Description

Cool room for storing food

Technical

A larder is a cool area for storing food prior to use. Originally, it was where raw meat was larded—covered in pig fat—to be preserved. This method slowed spoilage by sealing out air, bacteria, and moisture. In colder larders, larded meat could last for months, while in warmer conditions, the fat turned rancid within weeks. By the 18th century, the term had expanded: at that point, a dry larder was where bread, pastry, milk, butter, or cooked meats were stored. Larders were commonplace in houses before the widespread use of the refrigerator.