Tayama Food Warmer in One Thermal Cooker, 6 Qt, Black

This pot should be called a "12 Volt Assisted Thermal Cooker". It's theonly one of it's kind on the market, and great for use on car trips, for RVboondocking, and by truckers.If you put the inner pot into it with its contents close to boiling temperature,which is the way to use a thermal pot, it will hold that temperature continuouslywhile using around 35 watts of 12 volt power from your car, truck, or RV.Unplugged, starting at boiling, it will hold food over 140 degrees for 6 hours.This requires thermal mass in the form of food and boiling water. The more hotstuff inside of it, the longer it will stay hot.So, you can start dinner before a drive or before leaving your RV for the day, and have dinner ready when you want it. Read about thermal cooking and be aware thatthe food-safe temperature for holding cooked food is at least 140 degrees F.If food goes below that temperature, you must re-heat it before eating.There's one issue you must know about: the heater is in the bottom ofthe outer pot, and there is air between it and the bottom of the inner pot.To couple the heat to the inner pot when you plan to use the 12 volt heater,you must pour a little water into the outer pot to carry heat to theinner one. Without this, I found that when plugged in for 50 minutes, the outerpot bottom would heat to boiling while the inner pot remained cool.It's not really a re-heater at all, despite the manufacturer's labeling. It willtake at least three hours to heat 4 quarts of water to a food-safe temperature,starting at room temperature. Use the heater only to help to retain thetemperature while thermal cooking.The usuable area inside of the inner pot is exactly 8 inches in diameter, and 6inches high when the cover is on. You can use various accessories meant for theinstant hot pot.The 35 watts this uses is low enough power to plug in to your car or truck whiledriving, or to run off of your RV solar panel while camping during the day withyour RV left in full sun - solar panels don't work well if even partially shaded.This would run down unassisted car or RV batteries over night, so use it in theunplugged mode if you're setting up hot oatmeal for the morning.There is no gasket like an instant pot. If tipped over, this pot will leak. When using it in a moving vehicle, pack it so that it can't tip over. In an accident, it could release hot food and water and scald a nearby passenger.If you've been looking at a Saratoga Jack's cooker, this pot has a triple bottom,just like the Saratoga Jack's. It looks as if Saratoga Jack's sells a re-labeledTamaya TFM-70CFZ (7 Quart), not this model.The Tamaya pots appear to be inspired by much more expensive Thermos pots whichare vacuum-insulated (while the Tamayas are foam insulated). If you want the verybest performance without any electrical connection, spend the $150-$210 for theThermos Shuttle Chef series or the Homemate, and never drop them - that ruins avacuum pot.At home, any 12V power supply that provides 4 amps or higher, and provides asocket for the 12V plug, should work with the 12V cable. This one is inexpensiveand provides more than twice the required power:https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Cooolbuy-110-220V-Cigarette-Charging/dp/B07174RPL4/Check out this cookbook: "Let's Make Sense of Thermal Cooking", and the web site and associated YouTube videos.This is my opinion. I don't have any information you would not have from the Internet and from buying a Tamaya pot and checking it out, and I've disclosed all of the important facts.

Bought this with the hope of having hot food on cold winter days while hunting. To test, I heated water to boiling (212F) and then followed directions with approx 3 quarts of water. Put it outside at a temp of 40F for 6 hours. Was pleasantly surprised with water at 137F after 6 hours. I then let it cool to 90 degrees and plugged it into my truck. After three hours, temp was back to 120F. Plenty warm enough for good warm food. Pleasantly surprised. This works fine for my purposes. I'm not sure how it would work for extreme cold weather. Now the bad news..... if tipped, it leaks like crazy. Nowhere near watertight. Probably not even adequate for fluids that sloshed a lot because fluid can escape the pot lid and leak down between the outer container/heating element and the inner container that the pot rides in. I plan on fixing mine with a $13.00 tube of high temp food grade RTV sealant. There is no way to clean that area and had I not tested it with water, who knows how much bacteria could build up in that over time. Not a situation I want my food near...possibly dangerous.

Like this pot so much, we have ordered another one. Our plans are to not only use in our home, but in our RV. Plan to use second pot for desserts or foods that require less cooking time (rice, pasta etc.) or if a meal won't all fit in one pot.We really love the heating adapter that comes with the cooker. It keeps the food hot. No lukewarm food when it is time for us to eat.So far I have cooked meatloaf and "baked" potatoes,/ stew meat with carrots, potatoes and gravy,/ and pork roast with potatoes, carrots,celery and gravy. Meat always tender and veggies cooked and not mushy.I recommend these stackable pots for pot in pot cooking . I tried this with meatloaf. I put meatloaf in pot, then into a plastic bag and then put this pot on top of potatoes already in the inner pot. The plastic bag keeps the water from leaking into the meatloaf.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0787M667M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1And I recommend this book, "Let's Make Sense of Thermal Cooking. This book has thermal cooker helps and lots of recipes.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0996242899/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I did not try this product because the lid was broken when I got it. I also did not realize that the 12V adaptor plugged into a car lighter. This is not useful unless you need to keep food warm while driving. I was going to use this for an office party and wanted something that plugged into an outlet.

Before I bought this thermal cooker, I was one of you, I read all the reviews. It’s one of my cook ware that I cannot cook without it.Save time, energy ( electricity or gas ), worry free after you cook for period of time. Just store inside the thermal cooker. You are just set, and no worry of burn or dry out. It’s really a great cookware.Plus this time, you can carry on the trip.

It is wonderful to have an hot soup outdoor with this 12V DC heating element.

The knob for the lid of the internal pot does not screw on.

Good

Excelente