I'm going to say about 97% of people can't cook.

[ShrikeAttack]

I read threads on here about food all the time & even people who claim 'to 'cook', as in 'make stuff hot and eat it', have no idea about food. How to make delicious things, how to treat ingredients, what goes together.

It honestly makes me a bit sad.

The majority of people probably eat really rubbish food.

I really want people to understand food and eat better, not because I'm a dick, but because it would make their lives more pleasurable.

I can cook - almost everything and anything - except for fecking Yorkshire Puddings - every year I make them on Christmas Day - it's a bit of a joke tradition...some year I'll get there! I bet you can do Yorkies!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4122509-talk-to-me-about-your-yorkshire-puddings

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Jerusalem atrichokes are also known as poor man's potato. I am yet to try them, but heard they are meh but very healthy.

they are delicious but make you fart

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Jerusalem atrichokes are also known as poor man's potato. I am yet to try them, but heard they are meh but very healthy.

Gordon Ramsey has an amazing Jerusalem Artichoke risotto topped with scallops - I used king oyster mushrooms as a sub for the scallops to make it veggie

www.food.com/recipe/gordon-ramsays-jerusalem-artichoke-risotto-with-scallops-354420

Lots of people can cook but don’t have the time to make from scratch-but choose jar sauces and cook the meat themselves/pasta/rice etc. You do have to have time to do this
Both my parents were very very skilled cooks- always from scratch- my fad was still doing dinner parties last year pre COVID-at 85 years of age.
For me as the youngest daughter, that’s a lot to live up to. My dad has only just realised that’s it’s ok to use shop bought puff pastry and shop bought sauces to save time and fuss.
If my mum was still alive she’d be saying it’s fine to do what suits your families needs-as long as it isn’t all ready meals and chips
There is a balance

Some things can't be cooked for 8 hours😱 I made inedible cottage pie filling once in slowcooker because the meat was there too long and the final texture was... Nearly threw up. Since then i really watch how long things should be in😂

I don't agree with the flavour destroying. I love making base sauces in it because it marries flavours nicely and allows them to develop differently then if i cooked it in a pot for some reason. Magic. My tomato base takes 4 hours in it. Would bankrupt on gas😂 My broth takes 20 hours...

This is very arrogant. Wow. I cook, and bake. Everything from scratch. I live in Florida, so we have some of the best seafood, and since we don’t eat beef or pork in this house, we have many wonderful, creative dishes from seafood, poultry and many vegetarian dishes. We don’t deep fry. I bake breads and many pastries. We rarely go out, as the food at home is cheaper, healthier and better than at restaurants. I read about the meals people in the UK cook, and while they sound interesting (and I often look up your recipes to see what they are) I prefer our meals, but would never assume such a high percentage can’t cook. There are a lot of mums on here, with hectic lives and small children. The stage where fish fingers are a meal passes very quickly, as they soon grow up and help with cooking. My son became a sous chef. You said yourself you occasionally go to McDonalds, which isn’t even considered food here. I think it is awful to assume, knowing that just because I don’t care for a roast, someone who does wouldn’t get credit for being a good cook.

@DressingGownofDoom

Reading this whilst eating a frozen Goodfellas pizza

You don't know you're supposed to heat it up? It's not supposed to be eaten frozen. Geesh OP was right about people not being able to cook!!!

I think you are probably wrong re the percentages. I think most people probably can cook to some degree, whether they would want to eat my food or me theirs is up for debate. I would never use a curry paste/jar to make a curry as that is considered sacrilege in my asian household, I also wouldn't put carrots in a biriyani unless it was a vegetarian one and that in my eyes would still be questionable. There are lots of outlets now to be able to get recipes, online and you can watch videos on YouTube too but people have to have the time and motivation to cook. After you have been working all day not a lot of people want to spend a further two hours cooking their evening meal so will opt for shortcuts for convenience. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. Ultimately notbsure how it affects you? I put a lot of effort into providing my family with home cooked meals, it was what both dh and I were used to growing up and what we want for our kids. That being said there are still days where they get a frozen pizza and chips, it is all about balance for me.

@TarnishedSilver thank you! Bookmarked!

@EmmaGrundyForPM I eat sauerkraut and fermented cucumbers and other veg basically every day. If they won't make me fart (anymore😂), I feel confident even the artichoke won't cause some seroous arsemusic😂

Well I used to work as a chef, so can technically cook, but really all good cooking is just having a good palette, enjoying food and learning what tastes good together. And practice. I have to admit I often find Brit food a bit bland and overcooked but I grew up on more Mediterranean/ middle Eastern/ Indian food so I like spice.
I don't fancy your menu tho OP. I just made some fried aubergines with onion and garlic, mixed with chick peas and some feta and olives and it was lush. Took about 8 minutes.
I couldn't be faffed with pheasant and brisket on a regular basis. You can made a lunch of kings with cheese on toast ( mix a bit of mayo and mustard into the grated cheese) or a little penne with olive oil, anchovies and capers, or a winter salad and a few slices of pickled herring ( don't just me I'm a fishaholic)! I don't want to arse about for hours.

“I’m not telling you what to eat, I’m just telling you that everything you eat is shite. I’m not telling you that you need to eat what I eat, I’m just telling you that everything you like to eat is shite”

Gotcha.

I abso-fucking-lutely fucking hate fucking cooking.

So no it wouldn't give me any pleasure to spend more time in my kitchen than I already do ( where about 3/4 of the meals I make are from scratch.)

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Jerusalem atrichokes are also known as poor man's potato. I am yet to try them, but heard they are meh but very healthy.

They’re delicious. One of my absolute favourite vegetables. Great roasted, with a white sauce, or smooth winter soup.

I can’t comment on other posters’s bowel problems, but I digest them just fine.

@mummyoneboy19

“I’m not telling you what to eat, I’m just telling you that everything you eat is shite. I’m not telling you that you need to eat what I eat, I’m just telling you that everything you like to eat is shite”

Gotcha.

😂😂😂

I have to have a look for them in the foreign supermarkets the. Hopefully I can score one. Haven't seen them in tesco or asda.

This evening we had home cooked ham, poached farm eggs, good bread and winter salad from the greenhouse. And a glass of wine. It took me 10 minutes at most. Bliss

I love cooking, have no training and don’t think I’m great at it but keep being told I am so must be doing something right. However the above sounds absolutely perfect to me and is my favourite kind of meal!

I don’t make things from scratch if I can possibly help it. I don’t see it as a badge of honour, just a waste of time. I don’t like ready meals though - a most are a bit heavy or a bit pants, and have a horror of frozen vegetables other than peas.

So I throw together different combinations of frozen onions, frozen garlic, frozen herbs, with fresh meat and vegetables as fast as I can, and make enough that I can freeze half.

My definition of a good recipe is anything that can be made in 20 mins.

I think the best cooks are those that can make the cheapest ingredients taste amazing.

Talking about pheasant and duck eggs is just pure snobbery.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I have to have a look for them in the foreign supermarkets the. Hopefully I can score one. Haven't seen them in tesco or asda.

You don’t need foreign supermarkets - you just need Waitrose, M&S, Ocado or a local greengrocer who will get some for you.

I don’t know why they’ve become niche here, in France they’re seen like turnips - ie what the peasants used to eat as they’re plentiful and cheap.

@Bilgepumper

I think the best cooks are those that can make the cheapest ingredients taste amazing.

Talking about pheasant and duck eggs is just pure snobbery.

Why? Pheasant and duck eggs are nice.

Pheasant Normande (with apples and cream) is amazing.

JerichosPenisInADeadChickHat fried rice is best with cold rice - I dont cook mine the day before but if I want it in the evening I cook it in the morning and leave to cool. It removes all the moisture

Shrikeattack I kind of agree you should try to eat the best you can but it is often the ingredients that matter - a good steak is about picking the right piece of meat not cooking it

Duck eggs aren't much different to hen's eggs and you cook them the same. The OP isn't talking about great cooking skills, she's just showing off.

Yes I've cooked pheasant, I prefer chicken.

YABU, rude and goady.

I dread to think how you approach work and friendships with that sort of attitude. Also, a forum isn’t representative- most people asking need help, they’re not representative of the general population.

Most people know full well that meat needs browning, some joints need slow cooking, don’t overcook vegetables etc.

You may think you’re Escoffier; but I doubt it!

@TatianaBis it's no problem. I am in them weekly anyway, just never really looked for these for fruit and veg (and paprika crisps...) . I get usually over excited by kohlrabi and miss some other veggies so will just concentrate more😂 My closes Waitrose is 12 miles... Will look in M&s though as well next time I get in

If you buy the cheapest cuts of meat and cook them well, they are more tasty than the more expensive cuts.

I prefer shoulder of lamb and pork to the leg cuts. You just have to know how to cook them.