Inner parts of the cooker

Firewood and a tong used to take the firewood

By Risidra Mendis  

It is convenient, economical and environmentally friendly and all it takes is a couple of logs of firewood to make it work. Known as the Spectra wood gas stove this utensil is the cheaper alternative to using a gas cooker.

Invented by D. M. P. Bandara in 2000 the wood gas stove was at that time unknown to many housewives in the country.

However due to this creation winning the third place at an inventor's exhibition in 2002, Spectra Industries Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (SILPL) took the initiative of introducing this utensil to the market.

Speaking to the Sunday Leader Indika Jayarathna said this cooker was specially invented for middle class housewives. "The upper class can afford to use the gas cooker to cook their meals. But the middle class housewife is facing a problem especially with the constant increase in gas prices," explained Jayarathna.

The Spectra wood gas stove that runs on firewood can be used to cook any meal. According to Jayarathna most homes in Sri Lanka still use the conventional open hearth.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that currently two million women and children in the world die annually of smoke inhalation from the conventional open hearth in their kitchens. However due to poverty and having no other option people still continue to use this method.

According to Jayarathna a Sri Lankan doctor has discovered that housewives using L P gas cookers suffer from incurable respiratory ailments. The Spectra wood gas cooker on the other hand has no smoke emanating after lighting, or even while the food is cooking. This is one of the most advantageous aspects. Besides, one of the main advantages of this cooker is that it can be moved from one place to another even while a curry is being cooked," says Jayarathna.

Other advantages of the cooker are that less than half the quantity of firewood is consumed in comparison to the conventional open hearth. The cooker unlike others is portable and can be used to prepare food on a picnic. Furthermore the preservation of the natural flavour and nutrition in the food is retained when using the Spectra wood gas stove.  

Jayarathna  explained that the Spectra wood gas cooker was hygienic, safe, easy to operate and uses just 600g of firewood pieces at a time for an hours cooking.

According to Jayantha if you need to increase the cooking time for a curry, you have to add more firewood into the cooker. "The cooker can be opened at any time while the food is cooking," explained Jayarathna.     

This stove also encourages people to use firewood, a fuel freely available in the country.

The Spectra wood gas stove consists of a top plate, an outer cylinder, an intermediate cylinder, heat insulation, an S S cylinder, a S S grate, an ash pan and a bottom plate that collects the remaining ash.

Explaining the procedure of how you should start the cooker Jayarathna said "first put pieces of coconut shells or dry twigs as fuel. Coconut branch pieces could also be used. Then place a few pieces of easily combustible twigs on the packed firewood cylinder and a piece of cloth soaked in coconut oil to be kindled. Thereafter place the pot or pan on the fire," he said. According to Jayarathna clay pots and aluminum pots can be used on the Spectra wood gas stove.

Jayarathna went on to say that in order to avoid unwanted smoke you should not use un-dried firewood. "The starting of the cooker from the bottom or the pouring of kerosene down from the top of the cooker should not be done, if you want to get the best results out of your cooker," says Jayarathna.