Uncontrolled Cooking Efficiency Test (UCET) Protocol
Aprovecho Research Center
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Abstract: The purpose of the Uncontrolled Cooking Efficiency Test (UCET) is to measure the thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, and cooking time of unimproved and improved cooking stoves under real-world use. Other cookstove tests collect efficiency values exclusively in the lab (ISO and WBT) where water is boiled in a pot. This provides a replicable test result but does not simulate local cooking practices or other cooking methods. Cookstove tests performed in the field (KPT, CCT, UCT) measure fuel consumption per day or task but do not quantify efficiency. The UCET was designed to measure the thermal efficiency of the stove while allowing the user to cook what they like how they want, aiming for minimal influence on user behavior. TheUCET can also be used as a design development tool to observe how a stove is used and identify potential usability issue.