Pot
Japanese Name:
鍋
Romaji Name:
nabe
Description
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A pot is a deep cooking container, usually made of metal, used for boiling, simmering, or cooking food on a stove. Pots come in various sizes and often have handles and a lid.
History
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Cooking pots date back to prehistoric times. The earliest pots were made of clay and used over open fires.
In ancient China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, people used ceramic and bronze pots for boiling and stewing food.
Japan’s Jōmon period (14,000–300 BCE) is famous for some of the world’s oldest pottery, including early cooking vessels.
With the discovery of metals like iron and copper, more durable and heat-conductive pots were made.
In medieval Europe and Asia, pots were essential in daily cooking, especially for soups, stews, and porridges.
The cast iron pot (like the Japanese nabe or Western Dutch oven) became a key item in traditional and modern kitchens.
Today, both the cooking pot and hot pot dishes are widely used and enjoyed around the world, blending tradition, function, and community.