[Sca-cooks] [Fwd: Salamander - History?]

[Terry Decker]

Salamander is a generic term for any item that is placed in a fire and can
withstand the heat.  This includes various kinds of heating irons and
pokers.  The earliest written usage is 17th Century and it pre-dates the
usage of Salamander as a browning tool.  A branding iron could be considered
a salamander.

Bear


>But I thought the idea with the salamander was only to bring the hot
>plate
>next to the food to be browned, not actually to touch it. Also, isn't
>the
>salamander just a flat plate, with no decorations? This use of the
>branding
>iron sounds closer to putting a hot fire poker into a beverage or other
>food item to warm it. Any evidence of a fire iron being used for this in
>period? (excluding its use on certain English Royalty)
>
>Stefan li Rous
>stefan at texas.net