Lunchbox Envy

Lunchbox Envy•qi.com

From the makers of QI and No Such Thing As A Fish: Gastronomically-minded QI researchers Jack Chambers and Manu Henriot join chef and food writer Rosie MacKean to unpack the world of food and drink, one lunchbox at a time.

Can you unboil an egg? Why would you milk a spider? How much Dairy Milk would it take to kill you? Dig in now to get answers to the questions you never knew you had.

Last refreshed: June 23rd, 2026 at 9:17 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

13: 🍚 Your Rice Might Have Been Farmed By Ducks

Why do risotto spoons have holes in them? Why do rice farmers like ducks swimming in their fields? Why are we all so scared of reheating rice?

May 11, 2025•38 min•Ep. 13

12: 🥜 The World's Most Average Jar Of Peanut Butter

How can you make peanuts dance? Which insect tastes great with peanut butter? Why is the most expensive jar of peanut butter the most average?

May 04, 2025•34 min•Ep. 12

11: ☕ The Drink That Fuelled The Enlightement

Why should you put salt in your coffee? How does caffeine actually keep us awake? And do we really have coffee to thank for The Enlightenment?

Apr 27, 2025•45 min•Ep. 11

10: 🥚 Egg Maths Ain't Mathing

What is the deal with egg maths? What can you smuggle inside an egg? And what are green eggs actually eaten with?

Apr 20, 2025•36 min•Ep. 10

Bonus: 🐣 Happy Easter!

A little extra morsel all about chocolate eggs. Happy Easter!

Apr 17, 2025•9 min

9: 🍦Georgian Bread-Flavoured Ice Cream Is Surprisingly Delicious

Why has space ice cream never been to space? What was the World War II substitute for ice cream? How did the Georgians make ice cream out of bread?

Apr 13, 2025•35 min•Ep. 9

8: 🍅 How Napoleon Invented Tinned Tomatoes

Why do tomatoes taste so much nicer on holiday? How is Napoleon responsible for tinned tomatoes? When do tomatoes scream?

Apr 06, 2025•34 min•Ep. 8

7: 🧂 The University Paying Its Rent In Pepper

Which peppercorn is good for popping at festivals? Who still pays rent in peppercorns? How do you make a pepper martini?

Mar 31, 2025•29 min•Ep. 7

6: 🍝 When Colgate Made Lasagna

What went wrong with Beeton’s inedible macaroni? Why did Colgate once sell lasagna? Where does Bologna keep its mysterious Golden Tagliatella?

Mar 24, 2025•34 min•Ep. 6

5: 🌭 Our Nuclear Submarines Depend On Sausages

What makes sausages sausage-shaped? How can you win a duel armed only with a sausage? What is the worrying sausagey weakness in the UK’s nuclear deterrent?

Mar 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 5

4: 🍗 Who Invented The Modern Chicken?

WARNING - BROILERS AHEAD: How many chickens do you eat each year? What's the best way to shuck a chicken oyster? Who invented the frozen chicken?

Mar 10, 2025•26 min•Ep. 4

3: 🥛 How Do You Milk A Flying Cow?

Why is it so hard to milk a moose? How have we all been duped by Big Milk?

Mar 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 3

2: 🍌 The Banana That Went To Alton Towers

The hosts of Lunchbox Envy explore the multifaceted world of bananas, from their etymology and history to culinary uses and cultural significance. They discuss banana ripeness preferences, the Cavendish banana's dominance, and the potential of banana peels in cooking. The episode also covers the surprising fact that bananas might have been the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and ends with a discussion of favorite banana-based desserts.

Feb 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 2

1: 🧄 Why Won't Ninjas Eat Garlic?

The hosts explore garlic's history, uses, and cultural impact, from its medicinal properties and use in wartime deception, to the best ways to prepare and consume it. They sample garlic-infused chocolate, debate parsley versus coriander in garlic bread, and discuss methods for neutralizing garlic breath, providing a mix of trivia and culinary insights.

Feb 24, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1

✨ Introducing Lunchbox Envy!

Join QI's most gastronomically-minded Elves, Manu and Jack along with chef and food writer Rosie MacKean as they unpack the world of food and drink, one lunchbox at a time.

Feb 12, 2025•40 sec

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