Haybox (aka Thermal) Cooking
I’m always on the lookout for methods of alternative cooking, so I was quite intrigued when I learned about the haybox cooker. I was also surprised that this new-to-me idea is actually a very old method of cooking! Haybox cookers (also spelled hay box) are sometimes referred to as wonder boxes, fireless cookers, or thermal cookers. They cook food by using retained heat. In other words, the food is partially cooked first, then allowed to finish cooking in an insulated container.
Early haybox cookers were wooden boxes which used hay as insulation. People still use hay, but wool fleece is popular too. The box itself can be anything from wood to a thermal bag. They tend to be susceptible to moisture build-up, so probably the only thing that wouldn’t last long would be cardboard. Dan made my haybox from an old travel cooler and leftover foam board from our pantry insulation project.
The cooler is from Dan’s trucking days. Plugs into a cigarette lighter and keeps food cool without needing to replace ice. |
We had quite a few foam board scraps left from our pantry upgrade. As you can see, he cut them to fit a particular pot. |
Two more pieces of foam board cover the top of the pot. |
I bought this little camping stove years ago and can no longer find the website. So much more convenient than campfire cooking, although it constantly has to be fed to keep it going. That’s why it pairs nicely with the haybox cooker!
My recipe for rice is one cup brown rice and one pint of bone broth. |
I had no idea about timing the cooking. Some sources say one hour, some say several hours. |
Then I covered it up, closed the lid and waited. It’s hard not to peek, but every time the cooker is opened heat is lost, so it’s best not to open it if at all possible.
If you’re interested in more, there are tons of websites and videos on haybox cookers, all easy to find with a simple search. There’s also a free cook book by Margaret J. Mitchell, entitled The Fireless Cook Book. It was originally published in 1913, but is now public domain and available for download at the Internet Archive. Amazon has an inexpensive paperback option, which I recently ordered, along with a more recent publication, Fireless Cookers Haybox Cookers & Retained Heat Cookers by George Eccleston. I ordered it too and will give you a review of both books soon.
Source: https://www.5acresandadream.com/2020/11/haybox-aka-thermal-cooking.html
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