Slow Cookers

[delicagirl]

Hi - I am wondering about using this for cooking overnight/all ay as I don't have an oven in my van.... its 240v and 135watts and would be plugged into my wilding van into a 3 pin 240v socket powered by the solar panel...... what do folks think ? would I drain my solar energy (2 batteries linked into each other) overnight ? thank you

 

[outtolunch]

A standard slow cooker chucks out an awful lot of heat so I would think it would drain a battery quickly, there are however various systems on the market that are insulated slow cookers were you boil up your food on a hob and then place the container in an insulated outer. The cheap way to do this for smaller quantities is to use a large stainless steel vacuum flask to slow cook in.

 

[colinm]

I think that equates to the low setting on our slow cooker, if so then it takes 8 or more hours with the element permanently on, depending on size of your batteries you will have little if any power left.

 

[Obanboy666]

I stand to be corrected but I reckon your slow cooker @ 135 watts from your inverter will use approx 13 amps an hour from your batteries.
I'm sure a rough estimate is watts divided by 10 to get amps used.
So unless you have a huge battery bank you are likely to have drained your batteries if you leave it on all night.

 

[delicagirl]

thank you.... another great idea of mine hits the dust.......

 

[Haaamster]

I might be wrong but i'm sure I have read about people using either a slow cooker or perhaps a steamer on the move. I think they put it in the sink to avoid spillage.Perhaps you could look at a skillet, I cooked a whole roast chicken and perfect crunchy roast potatoes with one of these and was amazed how good it was. :tongue:

Sorry I mean a double skillet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKHiabsDQKU

 

[Charlie]

thank you.... another great idea of mine hits the dust.......

Hi Delica girl, don't give up. We bought a thermal cooker from Mr D at the caravan show at NEC and although expensive initially it is beginning to pay for itself! When we wild, we start something of in it on gas for about 10 mins (normally stew, soup, lump of boiled bacon etc. I have even cooked a piece of boiled ham in it and Steak & Kidney Pudding!) put the lid on and then we strap it to the table leg and Voila ! As they say, 6 hours later a ready hot meal with no electric required just the initial gas in the morning which also helps warm the van up! Cooks a mean curry to....
PS it also comes with a large and a small pan which fits on top so no need to carry anything else to cook in as it is hob proof, would be happy to show you if we are ever in the same area at the same time..
By the way even when wilding we only use 1 bottle of Gas per year and I use my Thermal Cooker at home now as well and already noticing a decrease in our fuel bills..

 

[carol]

thank you.... another great idea of mine hits the dust.......

It happens to the best of us!

 

[QFour]

What you have to consider is how long the element is actually switched on. Is it going to use 135 watts even when the food is hot or does it have an element that switches off with a thermostat.

135 / 12 = 11.25 amps

Add on a bit for the inverter so call it 12 amps per hour.

If the element is only on for 25% of the time then you only use 3 amps per hour.

3 x 12 = 36 amps.

If the element is on for 10% of the time then you will only use

1.2 x 12 = 14.4 amps

Pressure cooker would heat up your food much quicker and be considerably cheaper using gas. Loads of books on Pressure Cooking.

..

 

[Andys]

Have you thought of a 12v slow cooker, I think one of those would draw a lot less power and you could use it while driving
Just a thought

 

[Sharon the Cat]

Home Made Cooker

Phill made us a hay (duvet) box cooker. 10-15 mins of gas in the morning, leave it to cook all day = scrummy tuck.

http://www.wildcamping.co.uk/forums/wild-camping-motorhome-chat/33443-hay-box-slow-cooker.html

 

[Deleted member 9237]

I don't know why you go on about cooking in the van do what we do over here Order a Take Away the deliver to the door.:lol-053::lol-053: Good morning all hope you have got a nice sunny day there.:wave:

 

[tribute11]

thank you.... another great idea of mine hits the dust.......

We got a thing called a Magic Cooker from EBay. It works as described above- heat on stove and place inside insulated container and cooks without further power. Excellent while travelling

 

[bill scouse]

I use a slow cooker 120w.The trick is to use in the daytime when solar panels are working

 

[vwalan]

i still say use a pressure cooker . takes very little gas . cooks veg meat and can do a kind of cake /pudding .
most things can be cooked in 15 minutes . veg 5 mins . once reached pressure.
wouldnt think of going away without mine .

 

[Deleted member 27838]

+1 for the pressure cooker, great bit of kit to have in a van.

If you are desperate for an oven, Coleman make a camping oven, but I think you'd need to order it from the US or pick one up second hand here.

Bake Your Own Bread! Are You Nuts?

hth

 

[Tezza33]

We use a slow cooker while travelling in the winter, we keep it in a box on the floor (dog proof, we once went into a Hypermarket and the dogs ate our casserole) and plug it in to a 300W inverter, OK when on the move but they use more power than you think and would flatten your batteries overnight, we don't have an oven either but using a double skillet we can cook anything.

 

[vwalan]

+1 for the pressure cooker, great bit of kit to have in a van.

If you are desperate for an oven, Coleman make a camping oven, but I think you'd need to order it from the US or pick one up second hand here.

Bake Your Own Bread! Are You Nuts?

hth

lebanese flat bread etc can easily be cooked in a dry pan .
chicken /potatoes cooked in a pressure cooker can be grilled or fried for a minute or so to appear roasted .
compromise and thoughtful cooking works .

 

[antiqueman]

Hi - I am wondering about using this for cooking overnight/all ay as I don't have an oven in my van.... its 240v and 135watts and would be plugged into my wilding van into a 3 pin 240v socket powered by the solar panel...... what do folks think ? would I drain my solar energy (2 batteries linked into each other) overnight ? thank you

Overnight is a long while to cook bacon and eggs for breakfast:egg:

 

[colinm]

What you have to consider is how long the element is actually switched on. Is it going to use 135 watts even when the food is hot or does it have an element that switches off with a thermostat.

135 / 12 = 11.25 amps

Add on a bit for the inverter so call it 12 amps per hour.

If the element is only on for 25% of the time then you only use 3 amps per hour.

3 x 12 = 36 amps.

If the element is on for 10% of the time then you will only use

1.2 x 12 = 14.4 amps

Pressure cooker would heat up your food much quicker and be considerably cheaper using gas. Loads of books on Pressure Cooking.

..

The 'problem' with all slow cookers I've seen is that they are incredibly inefficient at cooking, most of the heat leaks out, if one was made with full insulation around it then I'm sure the lower figure you have calculated is achievable, it may be possible to add the insulation later, but I'd be very wary of doing this and then going out and leaving it on all day without a good deal of testing to make sure nothing over heats.