Did you know that 85% of Amish adults reported less refrigeration in homes and rarely/never obtained food from restaurants and grocery stores?1
The Amish rely on their hands, heritage, and skills to create the food that they eat. One of the skills they have mastered is baking while using Amish traditional tools. These tools have withstood the test of time, and for a good reason.
These 10 traditional tools may seem basic at first, but the secret to their longevity is in their durability, simplicity, and functionality.
1. Bread Box
It is a wooden box that’s made of oak or pine. This box has been used for centuries to store bread and baked goods. Traditionally, the box is kept in a cool, dry place like a pantry or cellar, which helps to keep bread fresh and prevent it from going stale.
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Some Amish bread boxes even have dividers or compartments, allowing bakers to store different types of bread or pastries. And with proper care, these boxes can last for generations,
2. Pie Bird
Also known as a pie vent or pie whistle, it is a small, ceramic figure that is placed in the center of a pie during baking. The figure has a hole running through the middle that lets steam escape during the baking process.
This helps to prevent the filling from boiling over or becoming soggy, while also creating a decorative touch to the pie’s center. The figure is shaped like a bird or other animal, but modern variations include flowers, fruit, and even people.
3. Butter Churner
This is a hand-powered tool used to make homemade butter. It consists of a wooden or stainless steel cylinder with a plunger or paddle that is inserted into the cylinder and moved up and down to stir the cream.
Amish butter churners come in various sizes, from small tabletop models to larger floor models, and are often powered by hand or a hand crank.
4. Waffle Iron
It is a cast iron kitchen tool that is used to make homemade waffles. Unlike modern electric waffle makers, this waffle iron is heated on a stovetop and flipped halfway through cooking to ensure even heating.
While some Amish waffle irons are designed for gas stoves, most are meant to be used on wood-burning stoves, which were traditionally used in Amish households.
5. Flour Sifter
It consists of a small, handheld metal or wooden sieve that is manually cranked or shaken to sift flour, removing lumps, and aerating it before it’s added to a recipe.
This process helps to ensure a smooth, even texture in baked goods like bread, cookies, and pies. Some Amish flour sifters have multiple screens with different sizes of holes, allowing bakers to choose the right level of fineness for different recipes.
6. Noodle Cutter
Also known as a noodle board, it is a simple but effective tool used to make homemade noodles. It consists of a long wooden board with several parallel wires or blades stretched across the top.
To use it, dough is rolled out on the board, and then the wires or blades are pressed down, cutting the dough into thin, even strips of noodles. The size and shape of the noodles can be adjusted by changing the spacing of the wires or blades.
7. Bread Proofing Basket
Also known as a banneton, it is a traditional tool used in bread-making to proof dough. Made of natural materials like cane or rattan, the proofing basket is lined with a cloth and dusted with flour before the dough is placed inside.
The proofing basket helps to shape the bread as it rises, and the cloth imprints a decorative pattern on the surface of the bread. The result is a rustic, artisanal loaf with a beautiful crust and delicate crumb.
8. Egg Beater
It is a manual kitchen tool used to beat eggs or cream without electricity. Made of wood or metal, the beater consists of a handle with two beaters at the end.
To use it, the cook grips the handle and rotates the beaters rapidly by hand, whipping the eggs or cream into a fluffy, smooth consistency.
9. Canning Jars
Also known as Mason jars, they are traditionally used by the Amish for preserving fruits, vegetables, jams, and pickles. Unlike modern canning jars with screw-on lids, Amish canning jars have glass lids with a rubber gasket and metal clamps to seal the jar tightly.
The jars are often decorated with simple, colorful patterns or designs, which give them a distinctive, homespun appearance.
10. Wood-burning Stove
Also known as the Pennsylvania Dutch Stove, it is a traditional cooking appliance found in many Amish households. These stoves are made of cast iron and feature a large cooking surface, as well as multiple ovens for baking.
The heat is provided by wood or coal burned in a firebox below the cooking surface, which heats the stovetop and ovens.
These 10 Amish baking tools not only add authenticity to the baking process but also can uplift the quality of your baked goods. Incorporating these into your kitchen can bring a touch of Amish tradition and simplicity to your baking projects.
Source:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3800012/
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.