Boiling stones: Native Americans made “boiling stones” from soapstone. Cooking was done in a small pit lined with a thick animal skin. A boiling stone would be placed in a nearby fire until it was very hot. A stick was then poked through the hole in the stone, and the stone was lifted from the fire, carried to the cooking pit, and dropped into the stew.
Soapstone does not burn or melt at wood-burning temperatures, and it has the ability to absorb heat, hold heat, and radiate heat. These properties make it an excellent material for making wood-burning stoves. The stove becomes hot and radiates that heat into the room. It also holds heat, keeping the coals hot and often allowing the owner to add more wood without the need for kindling.
Whiskystones are small soapstone cubes that are refrigerated and then used to chill a glass of whisky. They do not melt and dilute the drink. Since soapstone has a very high specific heat capacity and changes temperature very slowly, a few stones can keep a drink cold for 30 minutes or more.
