“I don’t use recipes!” is an annoying brag!

[Lordoftheflyingpan]

AIBU in finding it really annoying and unbearably smug when someone says “I don’t use recipes, I just make up my own”?

It can occur any time the filthy word “recipe” is mentioned, but as an example:
A: This salad is really nice!
B: Thanks, it’s a Jamie Oliver recipe.
A: Oh, I don’t use recipes. I just make it up according to what I like.

I’m aware this is super petty, but if Mumsnet isn’t the place to put petty gripes then I don’t know where is.

YABU - it’s fine! Get over it/yourself.
YANBU - ugh, yes, so smug and annoying.

Or it could be that the person isn’t organised enough to have all the ingredients to follow a recipe to the letter and just uses what they have/what they like??

I've never used a recipe because I don't make food that needs one. I don't own a recipe book. Is it that unusual? I massively admire people who love cooking new things.

You're reading too much into it . I say it if someone asks for the recipe and there isn't one. It's not like they're saying I'm amazing at knowing flavour combinations

I agree with you! It's like they have some kind of innate superior understanding of cooking and can just throw things together and they will make something lovely. In reality I think it takes ages of either making rubbish or following recipes until you know them well enough to adapt them to be able to say you don't use recipes any more

yabu
I find using star chef recipes like your example very pretentious...

of of course it depends on the tone of voice as well.

I think it's more of a brag that you use a recipe for salad, where I'm from a salad is lettuce, cucumber and tomato, if it's a fancy salad you might get spring onion and a bit of coleslaw

Been cooking for decades and don’t generally use “recipes” because knowledge sinks in.
Sorry for annoying you

It's a sign of disorganisation surely?

Yabu. I don't use recipes either, I have lots of them and they look fab. But I can never organise myself to have the right ingredients and the time to spend on following a recipe, plus I loathe cooking with a passion. I'm quite envious of anyone who can produce a meal that looks like the picture in a recipe book.

YABU, what a weird stance! Unless it's a super precise thing to make (like baking!) then most things don't need recipes surely? Or am I just a wanker who doesn't use recipes? 😂

It wouldn't occur to me to use a recipe for a salad, but most of the time my lack of recipe use is simply down to lack of organisation/preparedness. I don't think I volunteer the information though, to be fair, it would only be if someone asked me which recipe I used for something, so in your example I think it's unnecessary to bring up the fact that you don't use a recipe.

Is it smug? I can't remember ever hearing someone say that in real life but if they did I don't think I'd find it smug

And yes saying it's an Ottolenghi recipe is the pretentious way in my book. 😂

I'm now humbled by the thought I'm a " no recipe" wanker.😔

I say this, I hope it doesn't sound smug.

In reality I'm kind of lazy so just do it from memory instead of bothering with a book.

@HowlingKale

I'm now humbled by the thought I'm a " no recipe" wanker.😔

Yabu! Not using a recipe is absolutely normal!

I like recipes, dunno why some people dont. Even if you don't follow them fully, you can make nice food with them or use them as inspiration. I might make something but not like the ingredients they used, so just use different ones. Don't have to follow them to the letter. Maybe that's what they mean?

Sometimes with baking it helps to misread the recipe too. I did that once but it worked out for the better. Extra chocolate hurts no one.

I say it as a matter of fact, not to brag. In day to day cooking, i just cook. If i have time or i’m cooking for others then i might try something new. The more cooking you do, the less you need recipes i think.

YABU. Many of us from non British backgrounds don't use recipes because we were taught by our mothers who did not use recipes or even measurements.

@Zonder

I agree with you! It's like they have some kind of innate superior understanding of cooking and can just throw things together and they will make something lovely. In reality I think it takes ages of either making rubbish or following recipes until you know them well enough to adapt them to be able to say you don't use recipes any more

My experience is that people who are good at cooking use recipes, and people who aren't (like me) don't and just wing it. My food is ok but no-one is going to be raving about it - tbh I don't want them to because then they might want me to cook more often and I'd rather gnaw my own arms off.

I don't use recipes because I'd rather not think about cooking anymore than I have to, and recipes require thought and planning.

I use a recipe if I'm cooking something new but if I'm doing something for the millionth time, spag bol, cottage pie etc I don't need a recipe.

@hangrylady

I use a recipe if I'm cooking something new but if I'm doing something for the millionth time, spag bol, cottage pie etc I don't need a recipe.

Exactly, it would be weird if you had to follow a recipe every time when you've made the dish countless times before, hardly a brag

I never used to use recipes, just made stuff up (didn't brag about it though!). Last few years I've got into cooking a bit more and now use recipes all the time. My cooking has improved hugely.

The recipes are just stored in their heads.