Where Did The Term Made From Scratch Come From

Alright, picture this: you're in a bustling café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. You're about to tuck into a delicious-looking cake, and your friend leans in, asking, "Did you make this from scratch?" Now, where on Earth did that phrase come from?

Let's Roll Back the Years

Imagine, if you will, the 16th century. We're in England, and the term 'scratch' is already in use, but not in the culinary sense. It was more of a gaming term, referring to the starting point in a game of bowls or skittles. So, if you were 'at scratch', you were ready to begin.

Fast forward a couple of centuries, and we're now in the 18th century. The term 'scratch' has evolved to mean the starting point or beginning of something. But how did it make its way into the kitchen?

Enter the Bakers

In the 1800s, bakers were using the term 'scratch' to refer to the process of making a cake or bread from the very beginning. They'd start with the basic ingredients - flour, eggs, sugar, and so on - and create their masterpiece from 'scratch'. It was a way of saying, "I didn't just buy this ready-made, I made it from the ground up."

Now, you might be thinking, "That's all well and good, but why not just say 'made from the beginning' or something similar?" Well, my friend, that's where the fun comes in.

Why 'Scratch'?

Remember, we're talking about a time when people were more familiar with the physical act of making something than we are today. 'Scratch' was a term that resonated with people because it was a visual, tangible concept. It was like saying, "I started with nothing but a few ingredients and a bit of elbow grease, and look what I created!"

Plus, let's face it, 'scratch' just sounds more fun than 'beginning'. It's got a certain rhythm to it, a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it stick in our minds. It's like the difference between saying "I walked to the store" and "I trekked to the store". One sounds like an everyday chore, the other sounds like an adventure.

Scratch history - ProgKids

From Bakers to Bloggers

Over time, the term 'made from scratch' made its way from the bakery to the general public. It became a badge of honor for home cooks, a way of saying, "I'm not just following a recipe, I'm creating something unique."

And now, in the 21st century, it's not just about cooking anymore. We use 'made from scratch' to describe everything from software development to homemade candles. It's a testament to the power of a good phrase to stick around and evolve over time.

But What About the Cake?

Ah, yes, the cake. Did you make it from scratch? Well, that depends. If you started with a box mix and just added eggs and oil, then no, you didn't. But if you started with flour, sugar, eggs, and everything else, then yes, you did.

And that, my friends, is the story of how 'made from scratch' became a part of our culinary lexicon. So next time someone asks if you made something from scratch, you can tell them it's all about starting from the beginning, adding a bit of elbow grease, and creating something unique. And if they ask why we don't just say 'made from the beginning', you can tell them it's because 'scratch' sounds way more fun.