Brits consume 11 million litres of gravy every week, enough to fill four and a half Olympic swimming pools, according to a new study. This adds up to 586 million litres a year.
Gravy essential for roasts, but divides opinion
With the average person expected to enjoy their first roast of the season this weekend, 94% of people say gravy is an essential part of the meal. However, the sauce is also a source of conflict, with more than a third admitting to arguments over how it should be served.
People are divided over its thickness, colour and who makes the best batch. Nearly half prefer their gravy medium brown, while 42% like it medium thick and 53% favour beef flavour.
Mum’s gravy tops, but some take it to extremes
Mum is the nation’s favourite gravy maker, with 31% rating hers above everyone else’s. Some Brits take their love of gravy further: 2% admit to pouring it over cereal, more than a quarter would happily drink a mug or pint of it, and 5% would even take a bath in it, the Aldi survey found.
Julie Ashfield of Aldi said: “Gravy sits at the heart of British home cooking.” Celebrities also share the enthusiasm, with Sir Cliff Richard claiming his homemade gravy – made with eight stock cubes, fried onions and a mix of sauces – is among the best in the world. Adele is said to enjoy drinking KFC gravy straight from a cup, while actress Jennifer Lawrence reportedly likes a bowl of mashed potatoes, fried chicken, cheese, sweetcorn and gravy.
Air fryer overtakes traditional cooking
The study follows research showing the air fryer has overtaken the hob, microwave and oven as Britain’s most-used cooking appliance. A survey of 2,000 adults found 64% use the device more frequently than their traditional cooker, rising to 75% among Gen Z.
The study revealed 57% use their air fryer more than they did two years ago, with one in 10 admitting it has been at least a month since they last switched on their oven.
