**Historical Evolution of Pantries**:
– Late Middle Ages:
– Pantry served as a dry room for bread storage and food preparation.
– Head of the pantry was known as a pantler.
– Colonial Era:
– Pantries evolved from Colonial American butteries.
– Butler’s pantries were common in middle-class English and American homes.
– Victorian Era:
– Large houses in Britain had separate rooms for food preparation and cleanup.
– Pantry stored tableware like China, glassware, and silverware.
**Types of Pantries**:
– Asian Pantry:
– Traditional Asian kitchens used wooden cabinetry for pantry functions.
– Japan had specialized woodworking designs like tansu.
– Butler’s Pantry:
– Utility room primarily for storing serving items.
– Modern versions used as staging areas for serving meals.
– Cold Pantry:
– Used before modern refrigeration for keeping foods cool.
– Consisted of a cabinet with wooden-slat shelves for air circulation.
**Hoosier Cabinet**:
– Developed in the early 1900s by the Hoosier Manufacturing Company in Indiana.
– Popular in American kitchens for storage spaces and working counter.
– Billed as a pantry and kitchen in one, bringing ease of access.
**Importance and Cultural Significance**:
– Pantries were common in American homes from the Victorian era to World War II.
– Kitchens were small and functional, with pantries having built-in shelving and cupboards.
– Pantry raids were popular themes in children’s literature and early advertising.
**Related Concepts and Further Reading**:
– Related Concepts:
– Larder, root cellar, Shaker-style pantry box, storage room, utility room.
– Further Reading:
– Catherine Seiberling Pond’s book on the history and uses of pantries.
Definition from ChatGPT:
Pantry:
A pantry is a storage area in a home or restaurant where food, dishes, linens, and other household items are kept. It is typically used to store non-perishable items like canned goods, dry goods, and kitchen supplies.