# Are we Brits the only people who like baked beans? Even the refugees won't eat them! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 9, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634 "2002-09-09T11:57:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/1 "2002-09-09T11:57:32Z")
THis story in today’s Times states that a Vicar has asked his congregation not to donate baked beans to the harvest festival. > **[The Times & The Sunday Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/)** > > News and opinion from The Times & The Sunday Times (For those that do not know; a Harvest Festival is a service, primarily for children, when they bring gifts of food which are distributed to people who may need them ie the poor of the parish.) Apparently the asylum seekers who are the intended recipients of these gifts won’t eat baked beans as they think they’re horrid. Again, on the off chance that people don’t know what baked beans are, they are haricot or boston navy beans (presumably baked) in a tomato sauce, sold in tins It is impossible to move in Britain without eating baked beans. Every student and most batchelors live on them, usually on toast (my own recipe is to spoon in some Pataks Vindaloo paste, the gastric aftermath of this can only be hinted at in a family environment). My mother eats them straight out of the can (but she is Scottish and they’re all a bit odd). So are we alone in loving these things? ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/2 "2002-09-09T12:12:13Z")
speaking as a fellow brit, i’ve a horrible feeling we are. although i must admit that though i enjoy baked beans, i prefer spaghetti hoops… ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/3 "2002-09-09T12:15:09Z")
I can tell you that spaghetti hoops are rubbish with vindaloo paste! ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/4 "2002-09-09T12:17:20Z")
I’m British and I don’t like baked beans. Pity me! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/5 "2002-09-09T12:20:25Z")
I like baked beans, and I’m a Californian-born, Maryland-reared, temporary-Florida resident of Polish descent. (Is that sufficiently confusing?) I’ll dump a couple of cans of beans into a pan, add ketchup, brown sugar, onions, and cheese, then simmer till the cheese is melted and the whole mixture is thick. I like to eat this scooped up on ridged potato chips. yummmmmmmmmmmmmmm ---
**Author:** ![agentfroot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@agentfroot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agentfroot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/6 "2002-09-09T12:20:47Z")
_sings_ i love beans, woo woo woo! i love beans, how 'bout you? i’m american but most of my ancestors came from britain… maybe my love of baked beans is hereditary. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/7 "2002-09-09T12:22:05Z")
Baked beans are a staple of picnics throughout North America. Weenies-and-beans is also one of those meals that’s unnavoidable whengrowing up (along with Kraft Dinner). I like baked beans, but I cook 'em in my own recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/8 "2002-09-09T12:33:53Z")
I got my in-laws in Oregon addicted to British baked beans (and mushy peas) so have to send them a few tins at Christmas. For the benifit of American dopers, the closest thing you have to our baked beans would be a can of pork & beans. Just take out the lump of fat, cook 'em up and plonk 'em on some toast for breakfast or serve them with some sausages and thick cut fries for dinner. Luvverly. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/9 "2002-09-09T12:41:52Z")
Are the British variety akin to the Yankee type? i.e., as per **FairyChatMom’s** descrip? Actually we always had bacon strips on the top of ours, not cheese. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/10 "2002-09-09T12:45:35Z")
i remember coming across a great camping dish which i still amaze my mates with to this day. basically you three-quarter cook a load of sausages and potato chunks, then drop them into a vat of beans and add some mild curry flavouring, onions, peppers and anything else you can think of. cook it up, then serve it - people cringe when they see it, but i defy you to find anyone who doesn’t ask for seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Koffing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Koffing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koffing)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/11 "2002-09-09T12:47:00Z")
I like baked beans. It’s the fact that everyone feels the need to drop pork in them that I don’t like. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/12 "2002-09-09T12:48:39Z")
i am from india… but i was in london just recently… and i did eat the canned baked beans… i normally love baked beans… but somehow the tins i bought in london just didn’t taste half as good as we get them here… i even tried two varieties, one with whitish beans and one with the red kidney beans… i’ve tasted better of both varieties at home… or maybe it was because i was shopping at Tescos 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bifar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bifar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bifar)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/13 "2002-09-09T12:51:04Z")
Beans, beans, good for your heart, The more you eat, the more you fart. The more you fart, the better you feel, So let’s have beans for every meal! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/14 "2002-09-09T12:56:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Weenies-and-beans is also one of those meals that’s unnavoidable whengrowing up (along with Kraft Dinner). I’ve come up with a “grown-up” version of beanie-weenies that my husband and daughter just love…I cut up hot smoked sausages instead of hot dogs, and heat them in the beans. This is particularly satisfying on cool nights, especially with cornbread. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/15 "2002-09-09T13:13:37Z")
Another sausage/bean recipe that I learned at school (interestingly called ‘American Pie’): Fry some onion in a pan and brown some sausages. Put them in a casserole dish, arranging the sausages into a cartwheel (assuming the dish is round). Cover with baked beans (Homemade or canned) and top with mashed potato. Wallop it in the oven for a bit and serve. Bloody great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/16 "2002-09-09T13:24:38Z")
I always assumed that baked beans were an American thing. I envisioned cowboys eating them round the camp-fire (a la Blazing Saddles). The beans themselves are American I believe. I always thought they were called “boston navy beans” but this could, of course, be utter cobblers. What about the Commonwealth and Dominions? Do you eat beans? ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/17 "2002-09-09T13:26:23Z")
Thanks a whole big bunch, **Lynn**. I’m not going to be able to _think_ until I get my hands on some beans and cornbread. I’m hungry now. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/18 "2002-09-09T13:36:09Z")
Oh, you’re quite welcome, **Exgineer**. A little tip I learned from **Chef Troy** is to use chicken stock when making homemade beans. I, personally, like blackeye peas with ham or bacon, and a little chopped celery, onion, and carrot in the broth the very best, though I like other kinds of beans, too. If you can’t get your hands on cornbread, try corn tortillas, or tortilla chips. Very good. ---
**Author:** ![Daerlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Daerlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daerlyn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/19 "2002-09-09T13:42:43Z")
I like canned baked beans fine, but in tomato sauce? Ick. Molasses, if you please. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rmat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85e7bf/32.png) [@Rmat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rmat)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634/20 "2002-09-09T13:49:59Z")
Americans, as others have pointed out, eat loads baked beans. Indeed, I believe we can take credit for the invention. What we generally don’t do–and what I find astonishing that Brits do do–is eat them for breakfast. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-brits-the-only-people-who-like-baked-beans-even-the-refugees-wont-eat-them/127634.md?page=2)