Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

A very common meal that you've never cooked yourself?

135 replies

teenysaladandsniffofarose · 29/08/2023 17:04

It occurred to me today that as much as I love fish pie, I've never actually cooked one myself despite being a capable cook! I've always eaten it at restaurants/ had my mum make it for me when I was younger etc.

What's a common meal you like but have never cooked yourself?

OP posts:
Ragwort · 29/08/2023 18:09

I find lasagne so easy to make .... make a bolognese sauce (which after a bit of chopping just cooks itself) and a cheese sauce & layer it up. One of the meals I actually happily make a few times a month!
I have never (successfully) made toad in the hole .. I can't get the sausages & batter cooked properly at the same time.
I've never made a nice stir fry ... some veg seems raw, some seems overcooked Confused.

alwaysmovingforwards · 29/08/2023 18:12

Haven't ever cooked anything that involves a pressure cooker.
Mainly because I've never owned one.. so not sure on what culinary delights I'm missing out on tbh!

afaloren · 29/08/2023 18:14

I’ve never used a deep fryer. I’ve also never cooked a joint of beef, although DH has.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

OldTinHat · 29/08/2023 18:14

I've made all of the above but never made a meringue.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 29/08/2023 18:16

Shepherds pie/cottage pie. Because I despise it. Loathe entirely.

Tiespin · 29/08/2023 18:16

Chilli con carne

TheFormidableMrsC · 29/08/2023 18:16

Lasagne. It gives me anxiety

TheWayoftheLeaf · 29/08/2023 18:17

Oh sorry didn't see you say that you LIKE. In that case.... cookies. I've never made them. I'm a great cook and a terrible baker.

C1N1C · 29/08/2023 18:18

Pasta bake. For some reason it just never occurs to me!... and I went to uni for ten years!

PositiveLife · 29/08/2023 18:18

Another one that can't be arsed with making lasagne.
Also not made fish pie but I don't like it.
And proper omlettes - no matter what I do, they are either under cooked or become scrambled egg Blush

WeightoftheWorld · 29/08/2023 18:19

saveforthat · 29/08/2023 17:08

Lasagna. Because it's a bit of a faff and you can get some pretty good ready meal lasagnas. Weirdly I don't mind making moussaka from scratch, which is more of a faff but I haven't found a ready made one that's any good.

Me too! I love lasagne and also have never made it before myself. I don't know why, I just feel it seems complicated?! And like you I also happily make my own moussaka etc.

ChristmasCrumpet · 29/08/2023 18:19

Amazed at the lasagne being a faff comments, we have it nearly every week in the winter, it takes no time!

Have never used a deep fat fryer though, like PP they really scare me, back from school days when the fire education people would come in and always use the example of the chip pan fire.

WingedHermes · 29/08/2023 18:20

Egg chips and beans. Tbf, I've cooked them all separately but never together as a meal.

Halo8 · 29/08/2023 18:20

Cheesecake 🤢
Having tasted it a couple of times I have no desire to try making one.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/08/2023 18:21

I'm feeling a bit smug as I've made all of the above 😉 can't actually think of anything I haven't made that's common.

LindorDoubleChoc · 29/08/2023 18:21

Tuna pasta bake 😱

FlorenceTheFerocious · 29/08/2023 18:22

I've never deep fried anything except when I was a waitress and had to plate up desserts myself. Part of the garnish was a banana fritter which I got to deep-fry and add to whatever it was I was serving. I loved that job

doroda · 29/08/2023 18:24

Lasagne. Glad I'm not the only one!

Beezknees · 29/08/2023 18:24

I've never roasted a whole chicken. I don't like any meat on the bone so I only ever buy breast meat.

maddiemookins16mum · 29/08/2023 18:24

Fish pie here too. And I’ve never used a deep fat fryer.
I’ve also never cooked a whole fish like sardines or trout for example.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 29/08/2023 18:25

LongLiveGoblingKing · 29/08/2023 17:16

I've never cooked spam. Also never eaten it to my knowledge. I like corned beef so assume I would like it? I should give it a try really.

The best way to have Spam is coated in soy sauce and eaten with egg and rice or in musubi imo

SleepingStandingUp · 29/08/2023 18:28

Ragwort · 29/08/2023 18:09

I find lasagne so easy to make .... make a bolognese sauce (which after a bit of chopping just cooks itself) and a cheese sauce & layer it up. One of the meals I actually happily make a few times a month!
I have never (successfully) made toad in the hole .. I can't get the sausages & batter cooked properly at the same time.
I've never made a nice stir fry ... some veg seems raw, some seems overcooked Confused.

I think making a rue (sp?) is the faff, adding the milk slowly and stirring and hoping it won't go lumpy. Then chopping all the veg up for the sauce. Browning the meat and then combining everything then whatever you're doing for the top. I made it for 80 a few months ago, vegan, veg and meat but it is DEF a faff

Re toad in the hole, sausage in the dish you're gonna us cooked to 75%, drain most but not all the fat then add the batter

CremeEggThief · 29/08/2023 18:31

Lasagne is easy, if you use a jar of white sauce! Compromise between cooking it from scratch and a ready meal. Ideally assemble and chill the night before and put it in the oven the next day for easier portioning.

My omelettes never come out right.😥

Gowlett · 29/08/2023 18:31

FTF, one night, when I was waitressing, the dessert girl was off sick so I had to do the ice cream sundaes etc… OMG, the actual state of what I made (and people paid for). It’s much harder than I’de ever imagined…

Stir-fry is actually very hard to get right, even though it seems simple too. I think it’s why most folk order in / eat out when it comes to Chinese or Thai food. Needs an expert hand.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/08/2023 18:33

SleepingStandingUp · 29/08/2023 18:28

I think making a rue (sp?) is the faff, adding the milk slowly and stirring and hoping it won't go lumpy. Then chopping all the veg up for the sauce. Browning the meat and then combining everything then whatever you're doing for the top. I made it for 80 a few months ago, vegan, veg and meat but it is DEF a faff

Re toad in the hole, sausage in the dish you're gonna us cooked to 75%, drain most but not all the fat then add the batter

Roux 😉

I don't add it slowly, bung it all in and stir vigorously and if you want to make a cheese sauce then just bung in cubes of cheese, don't bother grating.