Why do Brits boil everything ?

[Lotc]

I’m European but not British. I have to say the way you guys cook (vegetables in particular) ie boiling everything) really isn’t for me. It just makes everything so bland even if you add butter and salt after. Carrots especially. Why not roast or lightly sautee in a pan with some olive oil? My husband boils everything. I’ve never seen anything like it. Why boil carrots? Same as ILs. The first time I met ILs we had poached chicken. It’s so weird to me. Is it a health thing?

I love a boiled carrot. If we have a roast I’ll have boiled and roasted, they’re both delicious in different ways.

Probably because of all the people from secret European countries who tell us how superior they are in every way. Obviously they aren't superior in their social skills though. Telling people your country is better than theirs is pretty clueless in the manners department!

I steam vegetables 🤷🏻‍♀️ unless I'm making a stir fry or a roasted vegetable dish.

But that’s not cauliflower cheese.

This is your in laws.
we dont boil everything.

What is it? And why?

Yes I probably bloke everything but I can’t see what the flip it has to do with you. My house we eat what we like, your house you do you.

I hear you. It’s horrendous.

and they eat so early…. My IL’s eat their dinner at 4:30 or 5. Insane!

Ive never boiled a vegetable in my life . I am 55 💯 brit steam everything

It's not "insane". It's their choice.
What's the harm?
I'm baffled why people on here get so vexed and angry about the eating habits of others! Chill.

I might start a thread about the inability of the French to tolerate anything hotter than harissa.

Were in england, we dont boil anything

I steam about 60% of vegetables. Jerseys potatoes are delicious steamed. I would hate you to fry or roast them.Actually all new fresh potatoes (freshly dug) are best steamed.
We do roast carrots sometimes, but I like to slice into circles so don’t want that shape fried or roasted.
I also like steamed cabbage would hate it roasted or fried, so it’s a good job you aren’t cooking for me or me for you!
I think steamed vegetables are healthy.
But it depends on the recipe how I cook.

Basically, variety is the spice of life. As I said earlier, I like the clean, fresh taste of al dente boiled or steamed veg - sometimes I need that to balance out richer parts of a meal. I also love roasted veg, raw veg, fried or chargrilled veg - as long as it is cooked well, it is all delicious.

How else can you make Bubble & squeak or Croquette potatoes without 1st boiling spuds?

That said, it is ridiculously difficult to perfectly roast carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips etc. as they’re packed with sugar which readily burns, personally i hate charcoal.
Most veg can be effectively microwaved with very little water (& what water is left can be added to sauce or gravy), & can sprinkle herbs over for extra variety.

I have a metal steamer on hob, I had an electric one, but it took too long and harder to wash.

Not quite snap but last night I microwaved potatoes, then microwaved salmon and frozen peas and ate them with mayonnaise.

I'm having salmon mayonnaise and re-heated potatoes with salad tonight. I don't think I'll boil any of it. But there again, not a Brit.

I'm not quite as young as you, and also don't use the oven often, though the air 'fryer' produces the odd roast, and I have a small toaster oven that is big enough to bake a loaf. Or a boiled cake - I wonder does the OP know what that is?

toaster oveN ffs, not a toaster that drops by for a visit.

We don’t boil everything!

sometimes I do boiled eggs but I also do lots of other kinds. Sometimes boiled potatoes, especially in a salad and they are the healthiest but also multiple other varieties. I do sometimes boil veg but I also roast, stir fry and sautee loads.

Thank you, that’s interesting. I don’t really want yet another electric gadget so glad to hear traditional steaming is still best. !

Oh that looks good, I’d been wondering about an electric one but I don’t really want another electric gadget cluttering up my kitchen!

I boil potatoes- how else do you mash them? All other veg I steam.

It is - I have what looks like a metal colander which sits snugly on top of a pan. About 3 mins to steam veg.

Yes, it’s the best way. But we’d all be the size of a house if we sautéed all our veg in butter daily. Much healthier to steam it or roast with a spritz of olive oil, and save the butter for special meals.

I have one of those, and sometimes nestle a little ramekin of peas-n-shallots in between the spuds/carrots/whatever.

I boil cabbage, (how else would I get cabbage water?) also sometimes leeks.

But we like bring the worst or the best, we can’t just be the same as others. It’s a throwback to colonialism.