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 prefer roasting vegetables - the vast majority of them taste so much better when roasted.

I don't boil any veg. I steam cabbage, broccoli asparagus and green beans etc. Carrots get steamed or roasted. Aubergines , courgettes and butternut squash get roasted in olive oil and herbs.

Peas are disgusting so I never cook them ever.

I love in a "deprived" area. There is a lot of obesity. When I think back to school 25yrs ago, the only two overweight people I can think of were actually both children of millionaires. One of them had 2 siblings who weren't overweight at all. I've seen that person through the years and they are still very overweight, still a millionaire, neither of the siblings or parents are overweight, although one has gone very overboard with cosmetic surgery. A very dysfunctional family in general, separation, not talking to each other etc.

So I don't think wealth always means healthier. But cheap food is usually processed and full of shite more likely to make you overweight, less knowledge on nutrition etc

I think it's a reflection on the OP having probably never travelled or educated herself on other customs and cultures.

No wonder she name changed...

They don’t.

HTH

Presumably the men. Unfortunately, the OP seems to have married a dud.

I love lightly steamed or boiled veg. You get the nice natural flavour. I do add salt when cooking. If you serve it with something that has a rich or flavorful sauce or coating then it's a nice contrast.

I would never boil meat or fish though. I don't think I know anyone who would.

I think your ILs are just not very good at cooking and seasoning their food.

Be careful with too much roasting. Acrylemides aren't good. A bit of steaming and boiling is a good way to cut down and keeping some dishes bland helps to keep your palate sharp to subtle flavours instead of disguising them. It's a decent way to prevent overeating too.

Short answer: We don't.

Longer answer: maybe your DH is not a good cook.

Even longer answer: I don't like carrots, however they're cooked, so YABU.

I'v not boiled veg for years. I have a 2-tier stainless steel steamer and it goes on the gas hob and all veg is steamed.

What, even roast potatoes? You see, this is EXACTLY why we have the best roast potatoes on the planet. If you don't understand the need to parboil a floury type potato before roasting it then I can guarantee that yours will be shit.

They do but I don't want any oil near them unless they are roast potatoes.
Baked swede tastes delicious compared to boiled swede.

Why do people come over here to live and then criticise everything we do? Getting a little fed up with it.

NB I am 100% British and the only thing we boil is chicken for the dogs (which is the correct way).

I steam, roast and saute vegetables but never boil in a pan of water!

You're clearly from a country that doesn't produce good potatoes, particularly Jersey Royals, even though they're not what they used to be! Most European countries I have visited/lived in have their own customs, eg serving vegetables as an accompiment to a meal isn't as usual as in the UK, ie meat and two veg type of meals. Boiled potatoes exist beyond Dover, Salzkartofflen in Germany for example but are not as usual.

Presumably that's exactly what he wants her to do.

It sounds like the sort of thing someone European said in about 1973, and has been picked up and repeated as some sort of anti British gotcha.
Tedious.

I’m vegan so eat a lot of veg and the only veg I boil is peas for two minutes before I add them to a roast and I still add seasoning to them. Does mash count as the potatoes are boiled before mashed and seasoning added? But I feel like you can’t escape that as it’s a part of a roast. I don’t eat a roast often though and all other veg I eat daily gets roasted if it isn’t a salad vegetable.

My Nana and MIL both boil their veg to death and I cannot eat anything they make as it’s sloppy and flavourless but they’re the only people I know who do this and they are both of an older generation. So I wouldn’t say it’s all British people at all.

I'd imagine roasted they'd be like chomping on a ball bearing.

Stick to gently boiling them.

Which country are you and generalised statements about English cooking from then OP?

I have never boiled chicken.

I use a steamer mostly for smaller meals, roast for family meals.

I boil potato's for mash and new pots but thats it.

That’s easy, cut the carrots and parsnips into even pieces, put in a metal roasting tin with some oil, salt and pepper. Roast in a 180 oven for about 30 mins (depending on size) and then cover in honey and back in the oven for 10/15 minutes until the honey forms a sticky glaze and chars round the edges. If you’re not sure about timings before the honey goes on the veg should give a bit when prodded with a fork, but not be mushy.

I’m British and I don’t boil anything other than par boiling potatoes or cruciferous vegetables before roasting or pan frying. Otherwise they aren’t cooked.

My German in laws on the other hand boil everything. I wonder why Germans boil everything???

Every nation cooks differently. And I suspect each nation has food trends too. Which come and go.
Crunchy veg is not liked by all and so par boiling a carrot takes the edge off the crunch. Ditto other veg.
We may well boil or simmer veg more than other countries might. The reason will be down to our social history . As it will be for others elsewhere.

@Lotc I feel sorry for you if you haven't tasted new potatoes cooked in water - as they should be.