Do we need to save the Sunday roast?
Is the traditional Sunday meal on its way to extinction? Lovefood hopes not!
New research from Oven Pride has shown that less than a third of adults (29% to be precise) tuck into a roast dinner on Sundays – but 72% said they had done so when they were young.
With a third of people deciding to go for a takeaway instead, are we losing the knack of making this British classic? Oven Pride seems to think so, putting out a statement saying that "it is clear the Sunday roast is currently a dying tradition." Dark days indeed.
Apparently, people in the North East & Yorkshire and the South West are most likely to keep the tradition alive, with 51% and 56% of people respectively in each region enjoying their Sunday roast. That's more than half in each, so I'm taking that as a sign that we haven't quite given up!
Only 9% of women said they hadn't made a roast ever although this rose to just under a quarter (24%) of men. I find that strange, as it was my dad who took control of the Sunday roast when I was younger. Who takes charge in your household?
Do you still make a roast?
I have a feeling that a lot of Lovefood readers will be among those who still enjoy a Sunday roast – let me know in the Comments below if you do, and you can tweet us your pics this Sunday @lovefood to show us that tradition is not dead!
So what has knocked roasts off the top spot? According to the research, 44% of us said they might cook an Italian meal for Sunday dinner, while 36% would consider a takeaway instead and 31% might prepare Indian food. While there's absolutely nothing wrong with those cuisines, is it important to preserve this food, and cultural, tradition? Or should we being eaten whatever we want, so long as we're doing it with family and friends?
Does it matter if roasts ‘die out’?
I don’t have a roast dinner every week, but that’s because making a roast for two people seems like a lot of effort. However, my girlfriend and I still make one around once a month, though we tend to give it a miss during the summer.
I would be heartbroken though to see a time when families had stopped enjoying this classic meal together. It may not always be the healthiest meal around, but sitting down to a roast dinner on a Sunday is absolutely quality time to enjoy with your loved ones, bonding over a feast of food, perhaps some wine and conversation.
Why is this happening?
When I hear stories like this, I also wonder if many people simply lack the confidence and skills in the kitchen that can only be gained by – you’ve guessed it – being in the kitchen. And the perfect time to work up that confidence is by cooking with your parents when you’re younger. If we don't pass on skills, is it any wonder that people don't carry on cooking?
If you feel uncomfortable to cook a large joint of meat because you haven’t done it before, that’s completely understandable. I think one of the main concerns for the uninitiated is that they’ll give their guests food poisoning with undercooked meat.
My advice to anyone in that situation would be to invest in a meat thermometer. They’re affordable and can help you feel more secure about what you’re serving up.
As for the rest, we’ve got guides on how to make roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings on Lovefood. We’ve also got recipes for roast lamb from Heston Blumenthal (pictured at the top), chicken from Mary Berry, the Hairy Bikers have shared their method for making the perfect roast pork belly with us, and Paul Merrett has a cracking recipe for roast beef.
What’s the best roast?
Which meat (or vegetarian alternative) do you like to cook up for your roast? Personally, I love lamb but am also often tempted by the idea of crackling on a thick, juicy joint of pork. But I also couldn't dig into a roast without a healthy helping of roast parsnips.
Which meat makes the best roast? If you're a vegetarian, select 'Vegetarian option' and tell us about your favourite roast using the Comments below.
What do you eat on Sundays? Can you ever have a roast without Yorkshire puddings? What sauces do you serve up with your meat? Let us know in the Comments below.
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