The Wonder of the Wonderbag

I found something unrelated to crochet and knitting, but very much related to living the slow life! When I first saw it, I was doubtful. I asked for feedback in the Facebook camping groups, and the massive positive response convinced me to buy one. What a game changer! I love it so much, that I became a distribution agent. So, what is the fuss all about?

The Wonderbag was developed by Sarah Collins as a solution to the South African energy shortage forcing blackouts across the country – with the aim of allowing families to continue cooking daily meals even with the absence of power. It is a non-electric slow cooker that uses heat-retention technology to continue cooking food once your pot or pan has been removed from the heat source.

Heat retention cooking, also known as thermal cooking, is a method of preparing food that relies on heat retention rather than continuous application of direct heat. This technique has been used for centuries in various forms across different cultures and regions. The primary goal of heat retention cooking is to minimize energy consumption while ensuring that food continues to cook slowly and evenly.

Here’s how heat retention cooking typically works:

1. Initial Heat Source: The cooking process begins by bringing the food to a boil or simmer on a conventional stove, campfire, or any other heat source. This initial heating phase is essential to ensure that the food reaches a safe temperature to kill harmful bacteria and parasites.
2. Insulation: Once the food has been heated adequately, it is placed in an insulated container. Traditionally, this might be a well-sealed pot or clay pot with a tight-fitting lid. Modern methods often use specialized heat retention cookers, such as the Wonderbag, which is a heavily insulated bag.
3. Continued Cooking: The insulated container retains heat effectively, allowing the food to continue cooking slowly even after being removed from the heat source. The retained heat inside the container continues to cook the food over an extended period, often several hours or more.

Heat retention cooking offers several advantages:

1. Energy Efficiency: Since the cooking process relies on the initial heating phase and then insulation, it consumes less energy compared to continuous cooking on a stove or in an oven. This can lead to significant energy savings over time.
2. Convenience: Once the food is placed in the insulated container, there is no need for constant monitoring or stirring, making it a convenient cooking method, especially for busy individuals.
3. Improved Flavor and Texture: The slow and gentle cooking process can enhance the flavor and tenderness of many dishes. It allows flavors to meld together and can tenderize tougher cuts of meat.
4. Portability: Heat retention cookers like the Wonderbag are portable and can be used for outdoor cooking, camping, or during power outages.
5. Reduced Risk of Overcooking: Since the temperature decreases gradually in the insulated container, there is a lower risk of overcooking or burning the food.

Heat retention cooking is particularly well-suited for preparing dishes like stews, soups, rice, legumes, and tough cuts of meat. However, it may not be suitable for recipes that require precise temperature control or specific cooking times, such as baking or certain types of frying.

Overall, heat retention cooking is an eco-friendly and energy-efficient cooking method that has gained popularity for its ability to save energy and produce flavorful, well-cooked dishes.

Even if you aren’t impacted by power cuts, this is still a valuable asset. You can knit or crochet while the food is cooking! You don’t have to watch and stir; the food can’t burn. That alone, is enough reason to BUY YOURS NOW!

There are three sizes to choose from:

• Small: pots up to 2 L
• Medium: pots up to 6 L
• Large: pots up to 10 L