How Medieval Castle Cooks Fed an Entire Castle (Without Refrigeration)
How Medieval Castle Cooks Fed an Entire Castle (Without Refrigeration)  
Podcast: History For Sleep with the Drowsy Historian
Published On: Mon Jan 26 2026
Description: Get early episodes & ad-free audio on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DrowsyHistorianLong before refrigeration, running water, or modern kitchens, castle cooks were expected to feed hundreds of people every single day — using fire, salt, habit, and hope.In this episode, you step into the smoke-stained heart of a medieval castle kitchen, where fires never truly go out, water is never quite clean, and food is judged by people who never see how it’s made. You’ll follow a full day and night in the life of a castle cook, from pre-dawn embers to late-night cleanup, navigating spoiled meat, wandering livestock, endless complaints from above, and the quiet rituals that kept illness and disaster at bay.This is not a story of banquets and feasts — it’s a story of endurance.Of repetition.Of how medieval kitchens functioned as industrial spaces long before the word existed.🛏️ Drowsy Historian’s Favorite Sleep ToolsLooking to upgrade your nighttime routine? These are a few things I personally use or recommend:• Sleep Earbuds for Enhanced Immersion → https://amzn.to/47ccNqV• Blanket Soft Enough to Make the Plague Feel Tolerable → https://amzn.to/3GSOq8f• Weighted Blanket for Pretending You’re a Mummified Pharaoh → https://amzn.to/4kVJCgE• Sleep Mask Headphones For Total Historical Escape → https://amzn.to/4nWsNVn• Book Light for Reading About Plagues at 2AM → https://amzn.to/4eSg0iu• White Noise Machine for Blocking Out the 21st Century → https://amzn.to/3GJ9jTwThese are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show while staying cozy.#BoringHistoryForSleep #MedievalHistory #CastleLife #MedievalCooking #SleepHistory #RelaxingHistory #DailyLifeHistory #HistoricalASMR #LongFormHistory #DrowsyHistorian