Haybox cooking

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Haybox cooking
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chrisico

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Location: nottinghamshire

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 4:08 pm Post subject: Haybox cooking
Has anybody tried cooking like this? I made a pot of veg soup today by bringing all the ingredients to the boil and then turning off the gas and covering the lid of the pan with folded tea towels and 2 hours later even the lentils were cooked! I was so chuffed! What an energy saving! Think I might try it next time I make a casserole or curry.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 4:13 pm Post subject:
Should work well with a casserole. I remember seeing an article in permaculture magazine once about someone converting one of their kitchen units into a "hay box" oven with the aid of some expanded polystyrene and cardboard (I think)

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 4:16 pm Post subject:
Is this so far off using a slo cooker/crock pot?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 4:19 pm Post subject:
Exactly the same except the energy usage is supposed to be a lot lower.

chrisico

Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 23
Location: nottinghamshire

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 4:32 pm Post subject:

I think it minght be a good way to cook if you were on holiday say in a tent ( needing all the hot food you could get,I expect!).
I googled haybox cooking and it said it could be left all day or over night to cook pulses or grains. In fact the bigger the quantity the better,something to do with bigger masses holding heat for longer.

No money in it for anybody so not promoted,or am I being cynical?

bagpuss

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 10507
Location: cambridge

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 4:41 pm Post subject:
I get the impression this is a manner of cooking frequently used in the middle east and north africa. They cook something to a certain point wrap it well and leave it to reach room temprature and then eat it. I guess if you live in a very warm country eating hot food might not be so tempting

alison
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 7:33 pm Post subject:
Tupperware (yes I know plastic, but it is how I first found out about it) have a rice cooker where you bring the rice to the boil, put in the cooker, which looks like a sieve above a bowl, and leave for 20 minutes for perfect rice, with no extra power. It works really well.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 7:34 pm Post subject:
Do you have a pic Alison? I am very, very unreliable at cooking rice.

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 7:36 pm Post subject:

alison wrote:

Tupperware (yes I know plastic, but it is how I first found out about it) have a rice cooker where you bring the rice to the boil, put in the cooker, which looks like a sieve above a bowl, and leave for 20 minutes for perfect rice, with no extra power. It works really well.

I wonder how many people here can cook rice well? I bring to the boil transfer to the lower ring for a few minutes, turn off and leave the lid on to let the rice cook through. Much the same priniciple really.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 7:37 pm Post subject:
How long does that take, Jema?

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 7:44 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

How long does that take, Jema?

Remember rice benefits from standing time, after about 5mins on low, 10 mins off, remove lid, stand for another 5-10mins. It really does not have to be very precise. Main thing with rice is leave the stuff alone, don't take the lids of early to look at it, and for heavens sake don't stir it.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 7:49 pm Post subject:
Well, that's at least two things I constantly do wrong

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28237
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 8:04 pm Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

Well, that's at least two things I constantly do wrong

Took me years to learn to cook rice

alison
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Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 8:35 pm Post subject:
I'll dig it out and do a picture.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Feb 18, 05 9:58 pm Post subject:
Lovely, thanks Ali. Of course I'm asking because we might be able to adapt something

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