CHAPTER XXXVII
Tin Ware, Rubber and Paper
Tin is one of the oldest metals in the world. The Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Hebrews made mention of it frequently.
Before the advent of the Kingly Aluminum and the Queenly Enamels, agates, granites etc., tin was used extensively in the kitchen, but now the cooking utensil is very rarely tin and rightly so.
However, tin still remains a good thing for various things in the home and is well worth employing in different ways. These ways will interest you to consider.
However—firstly—all things made of tin to-day are but steel or iron dip and coated with tin.
Tin melts at a comparatively low temperature and is besides affected by acids. That is why baking, stewing, etc. are not to be done with tin utensils plus acid food. The dark rings on baked apples cooked in a tin dish show very plainly what acid and tin do in combination.
In buying tin the criterion is its weight. It is only wise to buy tin ware in the best shops, because small, but out of the way hardware shops can rarely afford to keep on hand the best tinware.
It should, of course, adhere closely to the lines of all other utensils in that it must be smoothe without rough globules, without seams, which might catch food or dust particles to create an aftermath condition difficult to rectify.
Cleaning
Put tin to be cleaned in hot soda, never more than 5 minutes because the tin will dissolve somewhat, as the heat and soda meet and though it will disintegrate the grease it will make the iron or steel base show through. But with more fine powder like whiting, rinse hot, and dry while hot. Tin will rust so it is best to dry while “the tin is hot!”
Japan
Among the most useful and jaunty things in tin is the so-called Japan wear which is but painted tin.
Bread and cake boxes in different colors, with and without shelves, sliding doors and in varying fasteners to suit your fancy. These are light and easier to manage than the shiny metallic ones and easier to clean out than the wooden ones.
Cake Cutters
There is no reason either why you cannot use the less expensive tin cake cutters in their multitudinous designs. They are keen cutting and light and very durable.
Galvanized
Galvanized wear—is usually steel heated to a special finish of tin. Some of the things in this material are most useful and necessary—for example, the refrigerator drain pan, garbage pail and ash can. These are extra heavy and withstand wear and jouncing.
For the less elaborate kitchen, the tin muffin pans, funnels and pie plates are useful yet not as good as other kitchen wear such as the Aluminum and Enamels.
Necessities Not Known
The ideal Christmas tree holder which keeps the tree fresh for months on account of its simple reservoir for water is really something well worth knowing about. It holds the tree very steady and is japanned in a dull green.
For country or suburban homes the out-door incinerator, a perforated tinned container, permits the burning of rubbish without danger from blowing cinders; of course, this is not meant to burn fats and animal refuse. An incinerator (see Chapter XIII) of another order is necessary for this.
There is no reason whatever, however, why the copper bottom wash boilers whose numbers and designs are legion should not be used. As they are light in weight and durable.
The galvanized coal scuttle, flour bin—japanned or plain heavy tin, is not a pariah even yet.
If you have the “tin,” it is usual for you to buy the better metals. Yet there are quite legitimate uses for tin. There are some householders who have tin ware left over from the past. To those, however, we can say don’t let it worry you; as they die out replace them with better, if you care to, but be loyal to what you have used if they have served.
No one recommends tin to-day for cookery when on the market are ideal cooking utensils, but what we do wish to convey to you in this chapter is that tin has very legitimate uses.
For example spice, sugar, coffee etc. canisters in white enamel tin, brown, black etc. with gold lines. These are not as autocratic as the blue and white china but they will outlast any such delightful and much to be desired shelf trousseau. A kitchen in white with white enameled tin containers is a very pretty thing to contemplate.
Some of the heavier tin ware is iron or steel dipped in tin, this, of course, is very resistant and enduring and not particularly cheap.
Agates, enamels etc. are merely steel and iron covered with layers of composition that when dry are made up to resist cookery onslaught.
Ice-Cream Freezers
There are two or three very interesting and effective ice cream freezers made of tin. There is one in fact so built as to need no turning.
Trays
Tin trays are invaluable as they come in all sizes and are exceedingly light. They come plain, japanned and some decorated—but any one with a sense of paint and form can make an ordinary tin tray a thing of joy—while for the most part the tin ware houses execrably decorate the trays! A word to the wise!
Rubber
The rubber wear that is used in kitchens is not extensive but what is used is indispensable.
For preserving, of course, the rubber ring to tightly close certain jars is a necessity and the best is none too good to buy. Unless you have the best here you are cheated by breakage.
Rubber gloves for kitchenette and kitchen use save and prevent breakage, they also prevent the sink becoming “holey.” For “holey” sinks are horrible to contemplate!
Some people like perforated rubber mats on linoleum or tiled floors and on kitchen hallways and stairs. These wear for a long time.
A few rubber corks to have on hand in the home often helps you out of a dilemma of temporary corkage.
Rubber brushes for sink use in combination with tin are useful and can be well scoured and kept in condition.
Rubber gloves for kitchenette and kitchen use save the hands and are worth their weight in radium. If more women used them, the house work problem would be less like martyrdom. They preserve the hands, health as well as beauty, in fact could anything be “handier?”
Rubber is used for door steps to preserve the door surface and to prevent noise. It is also used on the tip end of legs of tables and chairs to preserve floors and rugs and to diminish noise.
This is about the full list of rubber things for the house except, perhaps, the rubber heel for maids’ and butlers’ shoes and rubber stoppers for sinks.
Paper
The uses of paper in the home are not so many.
Shelving in the pantry or kitchen can be kept in renewed health with paper, laces of course.
The bungalow, or motor trip or picnic can be well supplied with paper and fiber plates.
Rather would we warn you against paper uses! such as wrapping up your ice to preserve it, to spoil food, wrapping up your food stuffs in paper in refrigerator, greasing muffin pan with paper for which you should use a brush.
Sometimes, however, a piece of paper will clean off the top of the stove very efficiently, yet even here a brush would be better.
Clean brown paper to absorb French frys (potato) is quite indispensable.
The paper napkin has made its place even in the homes of wealth.
Wax paper is a delight to wrap up sandwiches and keep bread stuffs and cake fresh.
Paper lining for drawers, of course, is necessary.
The pretty paper lace doily for under finger bowls, cake and bread, these are delightfully pretty and save the linen, the laundress and the laundry list.
Chop Papers
Paper “golf stockings” for chop bones, poultry legs etc. are decorative.
Charlotte Russe
Vegetables and charlotte russe are often, too, served in the paper cup.
Which, by the way reminds me that in large kitchens the paper cup is indispensable.
In this place it would be well to say that a pad—a writing pad—should be in every kitchen for multitudinous listings and memos. No kitchen is a perfect one that isn’t “padded.” In fact it is a sell if it isn’t!