A Larder is a cool area for storing food prior to use. Larders were common-place in houses before the widespread use of the refrigerator.

Essential qualities of a larder are that it should be :

• as cool as possible
• close to food preparation areas
• constructed so as to exclude flies and vermin
• easy to keep clean
• equipped with shelves and cupboards appropriate to the food being stored.

In the northern hemisphere, most houses would arrange to have their larder and kitchen on the north or east side of the house where it received least sun. In Australia and New Zealand larders were placed on the south or east sides of the house for the same reason.

Many larders have small unglazed windows with the window opening covered in fine mesh. This allows free cirulation of air without allowing flies to enter. Many larders have tiles or painted walls to simplify cleaning. Older larders and especially those in larger houses have hooks in the ceiling to hang joints of meat or game. Others have insulated containers for ice, emulating the future development of refrigerators.

Very few modern houses have larders since this need is now satified by larder refrigerators and freezers and by the convenience of modern food stores obviating the need to store food for long periods.

See also

• Food storage