What is a Thermal Cooker?
Thermal cookers differ significantly from using pressure cookers or electric slow cookers. It is an efficient and cost-effective cooking method that utilises thermal mass and retained heat to cook food after initial preparation and stovetop heating on gas, electric, or induction stovetops.
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What is Thermal Mass & Heat Retention?
Heat retention in a thermal cooker is dependent on thermal mass. Meaning that the more food that is being prepared in the thermal cooker, the longer the heat is retained. Smaller meals will cool faster.
Thermal cookers need to be 75-80% filled to work efficiently. This can be a problem if cooking for only one or two people, so the size of the thermal cooker needs to be considered when making a purchase.
Making meals that can be eaten immediately and the rest frozen in portions for another time is an innovative and economical way to cook. The best-quality cookers are said to lose only around 3-4 degrees per hour.
As thermal cookers utilise the retained heat of the food to continue cooking once placed in the insulated outer pot, it is essential to ensure the food is covered in liquid or a sauce so that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the cooking process.
We have two thermal cookers in our family: the Billyboil, reviewed here, and the Thermos Shuttle Chef.
Both of these thermal cookers are absolute winners with our family. They work well at home, in our caravan, on road trips, on day trips, while camping, and at events. They can even be used to transport cold items safely – think homemade ice cream at your next picnic.
Thermal Cookers When Travelling & At Home
Think of thermal cookers as giant stainless steel vacuum flasks, such as the famous Thermos brand. Food is cooked in the inner pot for about 15-20 minutes at home on a stovetop (gas or electric), on a camp stove, or (for some brands) over a fire.
We have even prepared meals using our Solo Stove Titan, a fantastic little unit that uses only a handful of small sticks to generate heat for cooking. It is then transferred to the insulated outer pot, sealed, and left to cook for up to 8 hours without further attention. Cooking a meal using any brand of the thermal cooker is so easy.
Spaghetti Bolognese and chilli con carne are two dishes we love to prepare when we are about to go on the road, or even as a quick meal after work.
Getting a meal started in the morning, then leaving it to soak up the delicious juices and continue to cook during the day without using any more gas or electricity, ready and delicious for the evening – fantastic.
No electricity needed… prepare the food, put it in the insulated thermal container, and leave it alone to cook.
It is impossible to burn food in a thermal cooker, and meals do not dry out when left for hours.
- Economical and uses less energy – once the initial cooking time is done, no more heat source is required.
- So simple to use and so many different meals can be made in a thermal cooker.
- As useful at home as it is on the road or camping.
- Safe to leave unattended while food continues to cook inside and be ready when you are.
- The perfect gift for when kids are leaving home and setting up their own place.
Why do we use a Thermal Cooker?
- No boiling-over or burning of food in the cooking pot.
- Keeps food at high temperatures for hours so it is safe to eat.
- Camping and caravanning trips – meals are ready when we need them, and they are so easy to prepare. We often free camp, so the cooker is also excellent for these times.
- Overnight trips away, as well as constant home use.
- It’s fantastic to have hot soup or a meal made when attending the kids’ sporting events in winter.
- Along with our Kelly Kettle, the Thermal Cooker is always packed when travelling.
Electric Slow Cooker or Thermal Cooker?
Electric slow cookers are fabulous when at home or near a power source.
Thermal Cookers (sometimes referred to as Thermo Cookers), however, don’t depend on an electricity source as food can be cooked for the initial period over a gas flame at home or on a camp stove, making them ideal for use when travelling or camping.
Benefits of Thermal Cooking
- Less fuel used to cook a meal.
- Time-saving – prepare meals early in the day and then set aside until you’re ready to finish any preparations.
- Portability.
- Can also be used as a cooler – add ice to one pot and keep butter, meat, drinks, etc. cold.
- Make soups, stews, pot roasts, rice meals, sauces, desserts, and even mulled wine!
It’s simple to compare the features of different brands and models to determine which one best suits your needs. Thermal cookers with two pots are ideal, as a main meal can be prepared in the larger pot, and a dessert or another part of the meal, such as rice, can be prepared in the smaller pot. However, two smaller thermal cookers (such as the Billyboil) can be a good option.
Thermal Cookers Australia – Which one is the Best?
Your budget will, of course, play a significant role in selecting a slow cooker that suits your needs. Cookers range from under $100 to nearly $500. A less expensive thermal cooker will do the job, as many Australian families travelling long-term on road trips have told us when we asked for their views and experiences using the thermal cooking method.
All top-level thermal cookers with heavy stainless steel-based pots are likely to perform brilliantly and should last for many years. Less expensive models will also perform well; ensure they have good, thick bases to help prevent burning food during the heating phase, as this will also help them retain heat better.
- Consider how many people the meals will be prepared for when deciding on the size needed.
- What is your budget?
- Two inner pots or one?
- Will it be used a lot at home and away?
- Or will it be just used for occasional trips?
Thermal Cooker Review – Our Top Picks
These are some of the best slow cookers for use at home, on the road, while camping, and in a caravan. They are also excellent for making a hot batch of soup to take to sporting events with kids, or even for keeping a cold meal perfect.
1. Billyboil Thermal Cookers from Reduction Revolution
The Billyboil has taken over as a favourite in our household and is regularly heading off in the caravan with us! It is compact, solid, and competitively priced. Unlike some thermal cookers, it comes with just one inner pot; however, it is so well-priced that two could be purchased, providing greater flexibility in cooking various meals.
2. Shuttle Chef Thermal Cookers by Thermos
The Thermos Shuttle Chef is the first thing we pack when camping or going away in our caravan. At home, it is used regularly and has been in use for over ten years. It is a top-quality item that will last for many years to come.
The Shuttle Chef features stainless steel pots with a double wall for enhanced heat retention and thick stainless steel bases that help prevent food from burning or sticking during the initial cooking period. It comes in several sizes, tailored to the user’s needs.
Used with care and properly maintained, this cooker will last for many years, possibly even for generations.
3. Eco Thermo Pot
The Eco Pot is one of Australia’s best selling thermal cookers –
With numerous thermal cookers available on the market today, selecting the right one can be a daunting task. And unlike Ecopot, a lot of them haven’t been around for long. Ecopot, on the other hand, has been developing and re-engineering the market leader in thermal cookware for years.
4. Aldi Thermal Cooker
Among the more affordable brands, the Aldi Thermal Cooker has been particularly popular. We asked a Facebook group of families on the road, travelling Australia, what they use, and the Aldi cooker was raved about. It costs less than $100.
Aldi Thermal Cooker Instructions
Using an Aldi cooker is the same as using other thermal cookers, the same recipes can be used and the results will be brilliant.
Whichever thermal cooker model you choose, it is sure to become a favourite way to prepare meals for your family. There is no ‘best’ thermal cooker as the choices and costs to purchase a thermal cooker vary so much.
Looking for recipe ideas? These are some of our favourite meals….
