Wonderbag Portable Slow Cooker, Blue Batik

Update: Since the initial purchase we have used the Wonderbag repeatedly to make yogurt and to make things I used to cook in an electric slow cooker. My sweetie has declared, "you bought a cool thing!" Most recently I put a whole chicken in the pot, brought it to a boil with plenty of water, and snuggled it into the WB to cook while I was off running errands. I pulled it out several hours later and deboned the tender cooked chicken to make soup. I love this thing. Storing it is no problem for me because it looks fine on my couch when not in use--like a big round pillow. After the initial heating there's no consumption of fuel no lit burner to worry about, no danger of overheating or cooking dry. This is a convenient device for modern cooks that utilizes resources wisely and reduces wasteful over-consumption of resources. Every home should have one.Original Review:I was curious enough about the Wonderbag to give it a try and confident enough to make moose stew the first experiment. Per instructions I used a short handled heavy pot. After browning the meat and aromatics on the stove I added some flour for thickening and my chopped raw veggies. I made sure there was enough liquid to cover everything and that the pot was pretty full. After bringing it to a boil I put the lid on and let it simmer for about 20 minutes so everything had a chance to heat through. Then I popped the whole shebang in the dishtowel-lined Wonderbag, pulled the drawstring tight, and left it on the counter for 8 hours. It was plenty hot still (140 degrees) when I opened it up and everything was cooked but not mushy. The stew needs a little more thickening since there's no evaporation inside the bag, but not bad for the first try. I did this as an overnight experiment so I wouldn't be tempted to open it early and let the heat escape, so I will be refrigerating the stew and re-heating it on the stove for tonight's dinner and will thicken it a little more at that time.I am looking forward to trying this for rice, beans, posole, etc. I've used traditional slow cookers for years but in addition to the environmental benefits of the Wonderbag, I think the gentleness of the retained heat cooking method will be advantageous. An electric slow cooker is a great convenience but does have a tendency to turn everything into a chunky, colorless mush if left for too long. If you've used one you know what I mean!Yes, the Wonderbag is bulky. Since it retains heat through insulation, I expected this to be the case. I store other bulky things like a pressure cooker so the dimensions don't worry me overmuch. Yes, it comes vacuum-sealed into a much smaller package and must be "fluffed" prior to the first use. This wasn't terribly onerous. My only concern was that my cat would find it and take a nap in there.The instructions packed with the Wonderbag are pretty clear. However, people are people and not everyone reads and follows instructions. I can see the potential for very poor results, including food-borne illness, if users are careless or lack a good heavy pot with a tight lid. If you open it up midway through to peek, you are going to lose the heat. If you leave it sitting around for 18 hours, it's going to cool off and allow bacterial growth. Any food preparation method has drawbacks and this is no exception. It's an insulated bag, not a magic spell.Don't be surprised that the result is not "the same" as a an electric slow cooker. You can't have it be "the same" and "different" simultaneously.

I bought this after hearing about it and seeing the website. I was extremely dubious when I purchased it, quite skeptical of the possibility of a "electricity-free" slow-cooker. How incredibly wrong I was!I purchased one of these the day they were available here on Amazon. I got it in a few days, and it was packaged very well. It took a bit of work to get it fluffed out (they vacuum seal it in plastic for shipping to reduce bulk, and you have to fluff up the foam inside the fabric bag, so that it insulates properly.) Once it was ready to go and had sat the recommended time, I was ready to use it!I do want to note that I purchased a silicone trivet to put in the bottom, just to ensure that the table I put this on while I'm cooking with it doesn't get scorched. I don't think it would without it, but I just didn't want to take any chances, and it was recommended.The first thing I cooked with this was a beef roast, with carrots and potatoes. I browned the roast in a skillet, put everything into a 7qt stainless steel stock pot, put on the lid, and got it up to a rolling boil on my stove, then let it go for about 20 minutes like the instructions say. I honestly wondered if I was going to be out a roast with this thing, but I followed the directions, and after boiling for 20 minutes, I put it in the bag, put the top on, and sealed it up, and 8 hours later, I had the juiciest, most tender, flavorful roast I've EVER had. The stock in the pot was STILL STEAMING when I removed the lid! I was amazed. The potatoes and carrots were fully cooked as well, and very tender. I've since used it a couple more times, including most recently to make slow-cooker potato soup! I highly recommend this to anyone who is considering buying it, and I LOVE that it doesn't require any more electricity after the initial start (the roast was cooked when we were getting a huge ice storm, and I figured that if it worked, at least we'd have a hot meal should the power go out!) For people who use their crock pots regularly, I highly recommend this, because you'll save yourself all kinds of money in electricity by switching to this Wonderbag!Not to mention, the donate one for every one sold, which is just a really good feeling to know you're helping the less fortunate!For those with kids: The outside of the bag never got more than "warm," so if you have little ones who might reach out and touch the bag while it has a hot pot in it, don't worry, - the outside never gets hot enough to burn!

This thing is amazing!I didn't hold out much hope for the unfortunate-looking stewing meat that was in my fridge, a sad reminder of my recent visit to the Extra Foods meat department. It was hanging onto the edge of its expiration date by the skin of its teeth and I was not feeling too confident.I plunged ahead and seared the sad-looking steer in my six-quart pot in butter and canola. Then I added some pre-minced garlic in canola, dehydrated onion, Italian spices, baby carrots, baby potatoes, canned peas & canned corn (including water from each can), 1 orange and 1 red pepper, 1 beef bouillon cube, 1 can of Hunts diced tomatoes, a touch of salt and pepper and that was it. I brought it up to a low boil for fifteen minutes in my $19.99 dutch oven from Canadian tire. I'm using a little two-burner propane stove in my 1987 Pleasureway Dodge campervan (did I mention I'm camping and want to save fuel??) So I made sure it was hot and bubbly, just like they said in the lovely recipe booklet, and bundled it up in its new home, my Wonderbag. I walked away and crossed my fingers.Six hours later... I opened up the bag, and to everyone's amazement, including my own..."Omg! This is delicious! Where did you get the recipe? The meat is so tender!" were just some of the comments I got. Thank you Wonderbag, not only did I cook a delicious meal I have helped a family in Africa. Awesome!Next up, lasagna!

It is well padded, keeps things warm--but I didn't find things I put inside kept cooking, even though I made sure they were kept on the boil for the time suggested.

I was amazed how well this works. Great Construction. Can go anywhere. Only downside is the clean up. I made sure not to spill anything on it because I was concerned about washing it. I really like that when you purchase one, they donate one to a needed family in the third world. Great idea and it really does work. Great Gift for anyone who is concerned about the environment and would like to reduce their carbon footprint.

I love the idea of this wonderbag, and the product is well made. I also really liked that they donated one to someone in Africa when I made my purchase. I had a pot that I thought would be perfect - the size was right, and it had a good fitting lid - however, after I got this in, I found that pot wouldn't work.Other pots that I had weren't as suitable, being either too big, having long handles, or not having great fitting lids. I therefore have to get another pot to go with it, making it more expensive than I had originally thought.I have used this on several occasions, however. I made a vegan quinoa chili that was HOT and well cooked 5 hours after I put it in. I used it to take a hot dessert to a potluck, and though it wasn't in a recommended pot, it was also HOT 2 hours after (cooked before.) I made some other soups and stews in it, and all turned out well. I had to make many of these too big, or add too much water in order to fill the only suitable pot I had. Also, a couple of times, the food wasn't as hot as I would have liked. It is a learning curve to use this.Another comment, and again a learning curve, is how to keep a full pot of food boiling for 10-20 minutes without making a mess - especially if the lid is supposed to be on. I typically wouldn't leave food on high for so long.I do really like the Wonderbag, however, and feel that in time I will learn how to use it better.

This bag is amazing! Been living without being hooked to the power grid for quite awhile while building a house and using a traditional crock pot would be out of the question, but this bag makes the slow cooker happen without power! I have made beef stew and soup so far. Keeps it cooking and hot.