# How often do Brits cook fry-up breakfasts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [December 29, 2020, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153 "2020-12-29T05:35:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/62 "2020-12-31T01:10:56Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > We Germans have a simpler recipe: start the day with the last drink you had last night, so a beer for breakfast for you! The English seem to think that drinking before the sun has risen over the yard-arm is _not the done thing_. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/63 "2020-12-31T01:17:37Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > A few years ago, I went to Scotland and almost every place had the “Scottish Breakfast” - which was the fry up with porridge and oatcakes. Yeah, I didn’t get those at the fry-up I mentioned above – but it did occasionally include kippers (smoked herring.) I’m not sure if that’s particularly Scottish or not, but it was the only place I saw it for breakfast. I think we may also have had tattie scones, but I don’t remember that. I do remember the kippers. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/64 "2020-12-31T01:27:30Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I didn’t get those at the fry-up I mentioned above – but it did occasionally include kippers (smoked herring.) I’m not sure if that’s particularly Scottish or not, but it was the only place I saw it for breakfast. _Could we have kippers for breakfast_ _Mummy dear, Mummy dear_ _They got to have 'em in Texas_ _'Cos everyone’s a millionaire_ First thing that came to mind when reading this post. I loved the album when I was 11, but it took some time before I understood this. The band was a bit torn between two similar, but different worlds. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-MWG_aPXWA) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/65 "2020-12-31T01:59:07Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I used to cook a big Full English about once a month - it was a Sunday brunch sort of thing - served late morning after rising from bed later than normal. That was while my two kids were still at home. After they moved out, I reckon we only do the full fryup a handful of times per year. > > Smaller fryups such as the fried egg sandwich, bacon bap or eggy-in-the-basket happen more often, but not more frequently than weekly Somewhat disappointing username/post combo. 🧐 ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/66 "2020-12-31T02:14:56Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Fry-ups are of course available in Ye Olde Worlde High Street cafes where tourists order then regret their choice. There was a restaurant in Dunoon ca 1990 that served what they called a “mixed grill” – fried egg, chips, black pudding, back bacon, tomato, banger and toast. My flatmates and I went there a couple times a month. > [@si\_blakely](#): > > The English seem to think that drinking before the sun has risen over the yard-arm is _not the done thing_ . My boat has a _very_ short mast. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/67 "2020-12-31T10:35:20Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Somewhat disappointing username/post combo. 🧐 It’s Mange Tout, not manger la même chose tout le temps ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/68 "2020-12-31T11:27:21Z")
Nah, that goes out of the window when on holiday - if your flight is at 6am, you make damn sure you clear security by 5am so that you can spend £10 on a pint of Guinness before boarding. OK, more for stag dos than family trips, I suppose 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/69 "2021-01-01T15:27:43Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > A little side question: I’ve never been to Britain, but I’ve been to some places (Ibiza, Fuerteventura, some Greek islands) in hotels that had a big contingent of British guests, and the breakfast buffets always had all the typical fried and cooked items you expect for a British breakfast, plus everything for a continental breakfast (I guess that’s the proper expression for a typical European breakfast, if there even is). Is this typical? Do British people like to indulge in a full breakfast in their holidays? Some of my carnivorous friends sure liked to eat fried bacon and sausages for breakfast and approved of that British custom. A lot of british dominated tourist areas/hotels are ran by brits for brits. It’s a common thing especially in the likes of Spain, thus English beer, British breakfasts etc. I personally avoid such places because I am not seeking the same experience as my country when going abroad, but this is for normal package tourists who would stay at home if the UK was hot like it was in Spain. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/70 "2021-01-01T15:31:20Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I can still picture it: the hugest plate, eggs, three kinds of sausage, limp bacon, and piled so high with fried tomatoes, baked beans and chips. Chips are not a typical part of a UK fried breakfast. Neithers burgers (mentioned by someone else). You can get that sort of thing in some places, as some sort of mega version, but neither feature typically in a breakfast. Cooking a fried breakfast? Twice in the last year. Eating? Well, it’s not a typical year, but if we’re a night away in a hotel and out on the beer, we’d likely have one for lunch from a cafe the next day. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/71 "2021-01-01T15:41:15Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Chips are not a typical part of a UK fried breakfast. Neithers burgers (mentioned by someone else). The import shop where I buy such things sells trapezoidal frozen beef patties that are supposedly Scottish. I’ve tried them, and they taste pretty much like Swift minute steaks (which are just glorified hamburgers). Is there a name for these things, and how likely would it be for me to encounter them in Scotland? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/72 "2021-01-01T15:52:46Z")
I expect they’re [Lorne sausages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorne_sausage). (ie just different shaped sausage meat ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/73 "2021-01-01T16:50:16Z")
Yep, that’s them. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/74 "2021-01-01T17:16:18Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > I expect they’re [Lorne sausages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorne_sausage). > (ie just different shaped sausage meat Error : Mis-matched parentheses in line 2. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/75 "2021-01-01T17:52:18Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > The import shop where I buy such things sells trapezoidal frozen beef patties that are supposedly Scottish. Pork, not beef. Called Lorne sausage, also Square sausage, as well as “slice”. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/76 "2021-01-01T17:57:46Z")
The link says a mixture of beef and pork. Mine don’t taste like pork at all. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/77 "2021-01-01T18:40:57Z")
I can see the mistake here. I think I’ve had some in the past which had beef in it, but most of the time, and most of the places which sell it, it’s pretty much pork. Down to the local butchers who make it, but mostly you’ll find it is pork. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/78 "2021-01-01T19:29:48Z")
My usual FE would be eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms and baked beans. I have one occasionally as a special treat, maybe once a month. Black pudding is occasionally included,I like it but don’t always have it. Hash browns seem to be a relatively new import, probably due to more US travel and media. Chips have never been part of a traditional FE. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/79 "2021-01-01T20:01:35Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Teppanyaki was started as a Japanized version of American food but became an Americanized version of Japanese food, or something in between. Like Tempura is a Japanese version of a Portuguese dish and now everybody and their cousin uses rice flour for frying. I was in England about 30 years ago and only stayed in B&B’s. We never had a Full English. In Oxfordshire, though, the lady of the house made us kippers one morning as a special treat, and that was lovely. I don’t care much for baked beans, so I’d rather have hash browns. Never eaten black pudding or blood pudding, but I’d be willing to try. I just can’t with all the meat in one meal though…sausage, bacon, and black pudding? Too much fat. I do love tomatoes and mushrooms. But did someone upthread say they used canned (tinned) tomatoes? Because, ugh. I’d rather not eat them if they’re canned – they’re one of the unfortunate veg/fruits that take on the taste of the can. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ukulele_ike1/32/4613_2.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike1)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/80 "2021-01-02T04:13:56Z")
“Over the yardarm” One of the most brilliant authors I worked with in my editing days was Nicolas Freeling, the British-born Francophile and gastronome. He recommended a bottle of dry white wine per person for breakfast. Check out his genius food books, available in an omnibus volume. > **[The Kitchen Book & the Cook Book: Freeling, Nicholas, Lawrence, John:...](https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Book-Cook/dp/0879238623)** > > The Kitchen Book & the Cook Book \[Freeling, Nicholas, Lawrence, John\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. The Kitchen Book & the Cook Book ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153/81 "2021-01-02T05:22:34Z")
So this thread inspired me to make my own Americanized full (well, semi-full) English. Eggs, sausage, fried tomatoes and mushrooms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-brits-cook-fry-up-breakfasts/929153.md?page=5)