The History Of Hog Roasts: A Longstanding Culinary Tradition In The UK And Across The World

In case you hadn’t noticed, the team here at Hog Roast Tickhill are a tad obsessed with all things hog roast related! We have always been fascinated by this method of cooking and every time we prepare a hog of our own, we can’t help but be reminded juts how ancient the art of hog roasting really is. We would like to give you a brief overview of hog roast catering’s impact here in the UK and across the world and share with you our deep appreciation for how this cooking method has stood the test of time.

Ancient beginnings

The origin of hog roasts is said to be thousands of years old, with some evidence suggesting that even early cavemen started cooking meat in this way after developing rudimentary methods of raising the hog above the flames to improve the cooking process. Spit roasting began to really take off in the Middle Ages with the pig being skewered on a heavy metal bar over an open fire. It was also commonplace to see similar constructions in medieval kitchens.

A crowd-pleasing feast for celebrations the world over

Spit roasting a whole hog has been a part of many different global cuisines for centuries, from Indonesia and China to the USA, the Caribbean and Cuba. A focal point for special feasts, Christmas celebrations, and ritualistic celebrations, spit roasted hogs have played a key role in food and festivities across the global for hundreds of years.

The UK’s hog roasting legacy

Hog Roast TickhillHaving already been around for hundreds of years going back to Saxon Yuletide celebrations and even earlier, hog roasts became very popular in the 16th and 17th centuries in the UK. Hog roasts were considered the ultimate outdoor feast for any gathering, as well as taking pride of place as the centrepiece of many banquet tables.

Hog roast catering today

It isn’t every day that you get the chance to sample a cooking process that has such a long and rich history in the UK and beyond. Here at Hog Roast Tickhill, we use purpose-built stainless-steel hog roasters, enabling us to modernise this fantastic cooking method to make it suitable for today’s diners whilst also respecting and retaining the traditional essence of hog roast cooking that has made this method of preparing meat endure through the ages in many different countries.