Wonderbag Homepage - QC

How it works…

The Wonderbag design allows food to be slow cooked or kept warm off of a heat source. It works in four, easy steps: Boil it, bag it, stand it and share it. To slow cook, simply bring food to the boil on a stove, let simmer, and then put the pot with its lid into your Wonderbag, cinch tightly with the drawstring, and slow cook to perfection for up to 12 hours.

STEP 1: YOUR POT SELECTION

Use the right size pot for the amount of food you wish to cook. Use a pot with short handles. Use only copper, steel, aluminium, enamelled cast iron, cast iron and glassware pots. If you use cast iron, clay or ceramic, you must put a trivet under the pot (inside the bag) to avoid damaging the fabric from the heat of the bag. 

STEP 2: BRING TO THE BOIL

  • Food must be brought to a gentle boil before placing in the Wonderbag.
  • Use a tight fitting lid to allow the ingredients to be heated through.
  • Do not place lukewarm food in the Wonderbag.
  • Times will vary for length of boil based on recipe, type of food and altitude.
  • Place the boiling pot immediately from the stove into the Wonderbag.

STEP 3: HEAT RETENTION EFFECTIVENESS

Heat is retained more effectively when:

  • the pot is full and sealed with a tight-fitting lid
  • the food is more dense (like stews and curries)
  • the environment the Wonderbag sits in is warmer (for example if the Wonderbag is sitting in a snow drift it’ll cool faster)
  • the lid for your pot is metal; however, glass does work as well.

STEP 4: CLEANING YOUR WONDERBAG

The Wonderbag can be spot-washed and hung to dry. Newer washing machines with a gentle wash cycle can also be used with cold water and minimal detergent. Hang dry or in a tumble dryer in a low-temperature setting.

BEST PRACTICES

Below is an overview of some adjustments we recommend making to your standard cooking practice as well as some general guidance for cooking the Wonderbag way. 

  • Food Standards Australia states that safe temperatures are 5C or colder, or 60C or hotter. Potentially hazardous food needs to be kept at these temperatures to prevent food-poisoning bacteria, which may be present in the food, from multiplying to dangerous levels. These bacteria can grow at temperatures between 5C and 60C, which is known as the temperature danger zone. The fastest rate of growth is at around 37C, the temperature of the human body. When in doubt, use a thermometer to measure heat to ensure your dish is above 60C for food safety reasons.
  • You can cook practically anything – stews, curries, chicken and even yoghurt – in a Wonderbag.
  • There is no evaporation when cooking so use less liquid than usual.
  • Liquid does not thicken in the Wonderbag. In order to thicken your dish, dissolve a bit of flour or corn-starch in a little cold water and then stir into the pot.
  • If you are using wine in your recipe, cook off the alcohol (takes about 5 minutes) before placing in the Wonderbag.
  • Salt meat a day in advance of cooking to get the meat tender and moist.
  • Salt and acidic foods (like tomatoes) will keep beans from softening. Therefore when using a tomato-based sauce, pre-cook your beans in the Wonderbag or use canned beans. Do not put salt into your pre-soaked dried beans until after they have completed cooking.
  • You cannot overcook or burn foods in the Wonderbag because it is not on a direct heat source.
  • The longer foods stay in the bag, the more tender they become.
  • You’ll need to brown meat or caramelize onions before they are added to the Wonderbag, as they need to be done at very high temperatures in order to retain their flavours.
  • Only open your Wonderbag when you are ready to serve to avoid losing any heat.
  • Once you start using the Wonderbag, you will quickly get a feel for it. Most recipes stay well above 60C for at least 4 or 5 hours, some up to 8 hours.   
  • Place a trivet (we recommend silicon) in the base of the Wonderbag, and put the pot itself on the trivet, inside the bag. Always line the Wonderbag with a tea towel for any small spills!

  • Only one cooking container per Wonderbag should be used.

  • Pots transferred directly from the stove or oven to the Wonderbag should not be hotter that 180C.

  • When carrying or handling the Wonderbag, care must be taken to avoid spills and risk of burning or personal injury. 

Wonderbag

Wonderbags: Impact Overseas, and the Wonderbag Foundation

"Our mission is simple: to economically empower women and girls across the world by addressing the critical daily challenges of time poverty, self worth and cleaner, healthier cooking. We are about finding, supporting and innovating culturally relevant solutions to life's challenges for communities around the world. Our mission is supported by the Buy One, Subsidize One model - for every Wonderbag purchased, a donation is made to the Foundation in order to support Wonderfeasts and subsidize Wonderbags to communities across the world one community at a time."

“Wonderbag.org invests in women and girls living in low-income communities. With our tools and training they improve their health, preserve their local environment, add hours back into their lives, and have a better chance at determining their educational and financial futures.”

Wonderbags save time, allowing women to get back to work and girls to get to school.

Women cooking with a Wonderbag can save 1,465 hours of work each year by reducing the amount of time spent over an open flame and gathering cooking fuels. This allows women in these communities to reduce their time cooking and allows girls to go to school instead of having to gather wood daily. Using a Wonderbag can decrease indoor air pollution by up to 60%, saving 1.7 trees each year in the process. For more details on measuring impact, see the page here.

3 billion people cook over an open fire every day, risking health and precious resources.

A single Wonderbag, when used for one year can:

  • Reduce carbon emissions by 1 Ton
  • Reduce deforestation, saving 1.7 trees
  • Conserve 1,000 litres of cooking water
  • Reduce indoor air pollution by 60%
  • Reduce time poverty, giving back 1,465 hours per year

Wonderbags are economic game changers.

In Ghana, women using Wonderbags went from earning $.20 to $2.00 per day; time saved can be used  to earn money. There are currently over 10,000 active WonderPreneurs globally. A WonderPreneur is someone who is selling a Wonderbag, making a Wonderbag, using a Wonderbag in a catering business, or transporting food in a Wonderbag.

Q&A

Q: What is the Wonderbag?

A: The Wonderbag is a unique powerless slow cooker that gives you the healthiest meals possible. It continues to cook food, which has been brought to a boil by conventional methods for up to 12 hours, without the additional use of additional No plugs. No fuss. By freeing up time spent cooking, the Wonderbag can make your life easier and transform lives of women in Africa. For every Wonderbag purchased in the developed world, a contribution is made to the Wonderbag Foundation – supporting the donation of bags to families in need throughout Africa.

Q: How does it work?

A: The Wonderbag design allows food to be slow cooked or kept warm off of a heat source. It works in four, easy steps: Boil it, bag it, stand it and share it. To slow cook, simply bring food to the boil on a stove, let simmer, and then put the pot with its lid into your Wonderbag, cinch tightly with the drawstring, and slow cook to perfection for up to 12 hours. Because it is not on direct heat, it won’t overcook or burn.

Q: When should I use the Wonderbag?

A: The Wonderbag is great for eco-friendly, nutritious, slow cooking. And because it’s portable, it is perfect for taking delicious home cooked meals to picnics, dinner parties, sporting events, and camping. A pot of bolognaise or BBQ pulled chicken can simmer in the boot of your car to enjoy after a day at the beach, hiking or game viewing. And it’s perfect for holidays when stove or counter space is at premium.

Q: How is the Wonderbag different from other slow cookers?

A: Powerless is powerful when it comes to the Wonderbag. Where most conventional slow cookers utilize power to keep your food cooking, the Wonderbag’s revolutionary insulated technology keeps your food cooking for up to 12 hours after it is brought to a boil by simply retaining heat. And because it is not on direct heat, the food will never overcook or burn. It’s worry-free!

Q: Can the Wonderbag be used for anything other than slow cooked recipes?

A: From meaty stews and vegetable curries, to simple rice, beans, pasta, and soups, the Wonderbag cooks food beautifully and thoroughly.  Meat is perfectly tender and vegetables retain their flavour and texture.  The Wonderbag can also keep food and drinks cold too!

Q: How is the Wonderbag different from other slow cookers?

A: Powerless is powerful when it comes to the Wonderbag. Where most conventional slow cookers utilize power to keep your food cooking, the Wonderbag’s revolutionary insulated technology keeps your food cooking for up to 12 hours after it is brought to a boil by simply retaining heat. And because it is not on direct heat, the food will never overcook or burn. It’s worry-free!

Q: How do I know how long to cook foods in the Wonderbag?

A: The recommended time for grains is 1 hour; chicken is 3 hours; dried beans 3-4 hours; and red meat 4 hours or more.  While the length of time that you cook depends upon the recipe, we recommend boiling until all ingredients are heated through before placing your pot in the Wonderbag. The longer you leave your food to cook, the tenderer it will be. The Wonderbag comes with a recipe booklet to provide ideas and guidance, after a few times using the Wonderbag; you will get the hang of it! 

 

Q: How is the Wonderbag different from other slow cookers?

A: Powerless is powerful when it comes to the Wonderbag. Where most conventional slow cookers utilize power to keep your food cooking, the Wonderbag’s revolutionary insulated technology keeps your food cooking for up to 12 hours after it is brought to a boil by simply retaining heat. And because it is not on direct heat, the food will never overcook or burn. It’s worry-free!

Q: Can I check on the progress of the food cooking while it’s in the bag??

A: Avoid opening your bag until you’re ready to serve the food as checking it even once will release essential heat. If you do open, place back on the stove for a few minutes to bring back to a boil and place again in the Wonderbag if cooking is not completed.

Q: How long does food in the Wonderbag stay cooking and hot?

A: This depends on a number of factors – the amount of food (the fuller the pot, the better), how dense the dish is (the denser, the longer it stays hot), even the weather outside (the hotter the weather, the longer the dish stays hot!). However, on average, dishes will stay hot (over 185ºF/85 ºC) for approximately four hours and 150ºF/65ºC for a further four hours.

Q: What do you recommend for a first time user to cook in the Wonderbag??

A: Start by using your Wonderbag as you would a rice cooker. Bring the grains to the boil (using a 2:1 water:grain ratio), cook for 5 minutes on the stove and then put in the Wonderbag for the same amount of time that you would otherwise simmer (or longer). Additionally, there is no evaporation when cooking in the Wonderbag, so we recommend using less liquid than you otherwise would. Cooking simple grains is a great way to start with your Wonderbag to see how easy it can be!

 

Q: What is the Wonderbag made out of?

A: The Wonderbag is a simple fabric bag that is filled with repurposed foam chips. The colorful machine washable poly-cotton blend bag, seals closed with a drawstring to adjust the bag to a 2-9 quart/liter  pot and to seal in the heat.

Q: How do I open my Wonderbag after purchase?

A: Step 1: Remove all packaging and smooth out the bag. Step 2: Loosen all the foam chips and shake the bag well. Step 3: Allow the bag to stand to ensure all foam chips have regained their shape

Q: What is the “Wonderbag Effect” in Africa?

A: Wood fire cooking is the source of major socioeconomic, health and environmental issues in Africa. By reducing the need for firewood collecting and usage as well as the time spent cooking, the Wonderbag empowers women across Africa to participate in more activities outside of the home enhancing their quality of life. Children have more time to go to school. Families remain healthier due to lower incidence of smoke inhalation related illness, reduced risk of burns and fewer acts of violence occur when collecting firewood. The Wonderbag also has dramatic environmental effects saving water, reducing your carbon footprint and minimizing deforestation.

Q: How does the Wonderbag Foundation contribution work?

A: For every Wonderbag that is sold a portion of these proceeds goes towards donating a Wonderbag, via the Wonderbag Foundation, to a family in need within a designated community in a developing country.