The Wonderbag - the Camper’s Secret Weapon for Easy Meals

When you spend enough time camping, you start to appreciate the little things that make life easier. One of the most valuable tools and favorite pieces of camping gear is something I have been using for quite a while and is something called the Wonderbag.

Sometimes, it is the simplest tools that save time and fuel make all the difference—and the Wonderbag has earned a permanent place in our camping kitchen.

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What Is a Wonderbag?

The Wonderbag is an insulated fabric cooker that allows food to continue cooking without electricity or fuel.

At first glance, it looks like a colorful cushion or oversized pillow, but this cozy-looking bag is actually a powerful non-electric slow cooker. Voted one of the world's Top 50 Genius Companies by Time Magazine, the Wonderbag was developed by Sarah Collins back in 2008. The South African energy shortage forced blackouts across the country and Sarah’s Wonderbag  allowed families to continue cooking daily meals with the absence of power.

Inspired by a method her grandmother had used in the 1970s to help save power when cooking, and similar to the concept of a haybox - which was used to keep food warm and preserve fuel during World War Two - Sarah first tested her idea by surrounding a pan of hot food with cushions after she had turned off the stove. The brainwave was a success, and to her amazement the food continued to cook for several hours! From here, Sarah developed the Wonderbag and started taking them into communities to see first-hand the impact they could have. The reaction from the women was overwhelming, and Sarah knew straight away that this simple idea had the potential to change billions of lives around the world.

Here’s how it works:

1. Bring your pot of food to a rolling boil on your stove or burner

2. Place the pot into the insulated Wonderbag

3. Pull the drawstring closed and tuck the lid in.

4. The insulation traps the heat and continues slow cooking for hours.

It’s essentially a portable slow cooker that uses stored heat instead of power.

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Why the Wonderbag Is Perfect for Camping

After using it on several trips, we realized it’s practically made for RV life.

-It saves propane. You only run your stove for about 10 minutes, then the Wonderbag finishes the job.

-It frees up your time. Once the pot is in the bag, dinner cooks itself. That means more time for sunset walks, exploring campgrounds, or throwing a ball for Simon and Prudence.

-It keeps your camper cool. Running a stove for hours inside a camper can heat things up quickly. The Wonderbag cooks dinner without warming up the whole space.

-It travels beautifully. Because it’s soft, it can double as an extra pillow or cushion inside the camper.