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.
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Reviews with images
MUCH LARGER than I realized. See pic with yard stick for reference.
Not sure how to rate this... as I’m not keeping it (It won’t work as I thought for my needs). However, that is not the fault of the product. it looks amazing, quality is fabulous near as I can tell. I originally put this on my Wishlist long time ago thinking it would be great for my RV. In that time others described the size as being bulky. When I received it as a Christmas gift I was very surprised at the footprint/space it takes up in a small RV where storage is a premium. (See attached picture with a YARD STICK for comparison). I gave a four star rating because this wonderbag looks like a great product. It will also keep cold foods cold.
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OMFG! The ultimate camping accessory!!!!! You need this!!!!!
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It is well padded, keeps things warm--but I didn't ...
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Great Idea and it Really works!
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