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When's the last time you cooked roast beef?

(96 Posts)
snowberryZ Wed 02-Nov-22 21:42:45

Was watching 'Maxine' on TV the other night and in it she says how they had just cooked Roast Beef and all the trimmings.
This was set about 2002 or thereabouts (I think)
And I realised wirh a bit of a shock that it's a been a couple of years since I bought a decent joint of beef to roast
I tend to go mainly for Chicken or pork these days.
Probably because it's cheaper.
And yet back in the day when I had a young family and not much money we ate roast beef regularly.
I think most young families wouldn't be able to afford it now.
What with the astronomical increase in food prices, it was shocking to realise how much life has changed since 2002.

Calendargirl Thu 03-Nov-22 06:55:10

A couple of weeks ago. Then the remainder cold next day with bubble and squeak.

We had it every week when I was young, but chicken was a luxury. Beef obviously cheap back then. But not topside or silverside, more like ‘rising rib’ as DH calls it. He often reminisces fondly of his mother’s marvellous Sunday dinners when young, but as one of eight children, I remind him he was probably much hungrier back then!

M0nica Thu 03-Nov-22 07:04:42

diz14 I always put lentils in any mince based meal these days and add extra vegetables to all casseroles and stews so that average meat portion is smaller.

Less easy with a roast, but Yorkshire puddings can go back to their original purpose, which was to fill you up before the meat, so that you didn't want to eat too much meat.

In Charlotte Bronte's 'Shirley' one character says to his children 'No ball without broth, no meat without ball' In other words you do not get the meat until you have eaten your soup and your 'ball'. which would be a Yorkshire pudding, dumpling or other dense carbohydrate, so you were pretty full before you started on the meat.

I am very economical with meat, portionwise because I only by environmentally supportive Pasture for Life meat, which is expensive , but because the portions served are small, is more economical.

JackyB Thu 03-Nov-22 07:21:58

I did one on Tuesday as 1 November is a bank holiday here. We had been away for the weekend and I had bought it before we went away. It was lovely, although DH complained about having meat. He thinks we eat too much meat. All the more for me!

I only did roast potatoes and greens to go with it, but it was perfect. I did do a tray of mushrooms but forgot them in the oven and discovered them yesterday by chance! Made a sauce out if them on some spaghetti for last night's dinner.

dogsmother Thu 03-Nov-22 07:41:48

Roast every Sunday alternating meats though beef is my favourite. A rolled rib to be accurate with Yorkshire puddings and everything else. However I’d opt for a very small slice and eat mainly the vegetables. My oh cooks on Sunday and is a dab hand too.

grannyrebel7 Thu 03-Nov-22 07:46:36

About once a month. I'm a stickler for a traditional Sunday roast and we vary which type of meat we have each week. It's the only cooking I really enjoy. I think the Sunday roast is dying out though. My DD has never cooked one in her life and wouldn't have a clue how to go about it. As for making real gravy, forget it!

shysal Thu 03-Nov-22 07:51:16

I live alone so don't do roast joints, but often buy Asda's beef in gravy. It has a few weeks fridge life and is a good stand-by for lazy days. It is very tender and lasts me a few days. I have even used a couple for visitors with all the trimmings.

Blondiescot Thu 03-Nov-22 07:59:06

Reading this, I've just realised it's been quite a while since we've had roast beef. I do make a Sunday roast on a regular basis, but these days it tends to be chicken or maybe pork. I look at lamb and beef and then see the price tag and move on to something cheaper.

Farmor15 Thu 03-Nov-22 08:09:27

Last Sunday - a very good quality (and expensive) rib of beef. With all the trimmings including Yorkshire puddings. Daughter and family visiting but have roasts regularly on Sundays anyway.

nanna8 Thu 03-Nov-22 08:09:44

I think probably about 4 or 5 months ago. Mostly we have chicken and pork and slow cooker foods, cheap beef in red wine cooked slowly. I do buy fish at least once a week but it is getting ridiculously expensive.

Greyduster Thu 03-Nov-22 08:11:10

I did, last Sunday. I bought a piece of topside. It was expensive but would have cost me more to take the family out for a meal and GS loves a roast dinner. I couldn’t remember the last time we had had beef. True to form, it shrank in the oven but there was plenty and I sliced up what was left and put it in the freezer. I have to say I prefer slow cooked brisket, or short ribs to roasting beef.

DillytheGardener Thu 03-Nov-22 08:19:24

I have a roast beef occasionally, but I must admit mine are a little dry. My son taught me a lovely recipe to flavour beef and lamb, but DH hates it. He also hates chicken roasts so it’s a stale mate.
For Christmas we have turkey, but I’m not a huge fan tbh. Roasts are a massive amount of work for me and DH never wants to clean up so now my boys have fled the nest I no longer bother.

AussieGran59 Thu 03-Nov-22 08:20:11

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 03-Nov-22 09:24:05

I love a full roast dinner, alternating between chicken, pork loin on the bone and beef, we have a good local butchers for the chicken and pork.

The farm shop up the road you can see the cattle in the field so know exactly where your beef comes from.

Sunday doesn’t feel like Sunday without a roast, especially when in the spring, autumn and winter during the summer we tend to BBQ.

Sago Thu 03-Nov-22 09:39:09

My daughter and myself did a roast beef a couple of weekends ago, we were staying with them for the weekend.
The children 2 and 8 managed 5 Yorkshire puddings between them!

Witzend Thu 03-Nov-22 09:53:19

Before the hot weather, so some months ago.

Last time I did what I never ever thought I’d do - the joint was too big for 2 of us, even allowing for a few sandwiches, so I sliced some of the leftovers and warmed them up in what was left of the proper gravy, with some Bisto Best - bought for the purpose - added.

Had it with mash - I wasn’t putting the oven on just for roast potatoes - and sundry veg. I enjoyed it much more than I’d expected to - and dh (who’s utterly unfussy) - was very appreciative.
Two ‘roasts’ for the price of one.

Grantanow Thu 03-Nov-22 09:56:35

I prefer roast venison and we cook it at least once a month.

snowberryZ Thu 03-Nov-22 10:47:48

LadyHonoriaDedlock

Not for many years now.

I find a full roast with trimmings much too heavy for me these days.

Also, I came to the conclusion a good while ago now that apart ftom the price, a beef joint small enough to be suitable for a small family was likely to be of poor quality anyway and too small to roast well. So I decided that, as with so many good things, an occasional treat of top quality roast beef at a good carvery is better than regular Sunday roasts of supermarket cuts. Scale counts for a lot here, a carvery can use good-sized joints.

These days if I roast anything it's likely to be a duck (a goose at Christmas; I don't care for turkey) or, when times are hard, a piece of pork belly.

I agree.
The very small (affordable) joints don't cook as well. You need a large joint, which is more expensive.

VioletSky Thu 03-Nov-22 10:53:52

We tend to cook beef with veg in the slow cooker and have it with dumplings and roast potatoes

It is much cheaper that way

Smileless2012 Thu 03-Nov-22 10:56:43

I do a roast every Sunday even thought there's just the 2 of us, and we have beef once a month. The left overs are minced for a cottage pie; one of Mr. S.'s favouritessmile.

Barmeyoldbat Thu 03-Nov-22 10:58:31

I buy my beef joints from Waitrose when they are reduced, so yes we have roast beef dinners and love them

snowberryZ Thu 03-Nov-22 11:22:37

Blondiescot

Reading this, I've just realised it's been quite a while since we've had roast beef. I do make a Sunday roast on a regular basis, but these days it tends to be chicken or maybe pork. I look at lamb and beef and then see the price tag and move on to something cheaper.

This is what I've been doing. I look at the price and end up going for chicken or pork instead.
But I love roast beef.
So might start getting it from the butchers as others have been doing.

dragonfly46 Thu 03-Nov-22 11:26:29

Last Sunday!

Fleurpepper Thu 03-Nov-22 11:28:21

Last Christmas, a huge 4 rib of beef- fabulous (turkey? nah).

ExDancer Thu 03-Nov-22 11:45:36

Me too Dragon. But the family like it and its easy and it covers two more meals.
Me? I'm bored to death with it.

Jane71 Thu 03-Nov-22 12:37:14

Sometime in the 90's as after that we went vegetarian.