What's the deal with English muffins and why do the English like them so much?

Please don't ascribe preference to other cultures. I'm british, and I had to google what you even meant by that. It's a breakfast muffin, and they're okay. I have one from time to time, no complaints, but I tend to order a breakfast wrap from McDonalds instead of a McMuffin.

The fact that it's not a traditional part of a full English should tell you something.

"It's ok" is the most accurate description possible I think.
Disclaimer: I'm not British (hello from the other side of the north sea), but I've spent enough time all over the UK to have eaten them.
I'd put it in the category of foods that some in a region probably enjoy, while being hard to find elsewhere. Like the deep fried Mars bar and cornish pasty: "It's OK"
- You take that back about cornish pasties! I don't live in Cornwall anymore and that's the one thing I miss the most from there food wise. I can get them where I am now but they are not the same.
Sometime in the last 5-10 years, McD's changed their English muffins. They used to be good, now they have a weird, too fluffy texture even if you get then extra toasted.

I'm British, and if you offered most British people "a muffin" they would assume you meant the American style sugar and oil affair. Some people do enjoy an "English muffin" but they're not very popular, much less loved than crumpets, which themselves are probably below scones. The main use I see of them is as the base of Eggs Benedict, which works because they are basic and go well with butter. A white chocolate & blueberry muffin is a much more controversial paring for poached eggs and hollandaise.

Scones 👍
- Did you pronounce that as 'scone' or 'scone'?
- https://ia802708.us.archive.org/28/items/gbsfm-originals/Wilhelm%20-%20The%20Internet%20Is%20For%20Scones.mp3
Some people do enjoy an “English muffin” but they’re not very popular, much less loved than crumpets
Wait wait wait...hold on. Canadian here. I thought English Muffins and Crumpets were the same thing with different names...
- Nah, an English muffin is basically a bread product - you shape them and leave to rise, but a crumpet is more like a fancy pancake - it's a batter poured into a ring on a hot pan, and has baking powder as well yeast (which gives it the trademark holes). But maybe that's just in Britain? Maybe you chaps have different crumpets?

As an Englishman I don't even know what they are, I've only ever heard them mentioned on US television

You call them muffins, we call them english muffins. Because what we call muffins you apparently call buns.

If something is called "[Nationality] [Food]" or similar, it's probably not related to that nationality.

New York Fries isn't from New York.

Boston Pizza is not from Boston.

Hawaiian pizza is not Hawaiian.

French fries aren't French.

The only one I can speak to here is that french fries are french cut, meaning making long thin strips.
- So they're frenched fries
- It actually comes from WW1 where American soldiers thought that French speaking Belgians were French.
You mean like the Hamburger is not really from Hamburg????
- Do yourself a favor and do NOT eat a hamburger in Hamburg. Frankfurter in Frankfurt, not bad.
- I thought it was, but Wikipedia says there isn't actually a connection!
Chicago deep dish?
Philly Cheese steak?
Detroit-style pizza?
New York Style?
New England Clam Chowda?
- Nationality-Style gives the expected result.
  And there are, of course, exceptions!

The Anglos prefer muffins with nooks. Saxons like ones with crannies. Anglo-Saxons prefer English muffins which have both nooks and crannies.

I like em, not british.

Definitely gotta butter (or jam) them, I use butter and everything bagel seasoning (post-toast) on the regulars and butter and brown sugar on the blueberry ones (pre-toast, get it slightly caramelized and perfect, leave some salted butter on the counter so it spreads without heat.) But I mean c'mon what are you out here just eating dry ass plain toast or bagels? You always have to butter, jam, cream cheese, sandwichitize, etc, (for store bought anyway, fresh baked is another animal entirely)!

They're good with avocado, too.
You eat (american) muffins without anything else.
- If you're not buttering those too you're doing it wrong, but also they fill those with sugar before you get them so I don't need to put more on. They're basically cupcakes without frosting.
- You can, but most are better if you slice them in half and put butter in there.

I did not realize the English liked them so much, hell I did not even think they were English.

I always assumed English Muffins are English like French Fries are French.
- I looked up their history, they were invented by an English expat in New York. They are a yeast or sourdough version of a crumpet.
- I thought fries came from concentrated freedom?

It’s just bread my dude. Nothing novel about it. It’s just bread in a round shape.

Do you like bread? Yes? Ok then eat it. Otherwise maybe you don’t like bread.

Much like my fellow English folk in this thread, I wasn't sure what they even were. The only times I've ever had them is on an egg mcmuffin at the local Mickey D's.

That's the plan.

butter them

Too spicy!

I use them for sandwiches. I'm American btw.

And do they just call them muffins?

IMO they're one of the better handles for Jimmy Dean microwave sandwiches because they hold together better. The croissants are also good. The biscuit disintegrates.

I eat 'em toasted with peanut butter for breakfast most days. Just got finished with one. I don't know what the deal is, so I'm going to invent one: a medieval French chef sold his soul for the recipe and the English adopted them as a reminder that all French bakers should go to the devil!

The British call them crumpets. Yes that's what a crumpet is, it's an English muffin.

We have muffins and crumpets. Muffins are like little bready patty cake things, kinda dusty on the outside. Crumpets are the ones with all the holes in that kinda feel rubbery to the touch. Both are stinkin delicious.
This is not true. English muffins and crumpets are different things. They look similar, but the taste is quite different.
What are you on about? Crumpets aren't muffins.
This is a common misconception but they are not the same. Among other differences, their basic ingredients differ. Crumpets are made with milk and baking soda, while English muffins are made with dough and yeast or sourdough.