The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-08-21
LESSONS IN /
DOMESTIC SCIENCE |
Prepared by the
Agricultural Department
WARRINGTON, D. G.
HOW TO MAKE A FlRELEsS
COOKER.

In all the talk that dreless COOKING
has recently created throughout the
country, there has been little or no
mention of the fact that the principle
has been known almost as long as
cooking itself, and that its applica-
ton Is within the reach of every
household Every woman who wraps
bottle OF water in flannel in or
der, to keep it hot uses the principle,
and everyone who has a kettle and
box big enough to PIT it in, can
make fireless cooker. It's use means
less fuel burned and more liberty for
the housewife.
Fireless cooking is convenient but
| Inaccurate term. 1t does not mean that
one can cook without fire, but. that
one can cook with less fire. The
food has first to be well heated in
the ordinary way. 1t is then SO thor
oughly protected that the heat does
not escape for long time. In con-
| sequence the food continues to cook
long after the FIRE is out in the range
and the housewife gone about her
other affairs
There are many good tireless cook
ers--or to speak more accurately,
cooking boxes-on the market, but it
of buying it. The first necessity is
the kettle to hold the food. The size
of this naturally determines the size
of the box in which it is to be placed.
Between the kettle and the sides OF
the box there should be plenty OF room
for the packing which prevei is the
heat from escaping. For example, a
shoe box measuring 10 by 10 by 2s
inches Is perhaps as easily obtained
as any otLer kind. This may be di-
vided into two compartments each
holding kettle capable of containing
six or eight quarts. In general, it may
be said that for a kettle of this size,
the box should measure about fifteen
inches every way
The question Of the material to be
used in packing the space between
the kettle and the box is an impor-
tant one. Asbestos and mineral wool
are undoubtedly excellent, but they
are also undoubtedly expensive. Sat
isfactory substitutes can be had at
little or no cost. After experiments
ing with hay, excelsior, ground cork
and paper, investigators from the
United States department of agricuL
ture decided that crumpled paper was
the most practical. 1t not only holds
the heat well, but is clean and odor-
less, and does not require cloth
lining for the box. Single sheets of
newspaper should be crushed between
the hands and then pounded down
inches deep over the bottom of the
box. Then the kettle should be
placed in the center and crushed pa.
per packed as solidly as possible all
around it, a vacant space about two
inches high being left at the top OF the
box. For this space a cushion of
some heavy goods like denim and
be provided If the packing is done
carefully and solidly, the nest" will
keep its shape and the kettle can be
: removed and replaced without trouble.
The box itself should have hinged
cover fastened down securely in front
by some kind of clasp. An ordinary
2 clamp window fastener answers this
purpose admirably. In order to
get the best results the kettles OF
other utensils should have straight
| sides and fiat covers with deep rims
1 shutting well down, but this is not
indispensable. 1t should be remem
bered, however, that every little thing
a no matter how trivial it may seem
/ which aids in retaining the heat Is
an advantage.
1t is obvious that the "fireless cook
er" is better fitted for long, slow
cooking than for articles that need
hot fire. 1t does particularly well
therefore, with cereals and soups
and soup is valuable addition to
a ones diet too much neglected in this
= country.
= Another advantage which the boz
possesses springs from the fact that
the protracted cooking which 1t makes
feasible does much to render the
4 cheaper and tougher cuts OF meat al
palatable as the more expensive. There
is, in fact, no doubt that with little
n forethought and experience, a skilfu
II cook can save fuel and time by fire
less cooking"
AS In other things. experience Is
the best teacher. There are, however
} one or two fundamental rules which
the beginner will do well to bear il
mind. In the first place it must bt
remembered that the more heat tha
l. is put into the cooker, the more will
be retained to do the cooking. The
box, therefore, gives the best results
when 1t is filed to it's capacity. L
I this is not possible other materia
a which holds heat well should be pu
in to fill the vacant space. Severa
: ways Of doing this will readily suggest
S themselves. For instance, a smaller
. kettle containing the food may b.
placed in the large one that is partly
, filed with boiling water: or a number
S Of dishes may be put in together
4. | Uhop thic Is done hpuavor caro rnuO