The Rapid Fireless Cooker, located in the “Farm Room” here at the E.C. Houston House, has always fascinated me. Many visitors have been a little dumbfounded when asked what they think it is. I tell our visitors that it is best described as a modern-day Crockpot or roaster but it does not rely on electricity for its use. That is one of the advantages a fireless cooker has. It also does not need gas or kerosene to operate it. Fully equipped to travel, cooks could take it to parties, picnics, and the fields and still serve a hot meal. You did need a cookstove to prepare the meal and a fire of some sort to warm the trivets but for the early 1900s this was one great invention!
Rapid Fireless Cooker
Iron discs, like the one pictured, bottom left, would be heated and put into each compartment. Next would be the stewpots, covered with insulated lids. The top lid of the cooker also is insulated. Food would continue to cook as it would in a modern Crockpot.
