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A crock is a LRB letters
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pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and por ...
container sometimes used for food and water, synonymous with the word pot, and sometimes used for chemicals. Derivative terms include crockery
Tableware is any dish or dishware used for setting a table, serving food, and dining. It includes cutlery, glassware, serving dishes, and other items for practical as well as decorative purposes. The quality, nature, variety and number of obj ...
and crock-pot
A slow cooker, also known as a crock-pot (after a trademark owned by Sunbeam Products but sometimes used generically in the English-speaking world), is a countertop electrical cooking appliance used to simmer at a lower temperature than othe ...
.
Crocks, or "preserving crocks," were used in household kitchens before refrigeration to hold and preserve foods such as butter, salted meats, and pickled vegetables. Crocks are made from stoneware, which is a nonporous ceramic that is water-tight, even without glaze.
Larger crocks (20-30 gallons) are used for curing meats. The meat is covered with a brine made of water, sugar, salt, and a small amount of sodium nitrate or salt peter. The meat is kept submerged in the brine by two semicircle weights designed to fit inside the crock. The crocks are then topped with a lid and stored in a cool, dry location.
Smaller crocks (1-10 gallons) are commonly used for preserving vegetables such as cucumbers for pickles, and cabbage for sauerkraut. Preserving food in this manner allows people to keep summer vegetables throughout the winter months when gardens and crops are not producing.
Vintage crocks can still be found and purchased. Aside from food storage, they're commonly used for decorative purposes, or storage containers, in interior design.
Crocks of all sizes are still produced and sold today.
A gypsy's crock is a (traditionally three-legged) cooking pot./ref>
See also
*Beanpot
A beanpot is a deep, wide-bellied, short-necked vessel used to cook bean-based dishes. Beanpots are typically made of ceramic, though some are made of other materials, such as cast iron. The relatively narrow mouth of the beanpot minimizes evap ...
* Cassole
A cassole ( oc, cassolo) is a conical earthenware container, glazed inside. The bowl is made from red clay and is noted for its capacity to retain heat.
Cassole originated from the French form of the Occitan word ''cassolo''. The earthenware was ...
* Harsch crock
A fermentation crock, also known as a gärtopf crock or Harsch crock, is a crock for fermentation. It has a gutter in the rim which is then filled with water so that when the top is put on an airlock is created, which prevents the food within ...
* Stoneware
Stoneware is a rather broad term for pottery or other ceramics fired at a relatively high temperature. A modern technical definition is a Vitrification#Ceramics, vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic made primarily from stoneware clay or non-refracto ...
* Cazuela
Cazuela ( or ) is the common name given to a variety of dishes, especially from South America. It receives its name from the ''cazuela'' (Spanish for cooking pot) – traditionally, an often shallow pot made of unglazed earthenware used for c ...
References
Cooking vessels Pottery shapes Serving vessels {{cooking-tool-stub