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Testing Radiators Without Thermometer

If you are without a thermometer, there are several ways to test the temperature of the radiators. The best one is the flour test. Drop a pinch of flour on the radiator. If it turns immediately a very light brown, it is sufficiently hot to bake cake or bread; a golden brown to bake pie; and a chocolate brown to roast meat.

Experience in heating and testing the radiators teaches one very quickly how to judge when they are hot enough, just as one learns how to test a flatiron, etc. But, if the food is not being cooked thoroughly, you can lay the cause to underheated radiators.

It is not a question of how long the radiators are heated, but how hot, that is so important to success with the fireless.

Helpful Hints to Fireless Users Keeping Food Hot for Several Hours The modern Fireless Cookstove has somewhat sacrificed long heat-holding ability for quick-cooking efficiency, and although Toledos will hold heat for hours and will cook slowly if slow cooking is required, just the same do not expect your fireless to keep food piping hot for from eight to twelve hours.

When cooking cereal over night, use some form of the double boiler arrangement (one pail of the triplicate set, or the special double boiler inset illustrated on Page 19).

Cabbage, carrots and such foods may be left in the fireless stove for several hours after the cooking process is finished, without spoiling their flavor. Potatoes, green corn, biscuits and similar foods should be removed from the stove when cooked.

Luncheon Odds and Ends Escalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and similar dishes may be baked in small baking dishes, crockery or aluminum, using the baking racks and one or two radiators, depending on the quantity cooked.

Use the fireless compartment like you would an ordinary oven.

How to Parboil Food and Bake it Where the recipe calls for parboiling followed by baking, observe the following:

Bring the food to the boiling point in the fire stove, then transfer it to the fireless where it must remain for the same length of time as if you were cooking it on your fire stove. Then remove from the fireless, pour off the liquid, and return it again to the fireless, using two radiators heated to the right temperature. Bake the food as explained in the directions for baking.

While heating the radiators used to parboil the food, place the utensil containing the food on one of them and heat at the same time.

When Not to Use Covers of Utensils The utensil covers are not needed when the fireless is being used for roasting or baking. The radiator that is suspended in the upper part of the utensil takes the place of a cover.

But utensil covers should be used when food is being boiled, steamed or stewed, or whenever one radiator is being used at the bottom of the compartment.

Caution Against Crowding Utensils If the utensils are properly arranged in the cooking compartment of the fireless, they will fit perfectly.

If they are improperly arranged, when the Water-Seal covers of the cooker are lowered, damage to the aluminum linings will result. Do not force down the cooker covers if you see the utensils project slightly above where they should be. See if you cannot rearrange the utensils and radiators so they will fit.

Soapstone Hygiene Occasionally sandpaper the soapstone radiators, and keep them clean of any particles of food that might ferment. Remove the radiator from the cooker soon after using, so it can not absorb any pungent moisture that might have condensed in the compartment, especially after cooking vegetables. Important Sanitary Suggestions Keeping the interior of the fireless dry and clean is but the work of a few minutes after using, and is absolutely essential in order to avoid unpleasant consequences. Any housewife who finds her fireless cookstove has a strong odor, or imparts an unpleasant taste to the food cooked, can only attribute it to her failure to observe a few simple sanitary precautions.

Air must circulate inside the fireless compartment when the cooker is not in use. Any utensil will get stale if it remains closed for a few days.

Preferably keep the covers wide open, but at least allow a slight opening for fresh air to get in.

Occasionally "sun" the interior of the compartment. Wash it in hot water and soapsuds.

If the Valve Becomes Clogged If you observe steam forcing its way out from under the covers, it is a sign the valves are clogged and must be cleaned.

Make a scalding solution that will cut grease and pour it through the valves in the covers. Ammonia or gasoline may also be used.

Pour the cleaning liquid in the top opening, holding your finger at the bottom one, and allow the liquid to cut the grease thoroughly. Repeat until cleaned.

Examine Fireless Cookers Occasionally If you find the jack-locks are weak, and the covers are not pulling down tight, this difficulty may be remedied by removing the wires from the locks and bending them slightly with hammer. a Should the hinges get "sprung," or loose, either secure new ones from the manufacturer, or do the following:

Remove the top strap of the hinge from the cover, and over the place where it formerly was, fit a piece of closely woven, tough cardboard. Then fit the hinge back into place and screw it down again. Pressure should be exerted gently at the back of the cover while doing this, and the front must not be locked down.

Care of Aluminum To maintain brilliancy, use any good aluminum cleaner, especially prepared for aluminum. Wash aluminum in pure soapsuds and hot water, rinse quickly and thoroughly.

Never use a spoon, fork or knife or any sharp instrument to scrape aluminum; use a wooden spoon. If by continual neglect the utensils become unsightly by reason of burned grease or other foreign matter, one teaspoonful of oxalic acid crystals to each quart of water, boiled in the utensil for five minutes or left cold in the vessel over night, will thoroughly cleanse it. Then, before using the vessel, wash in clean hot water and soap. Cider vinegar boiled in the utensils is also a fine cleaner.

Care of Metal Radiators Metal radiators should have proper care; when through using wipe them dry and keep them in a dry place.

Should the metal radiators smoke or an odor arise from them when heated for the first time, let them remain over a slow fire until smoke and odor disappear. This does not indicate anything except the newness of the radiators.

Extra Radiators Extra radiators may be had either of soapstone or metal.

Bases or Stands Stands raise the cooker twenty inches from the floor and put it at a ) most convenient height for the operator. They also add to the appearance of the cooker. These stands have a shelf at the bottom for the utensils, radiators, etc., making the Fireless outfit very compact and complete. Sold as extra equipment.

Aluminum No-burn Disc For use in bottom of cooking compartment. Keeps soapstone radiator out of moisture. Prevents undue scratching of floor of compartments.

May be purchased extra from the dealer.

Fireless Cookstove Utensils Some very useful accessories to be used in connection with the Fireless Cookstove are made and may be had at all up-to-date house-furnishing goods departments. Among these are specially designed utensils of aluminum. The Toledo Cooker Co., Toledo, Ohio, specialize in this type of utensils and furnishes them in the following capacities and dimensions: Diam. Top Diam. Bot. (Outside) Depth (Outside) (Inside) No.

Qts. ins. ins. ins. 232 2 734 74 234 233 3 914 87/8 34 234 4 914 878 358 235 4 758 74 558 236 6 11 102 414 238 8 94 878 75/8 239 12 11 1012 81/2 240 102 914 878 1012 No. 20-2-quart Inset, Convertible Cover, detachable handle. No. 21-2-quart Inset only with detachable handle.

No. 22-Convertible Cover only.

No. 246C-Triplicate Pails; total capacity, 6 quarts. No. 247C - Half-round Pails; total capacity, 623 quarts. Cereal Inset or Double Boiler Combination This consists of an inset of two quarts capacity, known as our No. 20 or 21, which may be connected with clamps to be found in the 8-quart cover of the 8-quart aluminum utensil with every Toledo Fireless Cookstove.

Although a convenience, it is not an absolute necessity, inasmuch as one pail of the triplicate set may be used in the same manner and for the same purpose. (See page 19.)