Cooking apparatus. — The wastefulness of cooking opera-
tions, past and present, is due largely to the defects of the
apparatus used. The open fireplace for wood, and the open
grate for coal, are two arrangements that permit most of
the heat to pass up the chimney, and into the room. See
Frontispiece and Fig. 14. In Fig. 14 there is illustrated at
the right a brick oven with a flue opening into the chimney.
This was one of the earliest inventions for saving fuel and
heat. This oven was lined with brick or stone, and the fire
of wood was built in it, and allowed to remain until it had
^ These terms perpetuate the names of scientists famous for their
work in electricity. Volta was an Italian who invented an electric battery ;
Ampere was a French electrician; and Watt a Scottish engineer and
electrician.
40 FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT
burned out. The coals and ashes were removed, and when
the brick had cooled somewhat cakes and pies were put in
to bake. This oven retained its heat for twenty-four hours,
and beans put in Saturday afternoon were taken out hot for
the Sunday morning breakfast. The method was clumsy,
but a good heat saver.
Omrutt of On BtiUrlcsl SoeUtf, ImilCh, Um.
FiQ. 14. — A oolonial fireplaoe.
Figure 15 is an American stove, early nineteenth century,
wood the fuel ; and from this form, modified for using coal,
has developed the modem American coal range (Fig. 18).
Even the latest types are very wasteful of heat. Stoves
like that shown in Fig. 19 have been devised for use with
gas. Even with these only a small percentage of the heat
generated is available for cooking.
The ideal system is that which gives the largest possible
percentage of its heat for cooking, and pute the degree of
FUEL AND STOVES 41
heat under quick control with the greatest saving of fuel,
and of labor in operating. This does not mean that the
CoarlMK of Mt Brsam lAbrart.
Fio. 16. — An early American stove, 18S3.
stove which gives the most intense heat is the best, although
some stov^ seem to be constructed with that as the aim.
Let us consider some of the methods of saving heat, and
study different kindsof apparatus with this knowledge in mind.
42 FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT
We recall the fact, first, that some substances are good
conductors of heat, and others poor.^ If you hold a metal
poker in your hand, and place the other end in red hot coals,
you will realize that metal is a rapid conductor of heat. If
the poker has a wooden handle, the heat of the coals does
not readily reach your hand, for the wood is a poor conductor.
Moreover, this good conductor is a poor holder of heat, the
heat radiating rapidly from it into the surrounding air, but
the poor conductor, once thoroughly heated, cools off slowly.
You can think of many illustrations from your daily life. Why
do you prefer a woolen blanket on a cool night, rather than a linen
sheet, merely ? Why do you use a cloth holder in ironing ? What
is the principle of a hot water bottle ? Air is a poor conductor. Can
you think of an illustration of this? What is the principle of a
thermos bottle ?
Page 23
Presented as published in 1914. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Cooking apparatus. — The wastefulness of cooking operations, past and present, is due largely to the defects of the apparatus used. The open fireplace for wood, and the open grate for coal, are two arrangements that permit most of the heat to pass up the chimney, and into the room. See Frontispiece and Fig. 14. In Fig. 14 there is illustrated at the right a brick oven with a flue opening into the chimney. This was one of the earliest inventions for saving fuel and heat. This oven was lined with brick or stone, and the fire of wood was built in it, and allowed to remain until it had
^ These terms perpetuate the names of scientists famous for their work in electricity. Volta was an Italian who invented an electric battery ; Ampere was a French electrician; and Watt a Scottish engineer and electrician.
burned out. The coals and ashes were removed, and when the brick had cooled somewhat cakes and pies were put in to bake. This oven retained its heat for twenty-four hours, and beans put in Saturday afternoon were taken out hot for the Sunday morning breakfast. The method was clumsy, but a good heat saver.
[illustration: Courtesy of Old Historical Society, Milton, Mass.]
FiQ. 14. — A oolonial fireplaoe.
Figure 15 is an American stove, early nineteenth century, wood the fuel ; and from this form, modified for using coal, has developed the modem American coal range (Fig. 18). Even the latest types are very wasteful of heat. Stoves like that shown in Fig. 19 have been devised for use with gas. Even with these only a small percentage of the heat generated is available for cooking.
The ideal system is that which gives the largest possible percentage of its heat for cooking, and puts the degree of
heat under quick control with the greatest saving of fuel, and of labor in operating. This does not mean that the
[illustration: Courtesy of Mt. Brown Library.] Fio. 16. — An early American stove, 18S3.
stove which gives the most intense heat is the best, although some stoves seem to be constructed with that as the aim.
Let us consider some of the methods of saving heat, and study different kindsof apparatus with this knowledge in mind.
We recall the fact, first, that some substances are good conductors of heat, and others poor.^ If you hold a metal poker in your hand, and place the other end in red hot coals, you will realize that metal is a rapid conductor of heat. If the poker has a wooden handle, the heat of the coals does not readily reach your hand, for the wood is a poor conductor. Moreover, this good conductor is a poor holder of heat, the heat radiating rapidly from it into the surrounding air, but the poor conductor, once thoroughly heated, cools off slowly.
You can think of many illustrations from your daily life. Why do you prefer a woolen blanket on a cool night, rather than a linen sheet, merely ? Why do you use a cloth holder in ironing ? What is the principle of a hot water bottle ? Air is a poor conductor. Can you think of an illustration of this? What is the principle of a thermos bottle ?