Thermal cookers

We bought the "dream pot" last weekend so have only used it a couple of times, but definately does what they say it will do, so far.

Krakka

Patricia,

do a search of the forum using the brand name of the cookers and you'll find heaps of threads about them.

Cheers Mick

We were at the Caravan & Camping show on the weekend and I wasn't particularly surprised to see four different brands of Thermal Cookers being flogged.

The Dreampot is to my knowledge, the original and there is a lot of reference to the cooking process available.
The Thermos brand (Shuttle Chef) looks to be of higher quality, but the price is set accordingly.

One other brand being demonstrated claimed to be "the market leader" but this is mere hype.

The last one I saw was simply called a Thermal Cooker and was available at different caravan & camping stalls. This was probably the cheapest but I suspect the quality would be lower.

They would all do a similar job as they use the same cooking process, but the Dreampot or the Shuttle Chef would be our choice if we were buying one.

We decided a long time ago to forgo the claimed benefits of the "Thermal Cooker" as we have no desire to bugger around with the initial cooking prep in the mornings to get the process going. When travelling, we always set up camp in time to cook our evening meal in the camp oven, Cobb Cooker, BBQ, or stove and have elected to forgo another "gadget" to find room for.

Bill.

We have been travelling for 2 1/2 years now and would not go without our dream pot. Great if putting in a long day, arrive with tea already cooked. great for picnics hot or cold. Cooked cakes, stewes, roasts and all sorts of great foods. You won't regret having one.

Josh

We have had a Thermos pot (shuttle chef) for about 3 years now. Use it several times a week. It is by far the best quality and highest price. We have a bag for that protects and allows for longer time at desirable heat. With discussions with Dream Pot owners they cannot retain the heat from a morning preparation as we do. There are a lot of slow cooker mixes that mean just throw in everything, bring to boil, lock up in pot and the evening meal is ready at breakfast time.

Neil

We have the dream pot now for 2yrs and use it all the time when camping and quite alot at home. It means the cook doesn't have to be tied to the camp fire to do the cooking while everyone else is off exploring. She can put a meal on to cook in the dream pot and come with us. When we get back it is ready.

Every thing from stews, rice, two part meals - one in bottom pot one in top pot, and even scones.

David

We use our dreampot all the time, both at home and camping. It's awesome. Keeps meals hot for 8 - 10 hours, no problem; even longer if in the sun inside the vehicle. Too many times people leave a meal cooking on the stove or in a slow electric cooker, go out shopping etc and come home to the house having burnt down. So such problem with the dreampot or similar brand.

We are very impressed with ours.

Hi Patricia,
We have owned both and would recomend the Thermos Shuttle chef over the dream pot. Use it quite a lot camping and at home even heated party pies and sausage rolls and took into class room today as we have Korean students in our class room at moment. You wont regret it if you get one.
Barb

We have the Dream pot which is great.

The advantages of the dream pot is a better configuration of the two stainless steel pots. But I must say that the Shuttle chef has much thicker base on the pots which allows better pre cooking. The dream pot tends to burn the bottoms due to the thin base. It is a night mare to clean. This would explain the previous comment that the shuttle keeps the heat better.

As others have said, good concept and we get a lot of use out of ours. The new Masterfoods Slow Cooker spice mixes are very convenient with the only change being to add a litre of stock rather than a cup. We've even used ours as a yoghurt maker with the EasiYo products.

Ours is a Taiwanese-made version bought from the US for A$40 plus A$70 postage. Still a third of the DPot for an almost identical product. The recipe book was, however, "interesting" - stewed pig entrails (at least that's what the picture looked like) didn't appeal :)

Adrian

Let me get this straight: you pay about $300 to buy a wide-mouthed Thermos flask, so that you can get up an hour earlier and prepare tea before you've even had breakfast? or have I missed something? I should confess that we own a Crockpot, dating back some 25 years, and I can't see the use for that either. Sorry, but I just don't get it.

We have one - for the first night of a camp it is fantastic - we have a double pot version - before leaving home put the casserole in the top, hot water in the bottom then when we arrive at camp use the hot water in the bottom pot to "cook" dry couscous and enjoy a hot meal within 10 minutes - just after the tent has been set up. Heaven. Saves setting up the kitchen etc.