Expert Eye: A Brief History of the Kitchen Pantry
Pantries are the most used cabinets in the modern kitchen, but where did they originate and how have they evolved?
A kitchen pantry is something that most of us couldn’t live without these days. They come in all shapes and sizes, from single-door shelved pantries in the kitchen to entire rooms with a second sink, appliances and bench space.
Regardless of the size of your pantry, have you ever wondered where the pantry originated and how it has evolved over the years? Well, I’m about to tell you…
Regardless of the size of your pantry, have you ever wondered where the pantry originated and how it has evolved over the years? Well, I’m about to tell you…
In the 19th century
In the 19th century, particularly between 1850 and 1900, England and America began to embrace the concept of the butler’s pantry.
The original butler’s pantry was a small room located between the kitchen and dining room. It was used to store items such as crockery and silverware.
Meals were generally plated up in the butler’s pantry and served from there into the dining room by a butler or waiting staff.
Expert eye: the pros and cons of 5 different pantry systems
In the 19th century, particularly between 1850 and 1900, England and America began to embrace the concept of the butler’s pantry.
The original butler’s pantry was a small room located between the kitchen and dining room. It was used to store items such as crockery and silverware.
Meals were generally plated up in the butler’s pantry and served from there into the dining room by a butler or waiting staff.
Expert eye: the pros and cons of 5 different pantry systems
The butler’s job involved managing the pantry, including stocking the food and organising the preparation and serving of food. A butler would sometimes have a desk in the pantry to assist with their household management duties.
It was quite common for butlers to sleep in the pantry to protect the silverware from being stolen.
In the beginning, butler’s pantries were only found in grand stately homes. They later became popular in more modest middle-class homes… without the waiting staff and resident butler.
It was quite common for butlers to sleep in the pantry to protect the silverware from being stolen.
In the beginning, butler’s pantries were only found in grand stately homes. They later became popular in more modest middle-class homes… without the waiting staff and resident butler.
In the 20th century
Around the middle of the 20th century, following World War II, an increased selection of prepared foods were available for the ‘housewife’.
This, combined with better refrigeration methods, and freezing methods made storing and repairing food easier. This led to the butler’s pantry becoming almost obsolete in most American homes aside from farmhouses.
See more traditional kitchens designs
Around the middle of the 20th century, following World War II, an increased selection of prepared foods were available for the ‘housewife’.
This, combined with better refrigeration methods, and freezing methods made storing and repairing food easier. This led to the butler’s pantry becoming almost obsolete in most American homes aside from farmhouses.
See more traditional kitchens designs
By the 1960s, the pantry had been reduced to a modest floor-to-ceiling cabinet incorporated into the design of the main kitchen.
Such pantries continue to be popular and are incorporated into the design of just about every modern-day kitchen.
Such pantries continue to be popular and are incorporated into the design of just about every modern-day kitchen.
Today
It would seem that we have now come full circle with the popularity of butler’s pantries increasing once again in modern homes.
Despite the fact that modern homes now have kitchens larger in size than ever before, a walk-in pantry is probably one of the most requested features in homes and kitchen design today – it certainly is among my clients.
The modern day butler’s pantry serves many of the purposes it did when it first originated, just in a slightly different way.
Planning the perfect butler’s pantry
It would seem that we have now come full circle with the popularity of butler’s pantries increasing once again in modern homes.
Despite the fact that modern homes now have kitchens larger in size than ever before, a walk-in pantry is probably one of the most requested features in homes and kitchen design today – it certainly is among my clients.
The modern day butler’s pantry serves many of the purposes it did when it first originated, just in a slightly different way.
Planning the perfect butler’s pantry
Butler’s pantries in modern homes are usually located directly off the kitchen, but generally connect through to a dining area.
A good size butler’s pantry will typically include shelving space for the storage of dried and canned foods and bench space on which to do some light food preparation. Most food preparation these days is done in the main kitchen with the increased popularity for open- plan social spaces.
A good size butler’s pantry will typically include shelving space for the storage of dried and canned foods and bench space on which to do some light food preparation. Most food preparation these days is done in the main kitchen with the increased popularity for open- plan social spaces.
The benchtop in the modern day butler’s pantry is also commonly used as an area to keep small appliances such as juicers, blenders and coffee machines plugged in and ready to use at any time.
A butler’s pantry will usually include a small sink, allowing the cook to do some ‘messy’ preparation and hide dirty dishes from guests when hosting a dinner party or get-together.
Some butler’s pantries will also include a second dishwasher and other appliances such as freezers and wine fridges.
Tell us
Do you have – and recommend – a butler’s pantry? Let us know in the Comments below.
More
Browse more beautiful kitchen pantries
A butler’s pantry will usually include a small sink, allowing the cook to do some ‘messy’ preparation and hide dirty dishes from guests when hosting a dinner party or get-together.
Some butler’s pantries will also include a second dishwasher and other appliances such as freezers and wine fridges.
Tell us
Do you have – and recommend – a butler’s pantry? Let us know in the Comments below.
More
Browse more beautiful kitchen pantries
In medieval castles and manors, different areas and rooms known as ‘offices’ were used to store specific foods and supplies pertaining to the kitchen. Each room had a person with the title ‘head of office’.
A larder was used to store meats, while alcohol was stored in the buttery, a name derived from the beer barrels (or butts) stored there.
The pantry was where bread was stored. The word ‘pantry’ originates from the old french word ‘paneterie’, loosely translated as ‘bread sack’.
Any food preparation associated with bread was also carried out in the pantry and the head of office in charge of the pantry was called a ‘pantler’.