Why are sprouts so unpopular?

[CuppaTeaJanice]

I love brussel sprouts. In fact they are my favourite vegetable. I'd happily eat a big plate of just sprouts for dinner, preferably refried in a little bit of butter and seasoned with aromat. Yummy!!!!

They have such a bad reputation though. They are the butt of many jokes, and they seem to be the most unpopular part of most people's Christmas dinner.

Am I the only person who likes sprouts? Why is such a delicious vegetable so widely hated?

We love sprouts in our house too. I think that they are easy to overcook and taste AWFUL if overcooked. But if you don't overcook them they are yum.

I love sprouts, and they are one of the few vegetabel that DD1 will eat. But I very rarely boil them, I slice and stir fry them in butter, or fry them whole and then poach in a little OJ for 'special occasions'
I had one fo my few spats with MIL over sprouts as she kept cutting the fricking cross in the bottom which is guaranteed to make them go soggy and overcooked.
Which is how she cooks all veg, and the reason DH won't eat veg at all.

I love Sprouts as does dh.

I LOVE SPROUTS
The fact that it looks like a shrunken cabbage mini me puts people off. He is only cooked once a year for the big feast and is hidden amongst such delights as the roast potato, honey roast parsnip and glazed carrot the poor little chap doesn't stand a chance.

I like sprouts

Because they are disgusting? They are the food of satan. My mother and step-father are coming for Christmas and bringing their own. This is a special dispensation as I don't usually allow them in the house.

DD had Christmas lunch at nursery last week and her first encounter with a sprout. They told her they were "Christmas green balls" and she tried one. And spat it out immediately. That's my girl!

I'm absolutely sure that Reality is right - it's a genetic thingy as to whether you love sprouts or are disgusted by them.

Can't find a reference to this via google, though. The only clue is from:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussell_Sprouts which says:
"Whatever cooking method is employed, overcooking is avoided. Overcooking releases the glucosinolate sinigrin, which has a sulfurous odor. The odor is the reason many people[...] profess to dislike Brussel sprouts, if they've only tried them overcooked with the accompanying sulfuric taste and smell. Generally 6?7 minutes boiled or steamed is enough to cook them thoroughly, without overcooking and releasing the sinigrin."