Potatoes are falling out of fashion with millennials who are opting for microwaveable options instead, new figures suggest.

Although “spuds” are part of some of Britain’s most cherished dishes – such as fish and chips and Sunday roasts – experts claim younger people are increasingly finding the vegetable unhealthy and inconvenient to cook.

Instead they eat more rice and noodles, which have seen a significant sales boost due to their “healthy and exotic” image, it is claimed.

According to The Grocer magazine, industry figures last year show potato sales were down 5.4 per cent while sales of rice have risen by 30 per cent in the last four years. Plain and flavoured noodles also performed better.

The magazine said: “Shoppers have a new squeeze when it comes to carbohydrates. Rice and noodles are viewed as everything many say the spud is not – healthy, convenient and exotic. Many, particularly millennial and Generation Z consumers, see spuds as stodge that will make them fat. To boot, they’re often a faff to prepare.”