Food In Early Colonial Times

Today, modern cooking conveniences are a crucial part of everyday life. Most americans probably can’t imagine making dinner without a microwave or stove. However, people in early colonial times not only did their baking without all these appliances, but they also grew their own food, instead of being able to run to the grocery store. Cooking tools were rudimentary, and pots and pans were primitive. Cooking was a hot, long affair. However, despite these challenges to prepare the meals, people in the colonies quickly adapted their English cooking roots, and adjusted to cooking ingredients and techniques in the new world. Colonial food was diverse and resourceful, both in its techniques and components. Storing food was a constant struggle for …show more content…
They not only taught the clueless colonists how to plant and catch fish, but they also showed them which fruits, mushrooms and nuts were safe to eat. Historians also agree that, “The most important food Native Americans introduced to colonists was corn.” Corn flour became a staple, and was used to make cakes, bread, and puddings. The Natives also greatly aided the pilgrims by sharing their discovery of maple sap, which could be boiled down to form maple syrup. Imported sugar from England was an incredible expense for families struggling to make a living, so the colonists were filled with gratitude at this discovery. In addition to aiding the pilgrims with raw ingredients, the Indians demonstrated a few cultural dishes which the pilgrims soon adopted. “The Indians showed the colonists how to mix corn with meat and beans. This combination was called succotash.” Settlers also observed the Indians roughly grinding corn kernels, which were cooked with greens until softened. This dish was referred to as hominy, and also became a colonial staple. Many tribes of Native Americans greatly served the new colonies with their wisdom about local foods, and how to prepare