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PODCAST

The History of American Food

Margaret Hardin

Starting with the first English settlements in the 17th Century, this podcasts traces how we went from barrels of salted meat & peas to Korean bbq tacos and the largest grocery store selections ever seen anywhere in the world. We"ll go everywhere - and it is full of surprises.Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood@gmail.comSubstack: https://thoafood.substack.com/Internets: @THoAFood

history food

All Episodes

27:18

185 New Ice in a New Age

The History of American Food ·

2026/10/07

There are lots of moments that have changed American Food - sugar imports, the discovery of sweet oranges, but nothing - to me is as defining as the mechanical manufacture of ice. It is at the base of the food system we live in today. For better or for worse, the popular dinner of pre-cooked rotisserie chicken on a salad of bagged greens is not possible without this step.So come along and find out about the democritization of ice cream, and the furthering of the US as the beef eating captal of the

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28:04

184 Fats - Slippery

The History of American Food ·

2026/09/30

Last Science Episode for awhile. This one is all about fats.What they are, what they do in our bodies, and some wild speculation about what effects our solid past had on our cooking and even our rush to refrigeration.So come along and learn about fats and strang butter substitutes.Also - The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRKand visit me on Substack - this time I talk about why we are bad a fake fats.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor

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31:15

183 Carbohydrates - Sticky

The History of American Food ·

2026/09/17

Come listen while I answer the important questions:What is a Carbohydrate? Tune in!Can you actually eliminate all sugar from your diet? Yes! But No in 3 ways.and Can you truly live on meat aloneAlso - The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRKand visit me on Substack!Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleSubstack: https://thoafood.substack.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot comThreads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFoodShow

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26:59

182 Proteins: Stringy - Updated

The History of American Food ·

2026/09/09

Science - it is back!America has long had a thing about thinking about food as components rather than ingredients. So to help you navigate through what some of these parts are - I'll be doing some science at you. This week - Protein!Links:Velella Photo - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.817196/fullThe Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRKMusic Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleSubstack: https://thoafood.substack.com/Email:

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27:33

181 Milk Pail, Milk Bottle, Milk at Home

The History of American Food ·

2026/09/02

I'll just grab a glass of milk...When did that become a thing? Becasue - it is a VERY American thing. RIght up there with cold cereal for breakfast.Turns out - it became possible at the end of the 19th century. But all the moving parts that had to come together to make it happen are kindof increadible. So come with me on the journey to find out just how a glass of milk at home became possibleBridgerton Clip with Anachronistic Milk Drinking:https://youtu.be/AwdTS5uY1KA?si=h4Ywxe8B0thq1Ea-Music

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31:12

180 America Goes on a Diet - Part 2 : It's Time to...

The History of American Food ·

2026/08/26

This week we bust open the most United States of America food of all.Cold CerealMy research has lead me to this - Cold Cereal is the first thing that can be claimed as the first Original Food of the USA.Pumpkin Pie... maybe?Bacon Cheese Burger - I'll consider it.Fried Chicken sandwich - my favorite contender.... but late.Let's talk about how the conditions of colonial America lead to Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes.But we aren't there yet. Instead it is bad... but fast cereal. To know how bad -

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25:54

179 Food in Paper, Food in Boxes

The History of American Food ·

2026/08/19

An important element essential to modern American food didn't happen until the end of the 19th century. But as with so many of the other elements that are underpinnings of American food - it is not a food at all. Instead it is paper made of trees rather than paper made of cloth that has reached the end of it's life.And once wood pulp paper becomes part of the scene - how food is transported, labeled and sold will never be the same.Think about a world before you put could wrap meat in Butcher's

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2:05

Alas... a 3 Week Break

The History of American Food ·

2026/07/24

Hang in there ... and I'll be back.Hopefully - some interesting posts on the Socials MediaMusic Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot comThreads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFood& some other socials... @THoAFood

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24:18

178 The History of Paper

The History of American Food ·

2026/07/22

This week we go back in time to learn about how we got paper.It's been with us for a long time, but until the end of the 19th century it was mostly old clothes.To find out what paper used to be and how we got to paper from trees - tune in.Also - as promised... the links to the W.E.B. Du Bois self tour:https://www.duboisnhs.org/great-barrington-walking-tour/Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail

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27:24

177 Bringing the Sea's Bounty to You - In a Can - But...

The History of American Food ·

2026/07/15

Wanna see bears? goto Explore.orgSee how many Alaskan canneries there where? Or see more about the Diamond NN Cannery?Follow the linksAnd then listen in to the rise of canned fish in the late 19th century. Instant protein you can take with you anywhere. The cottage cheese of the 19th century - but no refrigeration needed.But - being able to can every last oyster and slamon we could get our hands on had a cost - as well as a payoff.Listen in to find out more Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor

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38:00

176 New Technology for American Corn

The History of American Food ·

2026/07/09

Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not? I made the correct decision. Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef. Because this is the episode where corn changes from an obvious food to one that can be present anywhere. With the advent of industrial milled corn starch we have entered the age when corn is as much chemical ingredient as it is food.So iron your pinafore with starch and sit down to a miander through the past

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29:11

175 New American Sugar

The History of American Food ·

2026/07/01

Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all.The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at the

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31:42

174 Foreign Salt, Local Salt, Industrial Salt

The History of American Food ·

2026/06/24

This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic. And it is all my fault.But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America. It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer. Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt. And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow

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49:00

173.5 BONUS Interview - The Pickled City

The History of American Food ·

2026/06/17

This week I talk to Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book The Pickled CIty Availible in Bookstores now!We dive into the history, culture and importance of place of pickles. I also learn a few things about why pickles are that way. So listen in to this extra long bonus episode on Pickles, Salt and HistoryMusic Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail

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32:05

173 Potatoes for Frontier & Factory

The History of American Food ·

2026/06/10

How did America become the land of Meat & PotatoesI don't have all the answers yet - but I think I've found the well spring of the "& potatoes" portion. I'm about to sneak up on the big answer to the meat.But in the meantime, we look at whether you can have factory culture at the same time you pushing out a wild frontier - and what the potato has to do with it.Side quests - the origin on the French Fry, the Potato Chip and Breakfast Hash - not to mention why didn't America get the potato

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34:57

172 The Potato - A History

The History of American Food ·

2026/06/03

Po-tay-toesWhere are they from? Why do we call them Irish? Are they poisonous? And what was the blight? I answer all these questions and more - as well as providing you with a link to a really cool paper published about the origins of potatoes 9 Million Year Ago!Cell September 2025 Full Text Article on the Origin of PotatoesCell Press Release on Potato Origins (less technical)Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email:

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29:10

171 Iron Has New Jobs in Food

The History of American Food ·

2026/05/27

Iron is back and it has a bunch of new tricks up it sleeves. Sure we still cook on it - but it's doing lots of other new things it has never done before.And that is going to change the way we eat - because what food we get, and how much we have to work to prepare it, and how fast we - and the food can travel is going to upset everything.So much of how long we think things should take is about to change in a big way.Hop on - don't miss the train.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow

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18:28

Season 6 Preview - I Wanna Go Fast

The History of American Food ·

2026/05/20

Let's Go Season 6(last season was way more dreary than I had thought)All I can say is Ice Cream for Everyone - and let's road trip... Rail Trip?The end of the 19th Century is exciting, colorful and yeah full of mistakes. But we are Doing Things, Building Things and Going Places.Let's Go.Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor TurtleShow Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot comThreads: @THoAFoodInstagram: @THoAFood& some other socials..

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27:09

170 Prisoner of War Food for - Wait How Many Guys?...

The History of American Food ·

2026/05/13

The LAST Civil War Episode becasue I'm writing this - and have decided that is ENOUGH Civil War.And, yes I'm not happy about writing about war while there is a "we are pretending it's not a war" going on. My poor brain has said enough.That said - it's an interesting topic. And despite how dire it is - things are actually better now than they used to be. Eat your veggies, brush your teeth, wash your hands.The American Battle Field Trust article on Andersonville: Hell Hath a New NameMusic Credit:

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30:24

169 Not Enough Railroads Will Make You Salty in the...

The History of American Food ·

2026/05/06

Every seasone needs a salt episode! And here it is. It's mainly about why the South was without salt - and how that meant they couldn't keep food around. That is - if they had been making enough. Which they were not.This is also the last time I will blather on about the difference in railroad plans and how it helped back the Confeds into a corner they built themselves.Don't invest in your people and pay attention to technology and you will be left behind. Especially if you are attempting to run

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