How many times have you heard the term ‘bakers dozen’?

This phrase actually means thirteen or, more rarely, fourteen. Have you ever thought about where this phrase actually came from and why? I had a superb history lesson while visiting a farmers market with a friend who is a Baker by trade.

This phrase is believed to of originated from the practice of medieval English bakers giving an extra loaf when selling a dozen in order to avoid being penalized for selling short weight. England has a long history of regulation of trade and bakers were regulated by a trade guild called The Worshipful Company of Bakers, which dates back to the reign of Henry II (1154-89). The law that caused bakers to be so wary was the Assize of Bread and Ale. In the 1266 Henry III revived a ancient statute that regulated the price of bread according to the price of wheat. Bakers or brewers who gave short measure could be fined, pilloried or flogged.  In 1477 the Chronicle of London reported that a baker called John Mund was ’schryved upon the pyllory’ for selling bread that was underweight.

Whenever bakers sold twelve loaves they then added another identical loaf to make thirteen. However the Assize of bread & ale regulated weight not number. So whenever the bakers sold bread in any quantity they were adding something extra to make sure the total weight wasn’t short. The addition was called the inbread or vantage loaf. When selling in quantity to middlemen or wholesalers they would add an extra loaf or two, but when selling single loaves to individual customers they would offer a small extra piece of bread instead.

The phase itself dates back to at least 1599, and by 1864 Hotten’s Slang Dictionary shows this definition for Baker’s dozen:

“This consists of thirteen or fourteen; the surplus number, called the inbread, being thrown in for fear of incurring the penalty for short weight.”

So while you ponder on the thought of your daily loaf and how nice it would be to get one extra today why not make sure you store your bread correctly to optimise the life of your loaf.  There is such an array of bread bins today in all shapes and sizes with various attachments upon the bin itself.   

I love the idea of having a chopping board incorporated with your bread bin so you do not have to go hunting for a chopping board to cut up your fresh loaf of bread.  The typoon bread bin with chopping board is great and what fantastic colours. 

 What combination of items would you attach to a bread bin to make your life easier?