Earlier much emphasis was laid on purity of food as the Vedic Indians were of opinion that proper mental make up of a person depended on the purity of food. From the Sutras it is known that every respectable person or Arva both in the morning and in the evening was expected to take his meals after cleaning his hands, feet and mouth.

Apastamba prescribes that the Aryas i.e. the members of the three varnas purified by a bath may prepare food for Vaisvadeva. They should stop speaking, coughing or spitting with their faces turned towards the food that is being prepared and should wash their hands with water on touching their hair, limbs or garment. Sudras can cook food if they are supervised by Aryas. Sudras were expected to shave their hair and beard, pare their nails and bathe before being permitted to cook food for the higher castes. Rice was well washed before being boiled for food.

In the Vedic period many implements and utensils were used in cooking. Some of these were made of clay while others were made of metals. Leather vessels were used for storing liquids. In the Sutra period besides earthenware vessels of copper, iron and stone were in common use. Sometimes vessels made of gold and wood were also used. In the Apastamba Dharma Sutra, a reference to a copper plate with gold in the center is given. The Indo-Aryans were so particular about the cleanliness of utensils used for taking meals that Apastamba prescribes that an earthen vessel not used for cooking may be used as a plate for meals. But if it had been used for cooking it may be used as a plate for food after being baked in fire. An iron plate scoured within ashes is pure and even a wooden plate to may be used provided it is thoroughly scraped from inside.