Anyone used a Waterless Cooker?

Jo_anne_2

I have just acquired a Kitchen Craft Waterless Cooker dating from the early 1960's via freecycle. It has come with all the original instructions and it claims that a whole meal from roast meat to dessert can be cooked on one gas ring. It seems an interesting retro money saving gadget but I wondered if anyone on this forum has ever seen one, has used one or can offer any advice? Thanks

whatatwit

Sounds intriguing....have you tried it yet?

Jo_anne_2

No, not tried it yet. It looks similar to a pressure cooker but but appears to work at atmospheric pressure. There are several layers and containers inside for the different parts of the meal. I might try it tomorrow, if I am feeling brave enough

culpepper

I've got one.Mine is quite big and probably 1950's.
You can cook a chicken and veg and a pudding all in the one pan . We use it when camping mostly so it hasn't been used much in the last couple of years.
I got mine out of a skip.
You do have to make sure you cover puddings etc that are in the top tray,in a layer of foil to stop them getting to soggy and you can regulate the heat by putting a 2pence piece under one edge if it looks like it's getting too hot.
Mine has a seperate heavy base for use on a gas ring.

Jo_anne_2

culpepper wrote: »

I've got one.Mine is quite big and probably 1950's.
You can cook a chicken and veg and a pudding all in the one pan ....
Mine has a seperate heavy base for use on a gas ring.

Hi culpepper.

Thanks for the hints. Mine has got a heavy base too but the guy who gave it to me said it was for an electric hob. I assumed I could use it without the base on my gas hob, but perhaps I should have a different base for gas? Ah well, I can give it a try. When you cooked the chicken, did you put fat in the base of the pan? The instructions say use 8 oz of fat/dripping when roasting a joint which sounds an awful lot!

culpepper

If your pan has a heavy base to begin with then it should be fine on gas. Mine has the lighter aluminium base (for electric)and I have to add the extra base if using gas.
I have used mine on the ceramic hob and on a camping cooker and it has been fine on both.
The fat is just to brown the chicken. Mine has instructions which advise browning(more like frying really) using fat and then pouring off most of the fat and adding some water ,standing the chicken or meat on the internal grid to finish cooking(I think the grid is just so the chicken doesnt stick to the bottom. I usually put it in with the veg round it . I stick potatoes in the perforated pan that sits above the chicken and then use two half pans above that for a desert.
You can cook cakes,biscuits and bread in it too by using no water at all. You must make sure the valve is open so that steam can escape. I stick a match in the valve to keep it open.

Jo_anne_2

Thanks culpepper I have got a better idea how it works now so feel more confident to have a go. Thanks for your help