Colonial Cooking – A History Of American Cuisine

Cooking throughout the colonies depended greatly on your economic status. The upper classes hired European trained chefs, while the lowest classes relied on the mistress of the house to prepare one-pot dinners. What was similar throughout all of the classes, however, was what was prepared in the kitchen was only what was in season. The colonial chefs had to be very judicious with their food; a chicken could not be killed for dinner unless it would be eaten for breakfast and lunch too. To waste food was not an option. Especially with the new and ever-changing seasons of the Americas, the chefs had to make the most out of what they could get their hands on, and store and preserve what they could, as winters could be brutal.

Being the chef of the household wasn’t as easy as turning a knob on the stove as it is now. To have a chicken for dinner meant going out in the morning and killing it yourself, plucking and dressing it. Starting a fire and keeping it going throughout the day. The organs of every animal were also considered a delicacy, fruits and vegetables were always cooked, never raw. The drinks were made especially sweet, and the punch had generous amounts of alcohol. The meat also often came to the table with the head and feet still attached and the rolls served for sopping up the juices and gravy. Cooking was a difficult, all day job in Colonial America and a good cook was sometimes worth his weight in gold.

The Governor’s Palaces always maintained the best European trained cooks. While they were considered servants, they were the highest paid in the household. The palace even kept a number of cooks in the kitchen at once as each had a specialty. Many of these cooks had their backgrounds in French cuisine, which was considered the very upper crust of the time. These cooks also had the best tools to cook with, including numerous copper pots.

The gentry offered the next best in the colonial kitchen; while they weren’t French trained, their meals were often modeled after traditional English cooking. Meats and sweets were standard with every meal, and while these households used slaves for their cooks, many were so good they were often able to earn their freedom based upon their cooking skills.

The middle class came below the gentry in the colonial kitchen. While they attempted to match the cuisine of the gentry on special occasions, there every day food was much simpler. A lot of these homes still relied on a slave to do the cooking, while some relied only upon the talents of the mistress of the house.

The lower classes offered the most basic in colonial cooking. These households did not use slaves; and nearly every meal was a one-pot meal. Porridges and soups were popular, and hominy was most often prepared, which is made of corn, cured pork, vegetables, and salt. The meal was accompanied with whatever meat they could get their hands on, which many times, was none.

Related Articles

PASSING A RESTAURANT-HEALTH INSPECTION: WHAT LOOK FOR

Passing a Restaurant-health Inspection: What Look for A restaurant's success is dependent not only on its talented staff but also on the amazing food they...

Meniscus Tear Prevention Tips for Athletes to Lower Their Risk

In the United States alone, over 850,000 meniscus tears are performed annually. A meniscus tear often needs to be performed due to faulty cartilage...

Discover life coaching techniques and tools

Coaching is about finding balance in life. Life coaches use various techniques and tools to assist clients identify their objectives and give them the...

List of Restaurants that Have Passed Health Inspections

Below is a list of restaurants that have passed health inspections. What can a restaurant owner do between visits from Passed Health Inspections? You can...

How to navigate health insurance for travel nurses

Everyone, especially travel nurses, should have health insurance. Unfortunately, travel nurses rely on their employers for coverage which makes it difficult to keep your...

Three Master’s Degrees in Public Health (MPH)

Three Master's Degrees in Public Health (MPH), Concentrations to Consider For Your Career Your master's Degrees in Public Health will require and dedication. Don't you...

Emotional Abuse Therapy

Victims of mental abuse can experience the same distress as physical abuse, yet often suffer more and feel isolated due to lack of evidence....

There are 3 Master’s degrees in Public Health (MPH)

These concentrations may prove advantageous to your career development. Your master's degree should be an equally challenging undertaking. Goodwin University's Master of Public Health program...

What should I look for in a life coach?

Trust and personality Life Coach Your coach will spend a considerable amount of time with you, so trust is key. Make sure the person you...

Exercise and Fitness – What is Lifetime of Fitness?

Let us explore what is lifetime fitness from the point of exercise and fitness....

Cooking With Children

Cooking to an adult is a chore, but it is a fun learning experience...

Autoimmune diseases Types and Symptoms

What is an Autoimmune Disease? An autoimmune condition is when your immune system misunderstands your...

6 Yoga Exercise Presents to Unwind.

The vacations have you feeling bewildered and wound up? Yoga is your answer! While it...

How to Choose the Best Personal Trainer For Your Fitness Goal

Getting the right personal trainer for your fitness goal may not be as straight...

Why Should I Work With a Health Coach?

Why should you work with a health coach? What is a health coach and...

Health Savings Accounts Should Be Available to All Americans

All Americans should have the right to save for current and future healthcare expenses...

Beginner’s Guide to the Healthiest Foods Lifestyle

Looking for the healthiest foods lifestyle, you will get hundreds may be thousands of...

Why Can Folks Supplement With SARMs?

SARMs were initially developed for individuals with ailments like muscle wasting, anemia, osteoporosis, and...

- A word from our sponsor -

spot_img
error: Content is protected !!