Energy-Saving Cooking Bag

THREE billion people worldwide cook their food using polluting fossil fuels. Therefore, a global demand for a clever low-carbon cooking device is obvious.

The Wonderbag from Natural Balance South Africa is an energy-saving insulated eco-cooker bag than retains heat to slow cook food after it has been brought to boil. Due to the reduced dependence on open-fire stoves and unregulated stove tops, the cooking device can reduce the consumption of fossil fuels needed for cooking by 30% and save on electricity consumption. These savings are particularly beneficial to any South African lower-income household and to millions of families worldwide.

According to the Wonderbag Web site, “people can cook anything from meaty stews or vegetable curries to simple rice and soups. You heat up your pot of food on the stove, kick-starting the cooking process, and then place it in the Wonderbag”. How it works is simple as a four easy steps: boil it, bag it, stand it, and serve it. Comparison of cooking times on stove and in the Wonderbag shows 20 minutes versus 5 hours for meat; 15 minutes versus 3 hours for chicken; 5 minutes versus 1 hour for vegetables; and just 2 minutes versus 1 hour for rice.

Today, just two years since its launch, 150,000 Wonderbags are being used in homes across South Africa. Natural Balance South Africa takes a look at the bigger picture and aims to achieve the following in five years: “5 million Wonderbags in South African homes, 21 million people living and eating healthier, 5 million paraffin users saving a total of $1.35 billion on fuel, 8,016 new jobs created, and 8 million tonnes of carbon saved”.