How to Use a Thermal Cooker

[@enna4986]

Wow! My hubby could cook in this! I have got to check this out for a bigger one potentially. Thankyou for becoming SUCH a blessing to me since I found you!!! Bless you

[@foodprepguide]

I'm so glad! It's truly our pleasure! ❤️

[@susanpumphrey354]

Excellent info! Thanks for the 12 hour tip, I did not know that bit. We have two of those exact thermal cookers, hubby and oldest son spend a lot of time in deer camp and they come in very handy. We also like to use them for keeping food warm for a potluck.

[@NatashaAllisonMissionAFamily]

Thanks for the video. I forgot about mine and should take it out and use it on those busy days. It's spring time on our side of the globe and very busy in the garden! My thermal cooker has two removable inner pots that fit into each other. One large and one smaller on top. It's convenient as I can place the pots onto the stove to warm up and then place into the body of the cooker. The best part is that there is no babysitting of food. Great for taking a dish to potluck! I can cook two different dishes simultaneously, such as curry (chili) and rice. I love it for overnight breakfast dishes. I found recipes for cake and other unusual dishes that I haven't tried yet. I should have a look at those and experiment a bit.

[@foodprepguide]

Ooh, cake? That sounds worth investigating. :) I've long wondered if there's a way to do bread-at least like a quick bread. I need do more experimenting myself!

[@NatashaAllisonMissionAFamily]

@@foodprepguide Bread! Hmmm. I will have to look into that myself! Not sure if it will have the lovely crust. Happy experimenting!

[@crfoat]

You need to look at thermal cookers like Saratoga Jacks that you can use without pouring out the contents and losing the heat. Other brands include Thermos Shuttle Chef, Tayama and Supentown

[@foodprepguide]

Thanks for the recommendations! 🙂

[@Carol-q7m]

Can you post the recipe for the Cascadia filling?

[@foodprepguide]

I’m not sure you what you mean? Cascadia?

[@cathysterling1237]

I just want to say Thank you for being so explaineful on everything. I had never heard of thermal pots before. They would be SO Helpful. Now again where would I acquire one? And thank you for your time and help.❤😊😊

[@foodprepguide]

Aw you're welcome! 😊 For future reference, you can find links to products used in the description box of the video. :) Here's the link to our favorite thermal cooker: amzn.to/3rXnWeu

[@timothybuchanan1611]

We are a family of two so our meals tend to be rather small. What can I do to increase the thermal mass inside the cooker for preparing smaller meals? Could I vacuum seal a container of gravel, heat that up in hot water and then put that in the container with my food? That was just a thought. What ideas do you have to help me out?

[@foodprepguide]

Have you already purchased a thermal cooker? The best thing to do would be to buy a smaller thermal cooker or even an XL thermos, then you wouldn’t have to fiddle with any thermal mass issues.

[@Creativefilms_Music]

Just use what ever small pot you have (best without a long handle), fill it at least 2/3 full and boil food as in video. Then take same pot off fire and immediately nest in at least 4 inches of insulation (like in a box or basket of towels or rags, or straw even). Put a thick pillow on top and you have a home made thermal cooker. This can be done for large or small pots and large or small family use. No need to buy a new commercial product. Thermal cooking has been used for many generations this way.

[@Creativefilms_Music]

I’ve used thermal cooking for decades but there is NO need to buy an extra container. Any pot with a loop type handle like the pot on the stove in the video (instead of long handle) can be used to boil the food and then be nested directly in a basket of straw or towels or blankets or even crushed newspaper which is at least 4 inches thick on all sides (including the top). Put a thick pillow on the top of nested pot and then thermal cook….no need to buy a specific new thermal product. Transferring boiling food into a different pot looses heat. Rule one what ever pot you use must be at least 2/3 full so you have minimal airspace - which looses heat faster. Rule two don’t lift the lid to check once food is boiled - again to avoid heat loss. Rule three insulate all sides around and top and bottom. This is all outlined in a now out of print book by Dr. Heidi Kirschner called Fireless Cookery. I raised a family on her book. She raised a family using thermal cooking while being an active pediatrician!

[@foodprepguide]

Definitely! We have a “hay box” made out of a cooler. I have that book - it’s excellent! 👏

[@Creativefilms_Music]

There are so many products being sold now created from what people used to do for free out of their homes. a little bit of generational knowledge shared could save people on a tight budget. You are doing your part in that.

[@brandytaylor2840]

Im new to mixes. Do u have any links to any of ur dinner in a jar mixes? Or where i could get some ideas? Working on diversifying my kitchen n pantry

[@foodprepguide]

We have a "Meal in a Jar" Meal Plan here: foodprepguide.com/shop/food-storage/food-storage-meals-meal-in-jar/ And here are the "Meal in a Jar" style recipes we have on the blog so far: Pear Pancakes - foodprepguide.com/pear-pancakes/ Lentil Tacos - foodprepguide.com/lentil-taco-filling/ Chicken Chili Mac - foodprepguide.com/chicken-chili-mac/ Hope that helps! :)

[@MeMe-cd1wy]

My Stanley thermal cooker does not stay hot for 7 hours even though I put boiling water in it to preheat it for 5 minutes before I put boiling food in it.

[@foodprepguide]

Wow!! That stinks. 😔 Mine does!

[@gidget8717]

I'm thinking if you need it to stay hot longer, (or are unsure when you want to eat) you could either wrap it in a heavy towel or set it in a cooler. A $5 styrofoam cooler should extend the time quite a bit.

[@foodprepguide]

I bet it would. Good idea!

[@gidget8717]

I'm going to get one. We camp a lot.

[@MiWri]

Soooo....you need gas or electricity to start everything off.

[@foodprepguide]

In a situation without power, you’d use a grill or even just a Dutch oven over a campfire.

[@raiseyourworld5324]

Can you please do a video on this cooker using only fresh, natural ingredients? Not many places do pre prepared dried ready meal...maybe just as well, cos heaven knows what is used these days. Sill amazes me how many Americans rely on processed foods

[@foodprepguide]

I'll see what I can do. :) While those ingredients were dried (so not fresh), that was a homemade mix using all whole foods that we dehydrated ourselves, then we added the can of ground venison (harvested & processed ourselves). There was nothing but all-natural ingredients in that pot. :) That's why I love homemade pre-made mixes-I can fill my shelves with shelf-stable preserves & know exactly what's in them! ❤️

[@raiseyourworld5324]

@@foodprepguide Oooh apologies, sorry, thought was a store bought dry mix, guess due label on jar 🙄