What is a HotBag and how does it work?

A HotBag is an insulated bag for cooking with retained heat - or steaming - any food that normally cooks with water. Once you have started cooking on the stove, slip your boiling-hot pot of food into the HotBag. It continues to cook on the kitchen counter beside your stove, thereby saving fuel - and stress!

It works on the principle of heat retention through insulation, like with a space blanket or a geyser blanket, or a thermos flask. One still needs a stove, but only to bring the food to boiling point. Thereafter the HotBag keeps the heat inside the pot and steam cannot escape.

My HotBag didn't work. What went wrong?

1. Did you leave it to stand on a cold surface? Granite is cold and saps the heat away. Rather leave it on a wooden surface.
2. Did you place a cold lid on the pot just before removing it from the stove? Rather let heat build up under the lid before you transfer it to the HotBag.
3. Did your pot rest on a cold surface briefly before you slipped it into the HotBag? Heat will be lost there.
4. Did you open up the HotBag to check on the food? Heat will be lost there too, so put it back on the stove if cooking must continue.

Can HotBags be used with any kind of stove and with any sort of pot?

Yes, they can be used alongside paraffin, gas, gel or electric stoves. And any sort of pot works, as long as it has a lid, no legs, and water covering the base of the pot.  A pot can be taken off an open fire and transfered safely to a HotBag, as long as there is water with the food, as opposed to oil which gets a lot hotter.

Can I use it for cooking rice or potatoes?

Yes, it works for all foods that cook with water, like rice, vegetables, soups, porridge, mealie pap, samp and beans, meat, pasta sauces, casseroles and stews. See our pages of recipes.

Exactly how much does it reduce the consumption of electricity?

By at least two thirds. For some foods, like soups or slow-cooked stews, you can save an even higher percentage of 'stove time' or cooking fuel. The soup or stew will still be steaming hot after 3-5 hours, but it only takes 10-20 minutes to get it going on the stove in the first place.

Doesn't it take extra time to cook with a HotBag?

No, your cooking time is the same as usual. But your stove time is considerably less, which frees you up and gives you extra time to see to other things.

How is it, then, that the HotBag actually cooks faster than the traditional 'hay box'?

The specialised insulation with a silver foil reflects the heat back onto the pot and serves as a steam barrier.

How does the food taste?

There is a saying, "a stew boiled is a stew spoiled" because gentle cooking on low heat is essential for a tender stew. The texture of chicken, mielie pap or pasta sauce, for example, is finer and definitely more delicious when cooked in a HotBag. Less vitamins are lost with a gentler heat, making this a more nutritious way to cook.

How do you prevent the HotBag from burning?

If there is just a little water in the pot, it cannot burn the HotBag.
Do not put the HotBag on the stove or in the oven - it is not made for this!

So there's also no danger of the food burning?

No. It's a very safe way of preparing food, especially when one wants to go out while food is cooking. There is no danger of food burning, or boiling over and making a mess.

How durable is a HotBag and can it be washed?

The HotBag is very durable (over ten years of good use) and can be washed by hand. Do not put it in the washing machine, or it will lose efficiency.