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Original poster

Why are British women such shit cooks??

293 replies

moondog · 05/11/2007 22:57

I mix with a lot of different people.
Over the years, the women I know who can cook could be counted on one hand (and my mother and sister are two of those.)

Seriously, people haven't got a fucking clue about even the most basic stuff.On the rare occasion I am even invited to eat in someone else's house it is usually inedible slop.

And yet,the tv has nothing but cookery programmes on it,Gordon Ramsey is a househole name and the bookshops burst with glossy tomes that make the best seller list.

Seriously, any ideas???

OP posts:
Pruners · 06/11/2007 00:00

Message withdrawn

pointydog · 06/11/2007 00:00

That isn;t enthusiasm, it's madness

LadyOfTheFlowers · 06/11/2007 00:02

It is!
They just look absolutely insane.
They are scary which is why I don't understand Ds' obsession.

portonovo · 06/11/2007 10:08

I don't know who you mix with moondog, but it doesn't reflect my experience!

I know some awful cooks, and some who really don't bother, just do ready meals or they might just about manage pasta and a jar of sauce.

But I also know loads of really good cooks. All the women in my family are great cooks, it's something we've all done since childhood really. We do differ a lot, some do little more than 'good plain British cooking', others are more adventurous in what they do, but the meals all taste great. We all bake too.

My friends vary, the ones I know about anyway, some I don't know what they cook or eat. A few don't cook much but 'can' and do sometimes. Others cook all the time and I would happily eat anything they cook. Some cook at or near professional catering level. We had a special school celebration for our centenary this year and 3 of us from the PTA did the catering for 300 people - the head and several governors said they wished we could take over the school dinner contract!

Why is this just about women anyway? What about men cooking? My husband is a great cook, although he doesn't do as much as me. He is particularly cook at pastry. His brother has recently become all domesticated and is turning out to be a pretty decent cook. I have two sons myself and I am determined that neither they nor their sister will leave home unable to cook a wide range of tasty and nutritious meals. They don't do so badly now, in fact my 15 year old daughter can cook a variety of family meals as well as some more fancy cakes etc.

Perhaps that's the answer - if we don't want to have a nation that can't cook, we have to make sure our children can!

mistypeaks · 06/11/2007 10:18

I can cook. I don't use jars etc (I have the odd one in the cupboard - must check sell by date on them must be too old by now!!!) I too like to stand in kitchen with dh whilst we chop/stir/drink/chat. I can't BAKE though, with the exception of the obligitary lemon drizzle!! I do little fairy cakes etc with DDs so hopefully they'll grow up with some skills

maggotandjerry · 06/11/2007 10:22

I am a good cook. I am greedy and I like nice food therefore I can cook. All my friends are greedy and like nice food. Therefore they can cook too. We spend most of our time together planning what to eat next

I think you are mixing with the wrong people, moondog. I don't have friends who can't cook - you might think this is just coincidence but actually I think if they don't understand food (and it's not rocket science really) we fundamentally won't get on. Seriously.

VictorianSqualor · 06/11/2007 10:37

I came along to this thread full of indignation, thinking moondog was a cheecky fecker as I can cook bloody well!
I have had tons of people over for dinner, and after the first time they always ask when they can come again.

BUT then I thought of the amount of times I have been for dinner at someones house, I have eaten spagbol with ragu (why???) aunt bessies christmas dinner, sausages and oven chips, and steak cooked from frozen with fried egg and mash potato

Maybe a lot of the people on MN can cook, but is that because we care more?? I have to say MN is not a good indication of people I know in real life, many of them would never consider food as a big deal, nor talking to their children, doing homework with them, and certainly wouldn't get worked up about breast feeding v formula, reusable nappies v disposable, greggs sausage rolls and fruit shoots v apple and water etc etc.

In fact I think that's probably why I'm so addicted to MN, because I don't know people who think the same things are important as I do.

They just dont seem to care as much, which I find pretty bloody sad

puppydavies · 06/11/2007 10:44

lolol funny thread.

do i get bonus points for reliably lump-free white sauce with wooden spoon alone? i have been known to buy salad dressing though so strike those bonus points. if i'm bothering to do the salad prep i figure saving a couple of minutes on the dressing (i'm talking things w/herbs here) eminently reasonable (usually i just bung proper balsamic over it though, so makes a change if have several salads on go).

CountessDracula · 06/11/2007 10:46

oh god

packet white sauce mix?????

I didn't even know that existed

WHAT is so hard about making white sauce? Even dh can do it

handlemecarefully · 06/11/2007 10:50

I have tried packet white sauce mix in a slovenly phase, it was absolutely vile. Always do my own now. If it gets lumpy sometimes , I just get electric whisk out...

Can't understand why people don't make their own either

puppydavies · 06/11/2007 10:51

i reckon you can tell how good a cook you are by the number of m&s ready meals/meals out you have which are nicer than you make. i'm reliably better (and more generous) than m&s. my lasagne rivals our local trattoria (if they made their bechamel thinner, the whole thing would be slightly less stodgy and a good approximation of mine but their meat is fractionally more tender ). have only eaten in one restaurant where the food is reliably better than mine but they do charge a small mortgage fort he privilege.

zippitippitoes · 06/11/2007 11:02

I am a brilliant cook and I can mix cement but then i don't know you

Mercy · 06/11/2007 11:08

I used to share a flat with a French girl who was amazed that I cooked most of my food from scratch as she thought that most British people bought everything ready made.

The ironic thing was that she could hardly cook imo!

I do find cooking a chore now tbh. It's thinking of something to make that gets me down.

suzywong · 06/11/2007 11:23

Australian women are shockers too

in general that is, but ther are things like zucchini slice as a main dish at a lunch party

bozza · 06/11/2007 11:25

I don't know whether you would count me as a good cook or not. I can do the basics and follow a recipe. I would be unlikely to produce a menu like the one described by hmc. Yesterday was pasta and meatballs in tomato sauce (couple of tins of tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, tomato puree, herbs, sugar, chilli, something like that). So not very fancy, but cooked from scratch, and I made about 50 meatballs so lots of them in the freezer for when I am working.

OrmIrian · 06/11/2007 11:26

Speak for yourself!

I'm a bloody good cook thanks

TheMaskedPoster · 06/11/2007 11:41

lol at this thread title

I can cook, I enjoy it AND I'm british

Well, am a kiwi but british (as mum is English), and was raised on a farm where things were usually cooked from scratch. To have a 'ready made meal' was going out to a restaurant (and that was a very rare and special treat) - so I think that a lot of the basics were learnt at a young age (iyswim).

---btw, haven't read through the whole thread , yet.

EllieG · 06/11/2007 11:46

Very cheeky title!
I think anyone who likes to eat can make a reasonable cook, it's just about having the time. I try to cook from scratch every day, but sometimes home cooking has to go on the back burner when you're working full time, and you have other things to do, so can be a bit basic.
Would never invite someone over and feed them crap though, would be much too embarrassed.

Pollyanna · 06/11/2007 11:50

I think there is a bit of assumption that we all love to chop and stir and drink wine (or whatever).

I cook from scratch always. My children do not eat anything processed, but I just do not enjoy cooking. I eat a salad most nights as I just do not want to spend a moment longer than necesasry in the kitchen.

I would find it an immense trial to invite 6 people round to supper and cook a 3 course meal for them. I can follow a recipe, but often things go wrong and I am no good a putting a menu together. However, having said that as far as I know, none of my friends are foodies and if they come round to dinner they haven't complained about what they are given (maybe because there are always copious amounts of wine )

I don't know anyone who uses packets to cook.

bozza · 06/11/2007 12:07

I know loads of people who use packets/jars at least some of the time, including my MIL. In fact the thing that gets me about my MIL is the endless Iceland frozen gateaux, cheesecakes etc when I know she has plenty of time on her hands and makes excellent crumbles, pies etc, you know, proper puddings.

VictorianSqualor · 06/11/2007 12:10

I'm ashamed to admit, I use a packet of yorkshire pudding mix when I make yorkshires, I just can't seem to get them right otherwise!

Piggy · 06/11/2007 12:14

I love cooking. Always have and I am a really good cook. I cook everything from scratch and don't know anyone who uses jars or mixes.

Guess you must be hanging out with the wrong people moondog.

handlemecarefully · 06/11/2007 12:21

"I think there is a bit of assumption that we all love to chop and stir and drink wine (or whatever). "

Yes I know what you mean. I cook from scratch because I enjoy good food, but I don't necessarily enjoy the cooking process. However this is largely because my children are generally clamouring for my attention whilst I am cooking. If they were better at keeping themselves occupied I would have more fun doing it

FluffyMummy123 · 06/11/2007 12:22

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FluffyMummy123 · 06/11/2007 12:23

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