Hearth Cooking

Hearth cooking refers to preparing food using a traditional fireplace or hearth, which was common before modern stoves. It involves techniques like roasting on a spit, boiling in pots hung over the fire, baking in a hearth oven, or simmering foods in covered pans. Cooks managed the fire’s heat carefully, adjusting flames and placement to control cooking temperatures. This method required skill and experience but allowed for versatile meal preparation, including baking bread, roasting meats, and making stews. Hearth cooking was essential in historical households and offers insight into past domestic life and culinary practices.