Thermal bags for cooking

balabooberlies

Okay

So not really getting on with my slow cooker, probably because it is too old.

Am quite happy to start the cooking process of and then leave it to cook over the ensuing day.

My Crueset type pot is rather large so need large thermal bag.

Does anyone have experience or hints and tips.

Many thanks

Bala

joedenise

There are loads on Pinterest if you use that. Also just google thermal cooking bag.

This was the first one I clicked on and there is a pattern to download (which I haven't looked at) and written instructions.

https://www.underthechokotree.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=383:making-a-fabric-stored-heat-cooker-wonderbag&catid=36:cooking&Itemid=54

Hope that helps.

balabooberlies

Thank you but as shameful as it is to admit, I cannot sew.

It is on my list for courses to join in the new year as eventually would like to be adept at soft furnishings.

And my biggest dream is 'quilting'. But I know that I have to start at the beginning.

joedenise

That makes it a bit more difficult then.

Do you know anyone who could make one for you, a friend or family member perhaps, if you got the material and paid them something to make it. Think it would probably be very expensive to get someone to make one for you.

If not, perhaps it will have to wait until you have done a bit of the sewing course. At the end of the day once you know how to thread a machine and sew a straight line then the rest follows quite easily.

As a stopgap do you have an old duvet you could substitute for the thermal bag? Don't know how successful it would be but might be worth a try, perhaps with something cheap like lentil soup?

Mojisola

balabooberlies wrote: »

So not really getting on with my slow cooker, probably because it is too old.

Am quite happy to start the cooking process of and then leave it to cook over the ensuing day.

My Crueset type pot is rather large so need large thermal bag.

If it's a choice between buying a new (or second-hand) slow cooker and buying a ready-made thermal bag, the SC will probably be cheaper.

[Deleted User]

The commercially made ones are called WONDERBAGS so if you google that you should find one to buy. I have both a slow cooker and a wonderbag (home made and it was easy but I have a sewing machine) both of which work very well. The other option if you don't sew is to make a HAYBOX which is what people used in WW2 when fuel was scarce and sometimes not available or make from an old duvet a base cushion and a giant tea cosy to cover your hot pan of food, both will be in pattern form online so you can get precise instructions for making them. Hope that helps.

Fen1

Hi. Perhaps we can help with the SC? What exactly is the problem? Is it losing heat? Is the food sticking to the pot? Did it used to cook well but now isn't, or has it always been problematic?

balabooberlies

Thank you all

As buying a Wonderbag is out of budget at the moment will have to put it on back burner ('scuse the pun) although sounds like a great idea.

The SC belongs to a friend and is about 20 years old.

I think the problem is me, cannot get used to having NOT to 'cook'. I.e....watching and messing about all the time. Also think I am overfilling it.

I started up another thread about SCooking.....and have been looking at BBC recipes but it's really off-puting when people make comments such as....'I can make that in 45 minutes or less'.

Anyway going to persevere and try to change my mindset/ habits.

balabooberlies

Thank you

Love the idea of a Haybag. Will look it up:T

herbily

joedenise wrote: »

As a stopgap do you have an old duvet you could substitute for the thermal bag? Don't know how successful it would be but might be worth a try, perhaps with something cheap like lentil soup?

This, as an experiment. I've done this myself with an old duvet and a cast iron casserole dish, and a handy cardboard box - bring food to boil, then (carefully) wrap casserole in old duvet (and I used an old duvet cover as well in case of spills) and shoved the whole lot in a cardboard box for the rest of the day. It's not glamorous and won't win any prizes for looks, but it does work!

balabooberlies

Wow

It's amazing how resourceful everyone is.....thank you