Chips paired with rice, honey drizzled over roasties – and even spuds sliced and eaten in a sandwich, are some of the weirdest ways Brits tuck into potatoes, a study has found.
Three in ten adults say that potatoes are their favourite ingredient to use when getting experimental with unique recipes in the kitchen – and have tried them topped with curry sauce, a mayonnaise and gravy combo, and even with ice-cream.
In fact, nearly two in five potato lovers (39 per cent) tuck into their spud-based concoctions in private, for fear of judgement – with 27 per cent having been mocked four times in the last year alone for their potato preferences.
But over half (56 per cent), of the 2,000 adults polled, still think that chips are the best way to enjoy potatoes – although creative eaters have dipped their fries into milkshake, egg yolk, and even melted chocolate.
And seven in ten are loud and proud of their unusual potato eating habits, with no shame about the way they prepare the veg.
Molly Borys, spokeswoman for Albert Bartlett, which commissioned the research, said: “We're a nation of spud lovers – but we didn’t quite realise some of the weirder ways people tend to enjoy them, although we’ve experimented plenty ourselves.
“As far as we’re concerned, there’s absolutely no shame attached. If you want to coat your roasties in marmalade, go right ahead.”
The results, via OnePoll, also found that 55 per cent named potatoes as their favourite vegetable.
And 49 per cent said that, when they introduced someone to the way they eat their spuds, a whopping 86 per cent of these confessed to actually enjoying it.
Nearly a third (three in ten) would consider themselves “foodies” – and 39% would say they’re pretty experimental when they get in the kitchen.
And bread (12 per cent), rice (23 per cent), and potatoes (30 per cent) are the favourite ingredients to use when getting creative – with Britain, Spain, and France among the list of nations that have the best recipes and dishes for the beloved vegetable.
When it comes to roast dinners, 29 per cent say the classic parts that make the perfect plate – such as chicken, roasties, and gravy – have changed over the last five years.
The top reasons were they now have more variety in veg (37 per cent), they eat more varied foods in general (33 per cent), and they aren’t afraid to move away from the “big three” – pork, beef, and chicken – as the main elements of the dish.
However, more than half (53 per cent) admit it would be difficult for them to axe potatoes from their diet – and 32 per cent say they would prefer to stop eating bread if it meant they could eat all the taters they liked.
Stevie McLaughlin, head chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, and Albert Bartlett ambassador, said: “I’m delighted that the UK rates highly as a nation with great potato recipes.
“It’s something we’ve known for a long time as potatoes are so versatile – but it looks like Brits also love to experiment.
“As a chef, I’m all for trying out new flavours, and some of these strange potato combinations have piqued my interest – although I may be leaving a few of these untouched.”
Top 25 weirdest ways Brits eat potatoes:
- Chips with rice
- Sliced inside a sandwich
- Putting honey on roast potatoes
- Dipping chips into egg yolk
- Dipping chips into a milkshake
- Mayonnaise and gravy on roast potatoes
- Mash potato with sweetcorn mixed in
- On top of a pizza
- Curry sauce on roast potatoes
- Ice-cream and fries
- Putting curry powder in mash
- Potato waffles with ice-cream and chocolate sauce
- Only eating the peels
- Putting baked beans on crisps
- Putting apple in mashed potatoes
- Chips with melted chocolate on top
- In a hot dog
- Dipping chips in Marmite
- Cutting into shapes with a cookie cutter
- Jam on chips
- Marmalade on a jacket potato
- Cooking potatoes with Marmite
- Baked potato and beans cooked in Coca-Cola
- Chocolate mashed potato
- Boiling potatoes in Coca-Cola
