Wonderbag (a slow cooker that needs no power!)

Wonderbag is a genius invention (in fact, the founder has been named one of the 50 genius creators on earth!) An idea inspired by her grandmother (who would cook food then wrap it in hay to keep it warm), it can be used in England for people concerned over energy bills.

But of course it’s also being used abroad, from Africa (to stop the use of dangerous kerosene and chopping down firewood) to more recently in Ukraine, where people can cook hot food, if they can’t afford bills or have no power.

Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets. Bin allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives) and citrus/tomato/rhubarb scraps, as acids could harm compost creatures. It’s okay to put them in food waste bins (made into biogas).

For tinned foods, remove and pop lids inside, or pop ring-pulls back over holes (pinch top closed) before recycling, to avoid wildlife getting trapped.

As a social enterprise, this company also uses profits to help provide low-cost cooking facilities to people in need around the world.

How Wonderbag works

First you boil your food. Once simmering, put pan in the Wonderbag. Close with the drawstring, and it will cook away for up to eight hours.

Sold in three sizes (for single households to large families), it’s made from polyester fabric on the outside, and inside repurposed foam insulation, which would otherwise have gone to landfill.

Before placing your post into the Wonderbag, lay a tea towel (or wooden chopping board) to help prevent the interior fabric from burning.

You can spot clean and hang to dry, or use a in a front-loading washing machine (due to synthetic fabrics, use a microfiber filter).