Food is one of the methods of celebration among the Amish. Sharing a meal or a snack is a great way to fellowship.
Drop in to visit an Amish family and they'll quickly invite you to share some popcorn and ice cream. It might be pretzels or chips. One always has to have something salty with ice cream. It's really special if it's hand cranked.
Share a meal and you won't go away hungry. If you do it's usually your fault. The foods are rich and tasty. Many of the vegetables are grown in their gardens. It helps to have your own produce when you have lots of kids. Meat often comes from the animals they butcher on the farm. It's a community tradition to butcher together, especially when doing a hog. Often they can their meat to preserve it since they don't have large freezers or refrigerators.
Most meals are topped off with desserts. They can range from a layered jello dessert to cake to ice cream to homemade pies. The sweet tooth reigns in Amish communities. Many of the recipes that are a hit with the visitors are improved by the addition of sugar while they are being made.
An Amish meal is usually served with water to drink. If you're from a different culture you may be used to having a variety of things to drink with your meal from ice tea to milk to coffee. Its water for the Amish. But don't forget to have a cup of coffee after dessert while you sit around to chat. Meadow tea is also a favorite. The mint is picked from the garden and boiled to bring out the flavor. Then water is added to weaken the brew and it makes a great refresher for the afternoon.
There are several foods that originate or have found their home in the Amish communities. One of the favorites is the peanut butter spread found in many local restaurants. It's made of peanut butter and marshmallow spread. Another is apple butter. Its eaten on the freshly baked bread or spread on cottage cheese for a treat. Try scrapple some time with apple butter for another traditional favorite.
If you're not from this area or another Amish community you might think that cheese is the orange plastic stuff individually wrapped that you find in your supermarket. Not here! There are so many cheese houses and varieties of cheese. One of the cheeses originating here is Baby Swiss Cheese. In case you haven't heard yet, it was made to go together with Trail Bologna, made in Trail between Walnut Creek and Winesburg.
Food and fund raisers go together in Amish communities. Money is raised for someone facing medical expenses or other kind of financial strain. There are also benefits for parochial schools. You may smell chicken being grilled. It called barbequed chicken but it is basted with a butter, vinegar and salt mix rather than a tomato based sauce. It's done if you can twist the bone and have the chicken fall off. Another favorite is called a hay stack meal. You may know it by another name. It starts with rice. Pile on chips, beans, shredded cheese and other condiments then top it with a special tomato based sauce.
Amish Door Restaurant
Boyd & Worthman
Broad Run Cheese
Heinis Gourmet Market
Heinis Cheese Chalet
Coblentz Chocolate
Guggisberg Cheese
Hershberger Farm & Bakery
Miller's Dry Goods
Sugar Valley Meats
FAQs
Traditional Amish food includes dishes like tasty roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes & gravy, seasoned vegetables, fresh bread, and homemade jam. The Amish are also known for excellent baked goods, especially pies, cookies, breads, cakes, and fry pies.
What is traditional Amish food? ›
Grains, dairy, and locally sourced meats play a pivotal role in the Amish diet. These ingredients are staples cultivated, harvested, and processed within their communities. In a world where farm-to-table is a luxury, for the Amish, it's simply a way of life.
What kind of meat do Amish eat? ›
Amish recipes are simple yet flavorful, making them perfect for a home-cooked meal. Daily dishes often include hearty meats such as pork chops, ham, roast beef, or meatloaf; dairy products like eggs and cheese; potatoes and vegetables; and desserts like shoofly pie or doughnuts.
What time do Amish eat dinner? ›
We usually eat around 6:00–7:00 p.m., do dishes, and do something fun with the kids, and sometimes Daddy has office work.
Do the Amish drink tea or coffee? ›
Conclusion. So the Amish do indeed drink coffee, and it's an important part of their culture. Coffee is as Amish as horse and buggies and wicker basket weaving.
Can Amish eat pizza? ›
According to the Amish 365 website, pizza is a favorite for Amish families. “The Amish have had a long love affair with pizza,” the site, which focuses on Amish and Mennonite recipes and culture, states.
Do Amish drink alcohol? ›
Most Amish have an unwavering stance against alcohol. They see it as a vice that inevitably leads to temptations. And these temptations could lead them astray from their path of devotion. They do their best to make responsible choices and support those in their community who need help and understanding.
What foods can Amish not eat? ›
The Amish Have No Dietary Restrictions
Having no dietary restrictions means they can eat whatever their heart desires. While many Amish stick to a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch diet, we've seen Amish dine at Olive Garden and take their buggies through the Burger King drive thru line.
Can Amish drink soda? ›
That said, some Amish, especially New Order, like Gloria and family, tend towards healthier diets where soda pop of any kind is a rarity. But among certain Old Order groups, “pop” has become a mainstay. This recipe comes to us from a Mennonite in Canada. You can bake the chicken in the recipe or baste it and grill it .
How often do Amish bathe? ›
In summer, conservative Amish tend to bathe at least twice weekly to eliminate dirt and sweat. The women may bathe more frequently and keep the home clean as well. New Order Amish may bathe more frequently than the Swatzentruber order, taking advantage of running water for showers or baths.
Most people start work at around 5.30am, so they're often up by 4.45am. In preliminary studies, Postolache and his colleagues have found average sleep times of 8.12 hours in summer and 7.30 hours in winter.
Do Amish people use showers? ›
While bathing is more common amongst the Amish, they do also take showers. Again, it's very dependent on the community and the individual family. Some Amish families have gas-powered hot water heaters to take showers. There are even some communities that have large indoor showers just like we do.
Do Amish use flush toilets? ›
All Amish cleaning recipes contain natural ingredients, like white vinegar and baking soda. Instead of flushing toilets, outhouses are commonly used. This is true of the most conservative Amish, the Swartzentruber Amish. Interestingly, even communities that have indoor plumbing, sometimes still use outhouses.
What is a typical Amish lunch? ›
Traditional Amish food includes dishes like tasty roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes & gravy, seasoned vegetables, fresh bread, and homemade jam. The Amish are also known for excellent baked goods, especially pies, cookies, breads, cakes, and fry pies.
What do Amish eat for breakfast? ›
13 Heartwarming Amish Breakfasts
- 01 of 13. Amish Friendship Bread. ...
- 02 of 13. Baked Oatmeal. ...
- 03 of 13. Cheesy Amish Breakfast Casserole. ...
- 04 of 13. Mennonite Orange Muffins. ...
- 05 of 13. Amish Friendship Chocolate Bread. ...
- 06 of 13. Lemon Poppy Seed Amish Friendship Bread. ...
- 07 of 13. Amish Hash Browns. ...
- 08 of 13. Amish Sourdough Pancakes.
So, when it comes to wondering if the Amish do eat pork, the answer is yes. It's also true that Amish people are allowed to eat anything unless they belong to a specific sub-denomination that has food restrictions. Amish pork dishes aren't too dissimilar to those found in most American homes.
Do Amish eat fried chicken? ›
"When I visited Amish country in Penn. I fell in love with the Fried Chicken they made. Here is one of their recipes. Very tasty!"
