If we didn't have that heirloom iron pot in our lives, would we still be able to make those mouth-watering Chinese delicacies?
In China, a country with thousands of years of history and rich cultural connotations, food has long been a way of life, and an indispensable part of it is a good pot that can satisfy every need. But you know what?
In ancient times, people didn't have the iron pots we know now, so how did they create so many delicious dishes?
The evolution of ancient cooking utensils
From raw food to cooked food, from simple stone tools to delicate bronze and iron tools, human cooking utensils have undergone a long evolutionary history.
In the distant Paleolithic Age, our ancestors used only simple stone tools, including stone hand axes, scrapers, pointed tools, and smashers, and even some stone slabs that were specially used for cooking.
Although the cooking methods were still very primitive at that time, they had already begun to experiment with the use of fire to process food, and by drilling wood for fire, they were able to roast the meat they had hunted for a while to obtain a new delicacy called barbecue, which not only reduced the risk of disease, but also provided the body with the necessary heat.
Over time, people gradually mastered the cultivation techniques and began to grow vegetables and grains, which made their diets richer and more varied.
Due to the differences in cooking methods between vegetables and grains and meat, people needed to find new cooking tools, and in the Neolithic period, people began to make cooking utensils from stone or clay, for example, the pot shape tripod is a cleverly designed cookware that combines a pot holder and pot into one, making it easier for people to cook.
In the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties and the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the appearance of bronze ware completely changed the pattern of cooking utensils, bronze ware is durable, not afraid of breaking, and has a variety of uses, Ding is one of the common cooking utensils at that time, dedicated to cooking meat and entertaining guests, in addition, there are also similar to modern steamers, used to steam food.
During the Qin and Han dynasties, the types and functions of cooking utensils became more abundant. In addition to bronze ware, people also invented cooking utensils such as tong, which were used for cooking rice and steaming, and at the same time, tableware also became diverse, such as ding, figurine, dun, plate, case, sheng, bowl, chopstick, dagger, etc., each of which has its own unique use.
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, people made a breakthrough in iron smelting technology, but iron cookware was not popularized at that time because the process was not mature enough.
Until the Northern Song Dynasty, the progress of iron smelting technology made the iron pot a must-have for every household, the heat transfer speed of the iron pot was fast, making it possible to fry vegetables, and the people of the Song Dynasty discovered the method of refining lard with fat, and stir-fried vegetables with lard, making the fragrance of the dish more intense.
The origin of the iron pot
From ancient times to the present, as an important kitchen product, the iron pot has not only witnessed the changes of human cooking methods, but also carried people's unique emotions and pursuit of food.
In the traditional society, the technology of making food by fire has a wide range of applications, but the early cooking methods are mostly roasted, stewed, and boiled, until the Song Dynasty, people have invented the new cooking method of "stir-frying", and the application of iron pot has made the deliciousness of food reach a new height.
Before the Song Dynasty, the application of iron pots was not widespread, especially in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, although the iron smelting technology began to take shape, it was not mature, so the iron pot was not widely used.
The scarcity of iron made iron products very expensive, and only the royal and aristocratic classes were eligible to touch them, and the state failed to realize the great potential of iron pots for stir-frying, and only used them in traditional methods such as stewing and boiling.
It was not until the Song Dynasty that the use of iron pots gradually became popular, and in contrast to the special political background and economic prosperity of the time, Chinese cuisine ushered in a vigorous development and created a paradise of Song Dynasty cuisine.
During this period, iron pots had gone beyond the limitations of stewing and boiling, and developed a novel way of stir-frying, by using iron pots to quickly stir-fry ingredients, which not only speeded up the cooking, but also made the ingredients more delicious.
This cooking method of stir-frying in an iron pot greatly enhanced the color and flavor of the food, so famous dishes such as fish-flavored shredded pork and kung pao chicken were also born during this period.
The importance of the iron pot in international trade can be seen from the historical evolution, and the iron pot of the Song Dynasty was welcomed by the Persians because of its excellent quality and multi-function, and became a popular commodity in the foreign trade market, which greatly promoted economic development.
During the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered a ban on the sale of iron pots for safety reasons, fearing that those with intentions would melt them into weapons, a ban that had a serious impact on life in the Mongolian region, as they could not make iron pots and could only obtain this necessity through robbery.
Nowadays, the iron pot has become an indispensable weapon in the kitchen, bringing us more food enjoyment, whether it is the classic dishes of the Song Dynasty that are still inherited, or the new dishes that are interpreted through continuous innovation, the iron pot has always played an irreplaceable important role, and will continue to accompany our appetite for new exploration and creation.
How the ancients cooked
In ancient times, people initially relied on two basic cooking methods to prepare food: "baking" and "boiling". These methods are simple and practical, and can effectively convert raw meat into cooked food for survival.
The original method of "roasting" was to heat food directly over a fire, which was a very original but effective way of cooking. Over time, people began experimenting with a variety of different barbecue techniques, such as using sticks to skewered food, using hot stones to transfer heat, and even creatively wrapping food in earth.
The evolution of these cooking methods undoubtedly demonstrates the ingenuity and innovation of early human beings.
At the same time, the "boiling" method has gradually been accepted by people. Compared to barbecue, boiled food is gentler and preserves the original flavor of the food, and in addition, the convenience of boiling food is also recognized.
In order to improve the taste and increase efficiency, the ancients began to try to make various containers for boiling water, the most representative of which is the "pot". The advent of the pot marked another major advance in cooking methods, which made it easier for people to handle large quantities of ingredients, laying an important foundation for later food culture.
During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese cooking techniques were well developed, and people were keen to improve the taste of food through various methods, such as the famous "Hun Yang Duan Hu".
This dish involves a goose filled with glutinous rice and seasonings, then roasted together in the belly of a lamb, and the result is amazingly delicious. In addition, there are also many unique grilled dishes in the "roasted tail feast" of the Tang Dynasty, such as "bright shrimp grill".
In ancient times, there was also a special form of cooking, which is the practice of finely chopping raw meat or fish, or eating it raw or grilled, this unique cooking method not only reflects the food culture of the ancients, but also leaves a rich cultural heritage for future generations, and today, Japanese sashimi is inspired by the food culture of the Tang Dynasty.
Although stir-fried vegetables were not widely promoted until the Song Dynasty, there are records of scrambled eggs in the agricultural treatise "Qi Min Yaoshu" during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, indicating that the technique of stir-frying already existed at that time, and since then, with the development of history, stir-fried vegetables have gradually become one of the most mainstream cooking methods in Chinese food culture.
In short, the cooking methods of ancient human beings are diverse and innovative, from the most primitive roasting to complex cooking techniques, each change reflects the continuous pursuit and exploration of human cuisine, and the evolution of these cooking methods not only meets the needs of people's lives, but also lays the foundation for the development of modern food culture.