Why is bubble and squeak called bubble and squeak?

Answer 1

Thats the noise it makes when it is cooking :)

Answer 2

The bubble squeaks.

Answer 3

Because when you are cooking it, It Bubbles And Squeaks.

Answer 4

Origin

The dish as we currently know it is usually made from cold vegetables that have been left over from a previous meal, often the Sunday roast. By we I mean predominantly the inhabitants of the United Kingdom; there are few references to the term in American literature or media and the few there are point back to the U. K. origin. The dish didn't spread to the countries of the British Empire either - possibly because they had unsuitable climates for roast dinners or, more likely, they just didn't like it. It is somewhat less popular in the U. K. than before, which isn't surprising as the Sunday roast is less common too. Those that do bother to cook might be horrified to know that 'bubble and squeak' is now available in packaged, microwaveable form.

The first reference to the meal is from a rather surprising source - Thomas Bridges' 'A burlesque translation of Homer', 1770:

"We therefore cooked him up a dish Of lean bull-beef, with cabbage fry'd, ... Bubble, they call this dish, and squeak."

The Homer in that work would be more at home in the Simpsons as in the Iliad, so perhaps it isn't all that surprising. Francis Grose was a collaborator in that work. He goes on to give a definition of 'bubble and squeak' in his 'Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue', 1785, which indicated how the dish got its name:

"Bubble and Squeak, beef and cabbage fried together. It is so called from its bubbling up and squeaking whilst over the fire."

By 1951, and possibly earlier, bubble and squeak lost meat as an ingredient. This may have been due to the rationing in force in the U. K. during WWII, when meat was scarce. This was committed to print in the 1951 edition of the food bible of the day, the Good Housekeeping - Home Encyclopedia:

"In the modern version of bubble and squeak the meat is usually omitted."

In a throwback to the Greek myth link in first citation we have the current rhyming slang use of the term - meaning Greek. This is by no means common but was recorded in 1968 by Leila Berg in her book Risinghill: death of a comprehensive school:

"'Why do they call Greek children Bubbles?' said Mr. Colinides to me ... Later it dawned on me that it was short for bubble-and-squeak'; rhyming slang.

Answer 5

Because it was invented by a sub-Saharan hermit who was nicknamed Bubble on account of his peculiar shaped head. As a result of his isolated lifestyle, he lost the ability to talk, so his voice sounded like a squeak.
When he introduced his invention at a baking competition one day, someone linked the two together, after he won the first prize of an all inclusive clubbing weekend in Ibiza.

Strange but true...

Answer 6

Potatoes boiling are the bubbles and the sausages make a squeak when they cook.

Answer 7

Simply, becasue someone once said, "I think I will call this dish "Bubble and Squeak".

That's my laconic point of view.

Answer 8

Because it BUBBLES and SQUEAKS in the pan.

Answer 9

a small globule typically hollow and light

a short high-pitched noise


...because Webster defines it that way?

I don't know. When you grow to learn it by what it's called, you can't imagine a different word being used for it.

Like calling cheese RUBBER instead.

Answer 10

bcause it makes your insides buble nd then you squeak. pass wind

Answer 11

it is cabbage potatoes and carrots basically it is the left overs from sunday dinners or the remainders from any meal fried and it makes noises as i cooks depending on what gas mark it is on