...to ask whether you cut crosses in your sprouts?

[SpudsandGravy]

Just wondering. I always have done before, but this year I haven't. I hope this isn't going to lead to some sort of sprout-related disaster...

Nope, I hate over cooked sprouts. I like them to still have bite and flavour.

No never. They are smaller and softer now so it’s not necessary. I boil them then fry in some olive oil and garlic till the outsides are crispy. Yummy...

@Sn0tnose

Gordon Ramsey doesn’t cross his, so I’m sure they would be fine. But you know what happens when we start messing with things like this? Things start going to hell in a handcart, that’s what happens!

Hi mum Helen does, it was on one of his shows

Like a pp a cut mine in half unless small and cook them with carrots.

I don't cut crosses in them. I get the smallest ones I can and steam them for 15 minutes.

I keep dithering about that.

So I solved the problem by not having any sprouts.

I cut them in half and saute them in bacon grease (I cook the bacon first) until they're bright green. Then I add the bacon, plus pecans and blue cheese.

Yes.

If I was having them whole I'd cross them. We had them shredded in butter and cream this year

I do. Today I did a maple and mustard roast ham (boiled in cola first, incredible) put the sprouts, pigs in blankets and parsnips in the pan with the glazed ham.
Oil, salt, maple syrup and mustard goodness and 45 minutes later, the sprouts actually tasted NICE rather than them gross balls of fart they started out as.

Best, easiest, least bitter way to do them ime is to buy pre trimmed, cut the big ones in half, bring salted pan to the boil, dump in sprouts, drain after exactly 5 mins, return to the pan with butter and seasoning and gently fry for a minute or two. Easy peasy. Perfectly cooked.

I cut a V in mine. I like to live dangerously.

Yes, except for this year when I did not have them.

I've cut to the end (see what I did, there? 😂)

I'm very old.

We, as young gals, were taught by our mothers to cut crosses in the bottom of sprouts because the sprouts of yore needed all the help they could get!

I'm talking sprouts harvested from North Devon fields in 1945, that's the vintage!

Nowadays sprouts are a) half the size, b) much more tender, and c) bordering on sweet!

Honestly, the sprouts of 1972 when I was 10 were like ping pong balls. And often bitter.

Today's are well lush, and, in fact, you risk water-logging them by cutting crosses in them!

Cut in half and roasted!

I cut the stalk off totally. The leaves are tightly packed so they don't break off.

Yep, helps them cook quicker.

No - I trim the bottoms off then steam them. They were lovely!

I'd be quite up for doing something more elaborate with them but dds demanded PLAIN SPROUTS because they love them, & we live in the ME so can only obtain them at huge expense & imported, so we don't usually have them.

So I fancied up the other sides but served the sprouts plain - they were gorgeous, still with a bit of crunch.

Never crossed them. I cut the stalk off, remove the outer leaves, parboil them, slice them and fry with chestnuts, lardons and butter.

Only if they're mixed sizes, I put a cross in the larger ones to even up the cooking time.

I do, but I roast mine. Fry up some bacon and garlic, flash fry sprouts in the oil then transfer to a baking tray to roast alongside the parsnips and carrots :)

If it isn't necessary why do people still do it? If the answer is "because we have always done it" would you not question this, and say to yourself "why am I wasting time doing this?"

Never. This year I had lovely frozen sprouts anyway.

I don't eat them, they're disgusting. But if I was preparing them for someone else I would. My mum used to....thats the only reason, I've no ideas until this thread what the point was.

Yes, it lets the farts out... (although having read all the responses, I think my grandma could have been lying to me).