Paper-Bag Cookery: Union Bag And Paper Company 1912: Antique Cooking Ideas

1912 Housewives Saved Time And Money Cooking In Union Paper Bags

I bought a box lot of vintage cook books and came across this booklet entitled "Paper-Bag Cookery: Complete Dir

ections and Recipes". This gem was prepared by the Union Bag and Paper Company in 1912.

Is Paper Bag Cookery A Thing Of The Past ?

I suppose cooking in paper bags was a great way to avoid cleaning pots and pans. I am all for that idea. You don't see much talk about cooking in paper bags anymore. Perhaps at Thanksgiving time, someone might cook a turkey in a roasting bag. But when was the last time you heard of friends cooking in paper bags?

The theory of cooking food in paper bags was that you could seal up food and preserve flavors, juices and reduce shrinkage.I suppose we could learn a lot from this 1912 cookbook that would help thrifty housewives today.

What Paper-Bag Cookery Promised:

1. Your butcher bill will be reduced at least ten per cent. Beca

use your three pound roast will come out of t

he oven weighing three pounds!

2. You can user cheaper meats and poultry because this cooking method does wonders when cooking meat.

3. Your fuel gas bill bill will be reduced by 20 per cent. Less heat is required. Yu use less burners and less heat.

4. No washing greasy pans and kettle. (THAT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA). The oven is not soiled by splattering from cooking food.

5. There is no danger from half washed pans and germs lurking in the corners.

6. No cooking odor in the house.

7. You don't have to watch your food cook.

8. Cook everything at once in the bag.

9. You can bake, roast, boil, stew in the bag.

10. A novice becomes an expert at once!

Warning in booklet: Do not use ordinary bags, they will make your food taste like paper.

Source: Paper Bag Cookery: The Union Bag and Paper Company, 1912

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists