Kitchen maid facts for kids
A kitchen maid or kitchen girl was a young female worker in a large house. She was a junior domestic worker, meaning she helped with tasks inside the home. Her main job was to assist the cook in the kitchen.
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What is a Kitchen Maid?
A kitchen maid was often a young woman, sometimes a teenager, who worked in the kitchen of a wealthy home. Her role was to help the main cook with many different tasks. This job was a common way for young women to earn a living in past centuries.
Daily Life and Duties
The daily work of a kitchen maid was busy and varied. She would help prepare meals, which included chopping vegetables, peeling potatoes, and preparing meats. She might also help with baking bread or pastries.
Her duties often included:
- Cleaning the kitchen, including floors and work surfaces.
- Washing pots, pans, and cooking utensils.
- Keeping the pantry and food storage areas tidy.
- Carrying heavy items like water or coal for the stove.
- Assisting the cook with specific recipes.
Working in a Great House
In a very large and fancy home, sometimes called a "great house" or "manor," there was a clear system of who was in charge. This system is called a hierarchy. The kitchen maid was part of this system. She was usually ranked below the main cook but above a scullery maid. A scullery maid's job was mostly to wash dishes and do the dirtiest tasks.
An experienced kitchen maid might become an assistant cook. This means she would learn more about cooking and take on more important roles. You could compare her job to a line cook in a modern restaurant kitchen. A line cook prepares specific parts of a meal.
Who Was in Charge?
The kitchen maid reported to the Head Cook. This meant she took her orders and instructions directly from the cook. The Head Cook was responsible for all the food prepared in the house.
What Did They Wear?
Kitchen maids usually wore a simple uniform. This often included a plain blouse, a skirt, and a clean apron. The apron helped keep their clothes clean while they worked in the kitchen.
Famous Kitchen Maids
One well-known person who started as a kitchen maid was Margaret Powell. She began working as a kitchen girl when she was just 15 years old. Her experiences gave us a look into what life was like for domestic workers in the past.
