Evening star., 1927-07-22


Ing. 1t is a labor saver at any time,
but in Summer it is especially desir-
able. 1t may be used either with or
without a radiator or soapstone. The
principle of the firelesS cooker is to
retain the heat obtained by first boil
ing the food for few minutes. 1t is
then placed in the cooker, which does
not allow the heat to escape. The
food must be heated in the same re.
cepiAcle in which it is placed in the
cooker. This receptacle must have a
tight cover and be moved from the
fire to the cooker as quickly as pos.
sible, otherwise the heat will escape.
The radiators or soapstones are used
in the cooker with the food when a
higher temperature is needed or
longer cooking is desired. They may
be bought at a hardware store or in
the housekeeping section of a depart
ment store.
A fireless cooker will also save
time. While food is cooking the
housewife may be occupied with other
duties without fear of the food burn.
ing. Many foods cooked for a longer
time at a low temperature have a
finer flavor and are more wholesome
than when cooked on a stove at a
higher temperature.
To Make the Cooker.
OF course, you can buy fireless
cooker IL you want to, but it is easy
to make one which will give good
service. Select tightly built wooden
box. a large tin lard can or a new
garbage can for the outside container.
This must be large enough TO allow
at leeast four inches of packing all
around the nest. You could use
box long enough to contain two COM
partments. In this case there should
be at least six inches Of packing be.
tween the two nests and two cushions
To cover each nest separately so that
one utensil may be removed without
disturbing the other. The nest, to
contain the utensil of hot food, must
be considered next. If no radiator or
hot stone is to be used, this nest may
he made of strong pasteboard cylir-
drical in shape and as snug as pos
sible to allow the cooking utensil to
be moved in and out. If too large,
the air space will cool the food. @The
cardboard forming this cylindrical
nest should be Tapped and fastened
tightly. If a radiator Is to be used, a
metal nest must be used. A tin buck
ct will do, or, better still, have tin
ner make galvanized iron one deep
enough to contain a radiator and the
cooker utensil. This metal utensil
must be wrapped with asbestos to
prevent the hot stone from scorching
or burning the packing.
For packing between the nest and
outer container some material which
heat will not pass through quickly
must be used. First, line the box or
nfh he. T,;x q
to keep out cold air. Lint cotton,
wool, shredded newspaper or excelsior
are good for packing.
The packing should first be placed |
In the outside container to a depth of
inches, then place the cardboard or
bestos for the bottom of the nest. |
Next place the cardboard cylinder or
the asbestos-covered can and hold |
steady while pressing the packing |
tightly around it, leaving no air |
spaces. When this has reached the |
top of the nest, cut a piece OF card. |
board to fit the space. cutting out a |
circle to open the nest. This card |
board cover should be fastened secure |
ly - the nest by pasted strips of |
cloth or heavy paper. 1t is we'll to
make a paper cover TO keep the card
board clean and hide the pasted strips |
on top.
The space between the top of the |
nest and the cover of the outside con-
tainer must be filled with cushion or |
pad. Make this the exact size of the |
space and stuff with the packing ma
terial. 1t should be at least inches
thick and should fit against the top
tightly enough to cause pressure when
the cover is closed. IL a box is used,
the cover should be on hinges with a
hook to fasten it down.
II wooden container is used, 1t
will be better looking IL stained or
painted dull, dark brown or green.
The cooker will be complete when
casters have been put on the bottom
to allow it to be moved easily.
For the food utensil, one which has
q tight cover and which will fit the
nest should be used. There should be
no air space left to cause loss of heat.
A utensil having straight sides and
having the same depth as diameter is
best.
Special enamel and aluminium fire.
less cooker utensils can be bought in
different sizes and quality. Aluminium
is the best to use, because it will re-
tain heat for longer time.
Efficient cooking will depend upon
the retention of heat. A small quan.
tity Of food will not hold as much heat
IS larger quantity, and will there.
fore continue cooking for a shorter
time. The more nearly full the uten.
sil is Of food, the better will the heat
be retained. When heating radiator
be careful not to let it become red hot,
because of danger Of cracking.
Cooking Without Radiator.
Boil peas, cauli1ower and young cab