From Hay Box to EcoStoof: cooking without wasting energy

Did you know you can easily save 30% of your gas or electricity with an ancient cooking technique? The secret is called 'insulation cooking'. Briefly bring to a boil, then insulate the heat, and voilà: your food cooks by itself, without extra energy.

Engineers Iris van de Graaf and Caro Niestijl delved into this century-old technique and came up with a modern twist: a compact, insulated casing for your pot: the EcoStoof.

Back to the past

Now that we're back in 'normal life' after the pandemic, a new challenge awaits: we need to get off gas. Fortunately, we can learn from old customs.

It used to be quite common: you would heat a pot of potatoes, vegetables, or stew on the stove and then put it in a well-insulated box filled with hay, newspapers, or blankets. The hay box retained the heat, and the food cooked slowly, entirely without extra energy.

A report of a cooking class from 1900 in the book Onze Volkskeuken shows how remarkable this was:

"On a few occasions, cooking was done in the hay box, which naturally captured everyone's attention: great was the excitement when the food came out warm and cooked."

After World War II, wooden hay boxes were still common in many households, and later, textile versions also appeared. When the Netherlands got an abundant supply of gas, this method fell into oblivion... until now!

The EcoStoof: the modern hay box

Don't fancy a big box in your kitchen? The EcoStoof is the modern alternative. Small, light, and cozy to place on the table – it looks like a small pumpkin – and works just like the hay box. Thanks to this technique, you save up to 30% energy. Perfect for anyone who wants a low-gas kitchen.

Call it vintage, classic, or old-fashioned, but with the EcoStoof on the table, the past becomes the new future!

TO ECOSTOOF