Ideal Plank Co. Broiling Plank, circa 1910

Wooden broiling planks provided American homemakers in the early 20th century with a way to prepare a protein-packed meal. The wooden plank placed over low heat on a grill rather than in a hot oven broiled meat slowly and reduced the meat's fat content. Before cooking, homemakers soaked the broiling plank in water to avoid any chance on fire.