See full version: How did they cook on ancient ships
Rations on ships during the age of exploration were typically of a type that would require little or no cooking. They included things like "hardtack" (unleavened bread), and salted meat, that could be stored for months without spoiling. Salted meat was "boiled" which required less fuel and lower temperatures than regular "cooking" (212 F vs. 400 F). The "fire brick" solution referred to in another answer was "suitable only for boiling," not for regular cooking. here
I can't find any references for ships further back in history (this is possibly because I'm not sure how/what to search for).
As these ships were wooden and possibly covered with tar for waterproofing, how would they have cooked without risking a fire in the galley?
If possible, I'm mostly interested in Egyptian and Middle Eastern ships.
In ancient times, ships would often be at sea for extended periods of time. During this time, I'm assuming they must have done some form of cooking, otherwise they would have just eaten cold, pre-prepared food for the whole time between stops at ports.
It needs to be noted that ship galley jobs are very lucrative and the pay is very high. This is a major attracting factor for being a ship’s cook. In addition to this factor, another USP of being a ship’s cook is the fact that the job offers a very high level of exposure to not just various places but also various dishes and cuisines in the world.
Out of the various jobs on ships, one of the most important and often neglected-to-mention professions is that of a ship’s cook. Deckhands are the ones who serve meals to people aboard a ship but the responsibility of making those meals falls on the shoulders of a ship’s cook. Hence, if one aims to pursue the career of a chief cook, it is very important to first understand as to how to become a ship’s cook.
The point of hierarchy is very relevant because just like in other areas of jobs on ship, even ship galley jobs follow a particular hierarchy. Every person aspiring to be a ship’s cook, after getting the necessary educational qualification, reaches the highest point in the galley only through the hierarchy. more
Types of Ship Galley Jobs: The aspect of hierarchy is a major factor that comes into place here. The sub-points of various jobs on ship pertaining to a ship’s galley, according to the hierarchy will help clarify further: [links]
Photograph by Shailesh Jani
Educational Requirements: The basic requirement for having jobs on ship and in the galley is about knowing how to cook. This being the case, a person aspiring to be a ship’s cook has to have the necessary degrees from recognized institutions and universities that provide courses on culinary subjects. In addition to this, a person also needs to have a prior work experience for a minimum of at least two years. Experience is a very important factor because of the hugeness of the field where a person is required to work. An experienced person will know how to deal better with a larger crowd of people as opposed to someone who is completely inexperienced and unaware. Also, when it comes to experience, it has to be noted that certain ship galley jobs accept candidates who have experience in terms of restaurants and hotels on land while some strictly require a previous experience of working in a ship as the ship’s cook. here
Meanwhile, listed below are the main job positions in the galley:
Is it your dream to work on a cruise ship? If yes, you have to understand that applying for a job on a ship comes with its own set of challenges. One particular profession that can be difficult to apply for is the galley cook.
You should know that there are various kinds of cooks in this kitchen with varying levels of importance. If you’re just starting out as a cook, then you’ll have to start at the lowest rung of the galley ladder. more
You can apply for any of these positions depending on how much experience you have in working in a kitchen. Also, if your specialty is in baking, for instance, then you might be more suited for being a pastry man. [links]
If your passion is cooking and you want to work on a ship, perhaps becoming a galley cook is your vocation. There are several available galley hand offshore jobs that you can check online.
Here are some of the starting positions for people with minimal experience in a kitchen: here
When I first got in the Navy, I was undesignated—I painted the ship. Everybody on the ship has to serve so many people; there were 800 people on ours. Everybody that is D3 or below, they have to do this thing called "cranking." They called it "cranking" because it was miserable, and you had to go work in the kitchen. I worked there for four months, and I fell in love with it, everything about it; I decided to be a cook.
They called it "cranking" because it was miserable, and you had to go work in the kitchen. I fell in love with it.[links]
Cooking in a kitchen that is constantly moving left and right the whole time is challenging. We worked way more hours than everybody else, because we had to be there for three meals. Also, being on a ship, we would have drills that we were going into battle and you would have to drop everything. here
Chad Shaner of Freek's Mill recalls learning his trade aboard the USS La Salle.