1734 The Cornell Reading Courses 



With such fuels as kerosene, gas, and electricity, a slow, even heat 

 may be maintained at a comparatively low cost, depending on the local 

 prices. However, for long cooking processes, the amount of heat needed 

 to bring the food and the radiator to the required temperature before 

 their being placed in the cooker, is generally less than the amount needed 

 to cook the food on the stove. 



ECONOMY OF TIME 



If fuel is being burned, there is always more or less uneasiness about 

 leaving the house or the room in which food is being cooked. Variation 

 in the amount of heat may occur or the food may be forgotten, with 

 the result that it may stick to the bottom of the utensil and bum. The 

 fireless cooker makes it possil^le to leave the food without worrying about 

 the results, although, as stated further on, there is a certain point at 

 which the cooked product is at its best and should be removed from the 

 cooker. 



In households where it is necessary for the woman to be away from 

 home all day, the fireless cooker helps to solve many a problem. Especially 

 is this true in the case of families having small incomes, which necessitate 

 obtaining the most nutriment at the lowest cost, because the nutritious 

 foods of low cost, such as cereals, dried legumes, and tough cuts of meat, 

 are those that require long, slow cooking to be made most palatable 

 and of greatest use to the body. Under such conditions the fireless cooker 

 is an absolute necessity if the family is to be properly nourished. 



Whenever it is necessary for the various members of a household to 

 have their meals at different hours, the fireless cooker is found to be a time- 

 saver because the food may be kept hot in it until each member is ready 

 to be served. 



The fact that the cooking process need not be interrupted during trans- 

 portation has led to the wide use of the fireless cooker by armies on the 

 march; at the end of the journey the meal is ready to be served. 



COMMERCIAL AND HOMEMADE FIRELESS COOKERS 



The commercial fireless cooker costs more than does the homemade 

 one; on the other hand, it is likely to be more durable, it seldom has any 

 absorbent material exposed to the odor and the steam from food, the 

 cooking compartment can be more easily kept clean, and it is frequently 

 provided with a ventilating valve or some such device that makes baking 

 and roasting possible. However, the homemade fireless cooker has 

 proved to be wholly satisfactory for such foods as cereals, vegetables, 

 dried fruits, custard, fowls, and certain cuts of meat. 



There is practically no danger of fire from a homemade cooker unless 



