How Should You Eat A Croissant?

Tesco almond croissants. A pack of two, each croissant 310 calories. The pack of two costs £1.70 online. 

Croissants and Cutlery

 The Indians eat with their hands, which is their tradition. The French dunk their croissants in coffee, which is their tradition. (When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)

However, in the UK, in 2023, we are in post Covid-19 times. We have fears of a return of other pandemics. We have an increasingly high proportion of the population being the vulnerable elderly. 

Therefore, we should set an example to the young and old of not using fingers in communal plates. Also, we should not use fingers instead of cutlery. Why? 

Firstly, to protect ourselves from contamination. Secondly, so that we do not forget when in groups. Thirdly, to be sure we are not set a bad example. to children or grandchilden or other observers. 

Cutlery is convenient. Cutlery protects us. If in doubt, use cutlery instead of fingers.

Cutlery can also be used to cut croissants. Why?

Croissants and Calories

Croissants are highly calorific. Especially my favourite, almond-filled croissants. You can get them warm and freshly baked from Tesco Express in Hatch End, NW London, England, UK. Use a knife and fork to cut them in half, for sharing, or eating the second half at a later meal. 

If you go shopping in the evening, you sometimes see croissants reduced from one pound (sterling) each to 30 p. If you want to give me a treat, buy me an almond croissant!

Angela Lansbury

Author of Etiquette for Every Occasion.

Please share links to your favourite posts

How To Cook Frozen Croissants At Home And At A Holiday Home

Uncooked croissants. Cobbs Farm Shop. England. UK. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Travel writer and photographer.

Problem
How do you get a delicious crroissant, crispy and flaky outside, buttery inside? Cheap!

Answer
We can buy fresh crosissants from supermarkets all over the world. In London Tesco, even many of the small branches, cook fresh croissants (we presume using the prepared uncooked croissant delivered in those huge container lorries  (Americans say trucks) which visit twice a day. So they don't need mixing, just heating up in the morning).

Buying Uncooked Croissants
We bought croissants, uncooked, from Cobbs Farm. This is a  place I described in a previous post. We had no instructions, so we looked up instructions on the internet. If I were to buy again, I would ask the shop for instructions.

Once you have got the idea of buying frozen croissants, you can look around your nearest supermarket's frozen department to see what is available. Check which brands, and check the ingredients and cooking advice, if any. I shall check out other brands, to see how their cooking advice compares with what we have been doing.

Ovens and microwaves can vary.

What can go right or wrong?

You want the crossants cooked through. Same as a steak on a grill or any food on a BBQ, you want to avoid too high a heat, charring the outside whilst leaving the middle uncooked.

Home cooked croissant. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. 

Our first attempt, the crossants did not rise. They were dry on the outside but uncooked and chewy in the middle.

Defrost Or Not?
You might find it better to defrost them for an hour, rather than trying to cook from frozen or a too quick zap in the microwave. This means the first person out of bed must take the croissants out of the fridge.

Filling Waiting Time
You have to hang around for half an hour! The time soons goes. After removing the croissants, then shower and dress, take your pills, lay the table, eat your cereal, muesli, banana, whatever, drink water and prepare your coffee whilst waiting.

You forgot? Croissants still frozen? (While waiting, read the day's news. Will that stress you out? Instead see social media.) Check your emails. Look at Facebook. Send birthday wishes. Set a buzzer or you'll be eating breakfast at lunch time.

Preparation, Heating and Cooking Variables
Cooking is just heating. There are four variables. The ingredients. Mixing. The temperature. The time.

A frozen croissant has done two of the steps for you. Hurray!

Remedy
Add butter and jam or marmalade. We added home made marmalade. We made home made marmalade after I bought Seville oranges 'by mistake' and we found they were too bitter to eat so to save wasting them by throwing them away my husband made home made marmalade.

We lifted our spirits by congratulating each other on our past success with marmalade.

The dress rehearsal lets you try out cooking a croissant. So long as it's edible, it is fresh, good, and your own work. If it's not perfect, next time it will be even better!

How are you doing? Ready for tomorrow? Stocked up? Croissants are ready to cook!

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer. See my other posts on Cobbs Farm Shop. Please bookmark and share links to your favourite posts.