Haybox
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A haybox or straw box is a primitive cooker that utilizes the heat of the food being cooked to complete the cooking process. Food items to be cooked are heated to boiling point, and then insulated. Over a period of time, the food items cook by the heat captured in the insulated container. Generally, it takes three times the normal cooking time to cook food in a haybox.
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[edit] History
Hayboxes are so called because hay or straw were the commonly used insulators. Pots of food would be brought to a boil and then placed in a box filled with hay or straw. Additional hay or straw would be added around and on top of the pot. Campers and hikers have used variations of hayboxes for years, heating their food in the morning and then storing the heated pot in a sleeping bag or backpack. In this way a hot meal is available for eating at the end of the day.
[edit] Advantages and disadvantages
Haybox cooking can save vast amounts of fuel, but there is a risk of bacterial growth if the food items are allowed to remain at a warm temperature for an extended period of time. For this reason, food cooked in hayboxes is normally reheated to boiling before eating.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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