Wonderbox Instructions - Peace of Preparedness

Wonder Box Cooker
Noelle Kei [email protected]
for more info: http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Heat-retention_cooking
Recipes and instructions originated from a booklet published by Compassion of South Africa in 1978,1979
and 1980. Compassion registered name Wonder Box and the logo of the kneeling figure. This information may
be freely quoted, acknowledgments being made to Compassion.
Wonder Boxes are used as retained-heat cookers (aka haybox cooking, ice box cooking,fire less cooking,
heat-retention cooking). There are a variety of ways to create a heat retention cooker but for the purposes here, I
will describe to you how to use and make a simply designed Wonder Box. It works like a slow cooker. While one
may use it solely to save fuel in an emergency situation it can easily be incorporated into your everyday cooking
routine. You only need a minimal amount of fuel (stove top, propane, Rocket Stove etc) and as little as 3-15
minutes of energy to cook your food to a required temperature before placing your food into a Wonder Box for
continued no-power cooking. A Wonder Box can be used to keep food cold as well. Ice Cream can be kept cold
for approximately 3-4 hours and other frozen foods possibly longer.
How to use your Wonder Box:
Before cooking your food have your Wonder Box placed close by to your fuel source on a non-metal surface.
Metal is a good conductor of heat and may draw off some of the heat from the bottom of your box. You want to
use a pot with a tight fitting lid that has either no handles or short stubby ones only. Don't use a long handled pot
as it will create an air pocket in your box. Use a pot that is appropriate in size to the food you will be cooking.
You want as little air space inside your pot while cooking. The more liquid that you have in your pot will
provide for better cooking results. Be sure that your covered pot will fit inside (create a 'nest' for your pot) your
Wonder Box with the top cushion in proper place with no air gaps on the sides BEFORE cooking. That will
ensure a proper fit. You wouldn't want to find out later that your pot is too big or too small for the Wonder Box.
If you are finding that you have a bit of a gap, a small towel or woolen piece can be added to the bottom cushion
of the Wonder Box.
Now for the cooking! Bring your food to a boil on the stove (or whatever alternative fuel source you have).
Below I have listed cooking times that I found online. I have found that when cooking grains it is best to use my
heavier kitchen pots rather than my granite-ware pots that I use in my solar oven. Thin walled pots tend to burn
grains. Bring your food to a boil until it is heated thoroughly. With grains I keep my pot lidded during the entire
cooking process. This is not necessary for other dishes. The most important thing to remember is to cover your
pot for at least the last few minutes of cooking so that the inside of your pot traps all the heat and steam. This is
what's going to finish cooking your food. Meat needs to be covered in liquid to ensure proper cooking. I have
successfully cooked chicken breasts by placing it first in an oven bag with spices. The oven bag keeps your meat
from getting water-logged. I then tied the bag up and placed in a pot of water and boiled it on the stove for 10
minutes before placing it into the Wonder Box for 2 hours to ensure it was fully cooked. When your food is
boiled and ready to take off your fuel source be sure not to disturb the lid, otherwise you will need to bring to a
quick boil again with the pot properly covered.
Quickly place your covered pot inside the Wonder Box, making sure that you have a snug fit all around your pot
and that you have eliminated any air pockets. Immediately place your top cushion over your pot ensuring there
are no gaps or air pockets. As an added measure you can place a wool blanket or other covering over your
Wonder Box but it is not necessary. Be sure that your Wonder Box is not disturbed and that no prying eyes take a
peek. If your heat escapes from your Wonder Box before the proper cooking time is up your food will not cook
and you will have to re-heat your food and then place it back into your Wonder Box. In addition to cooking
foods, a Wonder Box can be used for keeping frozen foods frozen and cold foods cool.
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Heat-retention_cooking
How to make a Wonder Box:
Materials:
-Soft cotton or Broadcloth fabric
*(A soft, thin cotton that will conform to your pot eliminating any air pockets works best. You want to
use a fabric that will not melt when touching the heated pot.) My material was 56 inches wide. I used
slightly less than 2 yards of fabric. Using a narrower fabric may require up to 3 ¼ yards. An old flat
cotton sheet would work as well.
-19 Gallons (about 3 cubic feet) of polystyrene beads (bean bag filler) or insulation of your choice. There are a
variety of materials than can be used as insulation. The most popular choice is polystyrene beads. This is the
best insulating material and if used can be machine washed and hung dry. While it may be a great insulator
it does have a drawback. When heated it can let off toxic fumes so use caution. I have read that you can
eliminate the effects by placing tin foil or mylar (an emergency blanket would work well) into the nest part
of your Wonder Box before you place your heated pot in your box. You can also use woolen materials, saw
dust, shredded newspaper, ground corn husks, feathers, hay, dry grasses, wood shavings etc to insulate your
Wonder Box. I have had great success with fine saw chips that I picked up at my local feed store.
Sewing Instructions:
1. First you will need to enlarge your pattern to the actual measurements marked on your pattern that has
been included below. You need to cut 4 pieces for each of the cushions. The bottom and top of each
cushion are shaped differently. Once you have finished cutting your material you will have a total of 8
pieces. 4 top pieces and 4 bottom pieces. I found that it is easier (and saves my fabric) if I have a wide
fabric and fold it in half. (I used a 56 inch bolt of fabric folded in half and was able to cut two top pairs
and two bottom pairs using less than 2 yards of fabric). If your fabric is narrower you may need up to 3
¼ yards to construct your Wonder Box.
4 bottom pieces (left) 4 top pieces (right)
2. After cutting your shapes out and before sewing your fabric you will need to take your 4 pieces of your
bottom fabric and pair them up. The exterior of your fabrics should be facing each other. Pin the fabric
along the dotted sew-lines displayed on your pattern. Be sure to leave an opening (to place your
insulation) on only one bottom pair. It is not necessary to have fill openings on all pairs. Your fill
opening should be wide enough to where you can comfortably insert your insulation at a later point.
(top cushion is actually shown below)
Sew along the sides that you have pinned. Be sure to leave an opening along one of the bottom pairs.
Double-stitch for added durability.
3. Repeat “step 2” (except the fill opening) on the other bottom piece pair.
4. Once you have sewn each bottom pair along the sewing lines, open each one up.
Now that you have two bottom pieces opened up, pull them together ( exterior sides of fabric
facing each other) matching seams, and pin all the way around.
You will have a floppy shaped pillow. Sew along all the seams that you pinned.
Pull the exterior side of your fabric thru the fill opening.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for your top cushion pieces.
6. Now for the stuffing! You will need approximately 7 gallons of filling for your top cushion.
A paper funnel will make this job a lot easier (mine was inconveniently missing) especially
when using the polystyrene beads which are prone to static. Lay a sheet down on the floor for an
easier cleanup. Insert insulation into fill opening and sew opening close.
It helps to tape the funnel to your opening and to have little helping hands.
7. Fill the bottom cushion with 12 gallons of filling. Sew your fill opening shut. This can be
machine or hand sewn shut. If you find that your cushions 'pillows' are overstuffed you
can adjust how much insulation you place inside your Wonder Box. You can always re-open
your fill opening at a later date and make any adjustments.
8. Stand your bottom cushion with the narrow tongue part of the cushion vertical to your table
or floor surface. Tuck the tongue inside the larger part of your bottom cushion forming a
nest for your pot. Your pot should fit snugly inside. If needed add a small folded towel or
woolen piece of material to form a snugger fit. Your top cushion should fit comfortably on top
with no gaps.
By: Noelle Kei [email protected] http://www.crunchygreenjello.blogspot.com