Differences

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--- reth:retained-heat [2025/12/05 05:05] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ reth:retained-heat [2025/12/19 11:33] (current) – dave
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 <caption>
-Making a retained heat cooker from insulation board: cutting the board with a heated knife.
+_Making a retained heat cooker from insulation board: cutting the board with a heated knife._
 </caption>
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 <caption>
-Another way of doing it – an insulated basket.
+_Another way of doing it – an insulated basket._
 </caption>
@@ Line 67: / Line 67: @@
 <caption>
-Adding a pot of food, with lid.
+_Adding a pot of food, with lid._
 </caption>
@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 </figure>
 </WRAP>
 ## What can I do?
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 <caption>
-Home-made insulation board ‘haybox’ in use.
+_Home-made insulation board ‘haybox’ in use._
 </caption>
@@ Line 131: / Line 128: @@
 <caption>
-Finished meal.
+_Finished meal._
 </caption>
@@ Line 160: / Line 157: @@
 <caption>
-A real haybox – i.e. a box with hay in it – used regularly by friends of ours. Put hay underneath and around the sides, add the pot, put hay on top, then a lid - works a treat.
+_A real haybox – i.e. a box with hay in it – used regularly by friends of ours. Put hay underneath and around the sides, add the pot, put hay on top, then a lid - works a treat._
 </caption>
@@ Line 186: / Line 183: @@
 | Chicken	| 6 min	| 2-3 h |
 | Beef	| 13 min	| 3-4 h |
+Source: [Thermal Cooking Weblog](https://thermalcooker.wordpress.com/)
+<WRAP center centeralign>
+<figure>
+![](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/retained-heat-thermal-cooker.jpeg)
+<caption>
+_There are commercial ‘thermal cookers’ that continue to cook food for up to 8 hours after being switched off._
+</caption>
+</figure>
+</WRAP>
+**Using a thermos flask**
+For cooking small amounts (say a single portion of rice or pasta), a quality thermos flask can be used in a similar way. The principle is the same as the haybox, but as the flask itself can’t be heated, follow these steps: pre-heat the flask with boiling water; bring rice/pasta to the boil in a saucepan; empty the flask; carefully pour (use a jam funnel if you have one) the contents of the saucepan into the flask; seal and leave to cook. Don’t hold the flask in your hand when pouring, in case you spill the boiling water. Don’t forget that rice and pasta expand when they cook so don’t fill the flask to the brim, and be careful when opening in case the flask has become pressurised.
+**Integrated cooking**
+Retained heat cooking can be used in combination with solar cookers and rocket stoves. This combination enables you to cook at any time, rain or shine, without fossil fuels. See [solar cookers](https://knowledge.growingthecommons.org/doku.php/solr/solar_cookers) for more information.
+<WRAP center centeralign>
+<figure>
+![](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/retained-heat-fireless.jpg)
+<caption>
+_It’s not a new idea – this is a vintage ‘fireless cooker’ from the 1920s._
+</caption>
+</figure>
+</WRAP>
+## Further resources
+- [The Fireless Cookbook](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/60598/60598-h/60598-h.htm) - free book from Gutenberg Project
+- [Instructables](https://www.instructables.com/hay-box-cooker/) - how to make a haybox cooker
+- [Low-tech Magazine](https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2014/07/if-we-insulate-our-houses-why-not-our-cooking-pots/) - if we insulate our homes, why not our cooking pots?
+- [Mr D](https://mrdscookware.com/recipes) - retained heat recipes
+- [Our Tiny Homestead](https://www.ourtinyhomestead.com/haybox-cooking.html) - haybox cooking
+- [Solar Cookers International](https://solarcooking.fandom.com/wiki/Heat-retention_cooking) - heat-retention cooking
+- [Thermal Cooker Recipes](https://thermalcookerrecipes.com/)
+- [ThermalCooking.net](https://www.thermalcooking.net/)
+- [Thermos Cooking](https://thermoscooking.com/) - cooking with a thermos flask
+## Specialist curators of this topic