A roasting spit is a tool used to cook large pieces of meat over fires or in rotisserie ovens. They have been used for centuries and have evolved to include handles and cranks. Today, they come in many sizes and can be used to cook a variety of meats and vegetables. They can also be made from natural materials like branches for outdoor cooking.
A roasting spit, or simply a spit, is a tool used to roast large pieces of meat, such as whole thighs, or even whole small animals over fires or in various types of rotisserie ovens. The roasting skewer is a long skewer, which is pushed through raw meat. This skewer is now typically metal, especially for use in rotisserie ovens, which often turn the meat mechanically to create even cooking. For outdoor cooking, a roasting spit can be made of wood or other materials that have been specially treated to resist burning.
Spits have been used for several centuries and it is difficult to directly trace their origin. The advantage of using them, even without some type of handle or crank to turn the cooking meat, is that you can readjust the spit to cook the meat more evenly. This avoids having to attempt to touch very hot meat when you flip it, in order to get it cooked through, which given the lack of pot holders in the distant past, was a major advantage.
Once homes included indoor fireplaces, metal roasting spits became common for roasting joints of meat. Improvements to the skewer include the addition of handles so the meat can be turned more easily and without hurting your hands. Hand burns in the pre-antibiotic era were serious business, as they could easily become infected and create a blood infection. As a result, interest in avoiding burns and staying healthy was particularly high.
In today’s modern homes, you may find varieties of spit roasts in many sizes. Some are made to fit into rotisserie ovens, others can be mounted on top of a gas or charcoal grill. By following the directions, you can achieve a uniform roast in different parts of the meat. It is common to roast whole chickens on a spit, as well as roast joints such as a leg of lamb or beef roasts of various sizes.
You’ll also find traditional spit roast varieties in different cuisines from around the world. Luau dinners in Hawaii can include spit roasts of whole suckling pigs. Sometimes people who camp out make use of various roasting spits found in the wild if they live “above ground.”
You can use relatively young branches that are green as skewers for cooking fish, rabbit or pieces of venison. Of course, it’s best to make sure it’s legal to hunt or fish in the area where you intend to stay. Otherwise, bring in hot dogs and use homemade or store-bought skewers for wonderful results. Marshmallows over a campfire are similarly made from spits of various types, usually branches.
Kebabs are cooked on a variation of the roasting skewer. They’re usually on small metal rods that can be twisted easily and grilled over open fires, or even in ovens. For those who don’t prefer roasting meat for personal reasons, you can use a skewer to cook particularly large vegetables or make veggie kebabs with small spits.
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