In the medieval world, clay was used in homes and food storage pits to regulate temperature, keeping food cooler in summer and retaining heat longer in winter.

Medieval people used "stone cooling shelves," thick slabs of stone built into shaded walls, particularly north-facing sides, to absorb cooler temperatures and preserve food like milk, butter, and meats.

Medieval people used "friction glaze" to polish coarse clay cookware by hand with smooth stones, bone tools, or hard wood, creating a burnished surface that reduced food sticking.