Spit Roast- Old Fashioned Cooking for a Modern Taste
A spit roast is a way to cook meat, historically very large sections of meat. There is a long metal rod that the meat is skewed on and there is a fire under the meat. The meat is than rotated over the open fire, allowing the meat to cook in its own juices. During medieval times the spit was the only way to cook meat. In early modern indoor kitchens the spit roast was still a favored way of cooking meat. This in its early days was a labor intensive way to cook meat. Before modern mechanics took hold, a young servant boy would stand at the spit roast and turn the handle all day to insure even cooking. This young boy was called a spit jack. Over time mechanical turnspits were invented these mechanical turnspits are called roasting jacks. These mechanical spit roasts were first powered by dogs on a treadmill, then by steam power and mechanical clock works. A spit roast is powered today by electric motors.
Spit Roast Today
A spit roast today is used to cook large animals like goats, beef even turkeys have made the spit roast list, and are usually only used for special occasions, where there will be a lot of people to feed. There are restaurants that specialize in spit roast meats. Spit roast results in a juicy tender meat.
A Western Spit Roast
Traditionally in the west an entire cow was placed on a spit roast to cook. An image of cowboys around an open fire roasting a large slab of meat is commonly associated with the west. Of course today that practice is not quite as common. There are services available that specialize in providing a spit roast for special events. Typically the food is par cooked off site than the remainder of the cooking is done at the event.
Spit Roast World Wide
A spit roast is still very much in use and the preferred cooking method for many countries worldwide. It is a favored cooking method in the Mideast, where goat is the number one stable. Greece uses a spit roast to cook their top meat the lamb. A spit roast is favored in many places around the world as the premier method of cooking meats. The slow roast process leaves meat juicy and very tender. Typically the meat is skewed onto the spit roast and left to cook an entire day. This slow cook method is often the center piece of family gatherings.
A spit roast is an ancient form of cooking meat that is still a viable option today.