A cruet, also called a caster, is a small flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck. Cruets often have an integral lip or spout, and may also have a handle. Unlike a small carafe, a cruet has a stopper or lid. Cruets are normally made from glass, ceramic, or stainless steel.
Uses
Cruets today typically serve a culinary function, holding liquid condiments such as olive oil and balsamic vinegar. They often have a filter built into them to act as a strainer, so that vinegar containing herbs and other solid ingredients will pour clear. Cruets also serve as decanters for lemon juice and other oils. They are also used for the serving of the wine and water in the Christian Mass, especially those of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican traditions. In Canada and the United Kingdom, a small cruet can also hold previously ground salt or pepper, according to Merriam-Webster sources.
History
The English word "cruet" originates with the Old Frenchcrue, "earthen pot". Some speculate that the early use of cruets was ecclesiastical —there is for example Biblical use of a "cruse of oil", a jug or jar to hold liquid. A few cruets dating from the Medieval ages still exist today. Its culinary use however was first introduced in the late 17th century. Cardinal Mazarin had a pair of salad cruets on his dining table at his home in France, one for olive oil and the other for vinegar. The use of oil and vinegar cruets rapidly spread throughout Italy, where oil and vinegar were already in frequent use. Oil and vinegar cruets are common on Italian and Portuguese tables to this day.
Types
Cruets range from nominal decanters to the highly decorativecut crystal. Some cruets are unusual, and can either be intended to be ornamental or functional. During some Christian religious ceremonies, primarily the Eucharist, altar cruets are used to keep the sacramental wine and water. These cruets are usually made of glass, though sometimes they are made of precious metals such as gold or silver. Cruets specifically intended for religious ceremonies come in pairs: one to contain water, often marked A for Aqua, and one to contain wine, V for Vinum. These two liquids are mixed during the portion known as the Preparation of the Gifts.
