[Stoves] Insulated pots

[Robert Taylor]

Dear Crispin

> The BEST energy reducer for cooking is an insulated (on top and sides)
> pressure cooking pot!

What is a good insulating material(s) for such a jacket? Presumably it needs 
to be fireproof (at least at the bottom), and preferably easy to clean and 
not infiltrated or otherwised damaged by escaping steam or by hot wet food 
if the pot boils over (especially if used with an ordinary pot instead of a 
pressure cooker).

When Martin was talking about tea-light candles a while ago I wondered about 
using an insulating jacket, perhaps with a skirt that extends downward a 
little below the pot, for slow cooking over a very small flame such as from 
a candle. But a jacket that can also be used over a larger flame (from a 
stove) without being damaged might be very useful too.

I guess one way to protect the insulator from the contents of the pot would 
be to invert a slightly larger pot over the cooking pot, and insulate the 
outside of that. But the insulator still needs to be fireproof. Any 
suggestions for suitable materials?

Put a vent in the middle of the inverted pot to let combustion gases escape 
and you have a glorified pot skirt. But would an insulated one outperform a 
plain metal one by enough to make it worthwhile? And how would it compare 
with a close-fitting insulating jacket?

Best regards

Robert Taylor