admitted. Yet, Lively reached out to her one Saturday, indicating her surprise visit to the Cotswolds and their chance encounter quickly turned into an impromptu filming opportunity for the cooking show.

Alongside Leith, Lively has shared heartwarming moments on her social media, including a recent photo of the two embracing during their time spent filming. She also provided glimpses into her family life, showing Reynolds, their children, and visits to local attractions in the Cotswolds, as well as the stadium of Reynolds’ co-owned football club, Wrexham A.F.C. in Wales.

Ahead of her birthday celebrations, Lively showcased her baking prowess on social media by icing a vibrant “Chaos candy” cake, although the infamous hairdryer was notably absent during the process. She wrote, “✨🍭Chaos candy cake🍭✨,” explaining the challenges of working with her preferred whipped cream icing, which necessitates quick decoration.

In reflecting on her own culinary journey, Prue Leith announced her departure from “The Great British Baking Show” via Instagram in January, after a remarkable nine-year stint. She expressed her fondness for the show and her fellow judges, concluding, “I’m 86 for goodness sake!” She has since been succeeded by the celebrated chef Nigella Lawson, whose introduction as a judge has garnered significant attention ahead of the show’s return in September.

As both Leith and Lively continue to flourish in their respective culinary adventures, the revelation about Lively’s creative approach to cooking showcases the ever-evolving nature of culinary arts, where innovation often blurs the lines of tradition. The pair’s collaboration promises to bring an exciting mix of entertainment and culinary exploration to viewers in the upcoming series of “Cotswold Kitchen.”