What tools did colonial cooks use?

And, of course, all of the necessary cooking tools to go with it: “A nest of iron pots of different sizes, a long iron fork to take out articles from boiling water, an iron hook with a handle to lift pots from the crane, a large and small gridiron with grooved bars and a trench to catch the grease, a dutch oven (or …

What were colonial kitchens like?

Tapping into styles from the 17th and 18th centuries, a colonial kitchen is an example of early American classic kitchen design. These kitchens use white cabinetry, understated paint colors, exposed brick walls and natural wood flooring.

How did colonists prepare their food?

Food would have been cooked in the fireplace over the flames, or in a big cast iron pot with a lid called a Dutch oven, or a tin oven or tin kitchen which is like a rotisserie. Most colonists would have used wooden plates and spoons to eat with.

What role did the hearth fireplace play in early colonial kitchen and home life?

The hearth and fireplace were the center of family life for most early American homes. A carefully tended wood fire created heat to warm the house and prepare meals. The practice of cooking on a hearth was basic to 18th and early 19th century America.

What was a cooking spider in colonial times?

A “spider” is a long handled frying pan with 3 legs. It was used extensively around the fire to catch drippings from roasting meat and to saute vegetables. The long handle provided some space between the fire to cook.

What utensils did settlers need for cooking?

Colonial cooks used spatulas to manipulate food they were preparing on a hot, flat surface such as a skillet, just as do modern cooks. Colonial cooks also used forks, but for a different purpose.

Did colonial houses have kitchens?

Most of the kitchens during the colonial period were separate buildings located in the back of the main house. The kitchen was usually built thirty to fifty feet away from the main house. The purpose of this was two-fold. The kitchen generated a tremendous amount of heat that was undesirable during the warmer months.

Why do old houses not have kitchens?

Older homes had separate kitchens because they generate heat and often get messy. Guests did not want to be exposed to either. The downside is that the cook/hostess is isolated from the guests while working in the kitchen. Open concept or closed off kitchens are a matter of preference.

What is hearth cooking?

Open hearth cooking is the oldest way of cooking. Before cook stoves came into existence, fireplaces were commonly used. A cook knew how to prepare the fire for a day of planned cooking. The cook would rise early in order to start the fire for the day’s cooking.

Why do they call a frying pan a spider?

Cookware had handles for hanging over the fire, or legs for standing up in the coals and ashes of the fire. A pan called a “spider” had three legs and a handle, and was designed for standing directly in the fire.

When did hearth cooking become popular in America?

Hearth cooking has sustained people for millennia and was prevalent in early America from the 1600s until popularity of the cookstove in the 1830s. This article discusses the American evolution of hearth cooking, colonial fireplaces and hearth utensils, plus explains some of the common historical errors people make in equipping their hearths.

How did the colonists cook their food in cold weather?

The houses of the American colonists would get so cold that water would freeze in basins, and ink would freeze up in the inkstands. Originally all cooking was done in and over the fire. When ovens were introduced, they were originally in the back wall of the fireplace or to one side inside the fireplace opening.

How did they clean the hearth in the Middle Ages?

The floor near the cooking hearth was swept constantly, and the hearth itself scrubbed often to keep it free from grease. Dripping pans were used when roasting or boiling to prevent the grease from dripping directly on the hearth.

How did the Cook use the implements of the fire?

The cranes’ hinges allowed the cook to swing the pots on and off the fire safely. Many implements were used by the cook. Each one performed a useful task. Different types of tools used to care for the fire were: shovels, pokers, tongs, and bellows. Without these implements, one would not have been able to cook.