A Critique of Solar Cookers (more firsthand reviews wanted)

Solar Oven Society ^ | 7/3/12 | Staff

[ChildOfThe60s]

Solar Cookers A Critique of Solar Cookers from the June 2007 issue of Cook’s Ilustrated Magazine Cooks Banner

Solar cookers use just the sun's rays to work—they don't require fuel or emit smoky fumes, and they use minimal water. They're environmentally friendly, but are they really useful?

Before we started to test solar cookers, we were skeptical—could anything simply left in a pot or box to cook in the sun actually taste good? But we were proved wrong—at least partially. We also didn't anticipate just how much fun solar cookers would be. Whenever we had a sunny day, we wanted to try cooking something new. But these results still beg the question: Are solar cookers more than just a toy for a food hobbyist?

Background: Cooking in the sun has a long history. The contemporary impetus for using solar cookers is largely economic and environmental. Solar cookers don't require any fuel, they don't create smoke pollution, and they use minimal water; all factors that make them attractive for use in developing regions around the world. Over 100,000 are reportedly used in India and China. Most solar cookers are produced by nonprofit organizations; profits from cookers sold in the U.S. or Europe subsidize cookers shipped elsewhere. In the U.S., sales are geared to several audiences: those who advocate environmentally sound practices, people in sunny climates who want a fuel-efficient way to cook that doesn't heat up the kitchen, outdoor enthusiasts who like their portability, and food hobbyists who enjoy experimental cooking.

[maine-iac7]

Solar cookers use just the sun's rays to work—they don't require fuel or emit smoky fumes...

Shhhhhhhhhhhh

'bummer will pass another mandate and we'll all have to use solar cookers exclusively

[doorgunner69]

Although I live on a tropical island, the reality is, few days are sunny for more than a few hours. Those few hours can be intense, so maybe good for a quick wiener roast, but no slow bake, clouds by 1400.

I did salvage a 1 meter parabolic reflector from work in the 70's when I lived in the San Fernando Velley. Impressed the hell out everyone with the heat it would produce at the focal point. Try to cook something (with tongs), and you had to use dark sunglasses, the glare was so bad.

[Jack Hydrazine]

You could try the Light Sharpener by http://www.cockeyed.com/ .

vs. JiffyPop popcorn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdrufLhHPJw

vs. a watermelon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFV91SQKD5c

You could try a Fresnel lens! Just be very careful with them.

vs. a padlock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoMjBkKOkPc&feature=related

for cooking a slim jim. (even heats up cement block to point of glowing and melts glass.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpM0oZ0i8PQ&feature=fvwrel

Fresnel lens pool heater
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_yhi_fy-Q0&feature=relmfu

[CurlyDave]

If only they would come up with a RAIN oven, I’d be set. I live in Seattle.

Actually, rain powered ovens are quite common and you might even have one in your kitchen right now. If you don't many of your neighbors do.

Any electric oven which is operated on electricity from a hydroelectric generator is a rain-powered oven...

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

“In Az just wrap it in foil and put it on the dashboard.”

I know a lady in Az who might want to read your post. :-)

She poaches salmon then hides them in her dishwasher so that the fish and game warden won’t find them.

[Cronos]

it's a good thing to have on a summer's day -- saves a lot of $$ :)

If you have the time, I'd suggest getting the material and building one yourself. It's not too difficult.

if not, then www.solarovens.org will get you one for between $100 to $200

[skully]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh

‘bummer will pass another mandate and we’ll all have to use solar cookers exclusively

.....or pay a tax for not owning one.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

You want to build a solar cooker this guy ROCKS !

http://greenpowerscience.com/

[Eagles6]

Check SODIS for water pasteurization.

Check You Tube for solar cookers. Interesting stuff from aluminum foil and cardboard to reflective windshield shields.

Looks perfectly legit for power outages and survival situations.

Definitely good stuff to know.

[skr]

Lol!!!

[Vendome]

ROFL.....dork .....LOL

[Freddd]

This is an old article.

The Sport Solar oven also has reflector panels. At least, now they do.

I would imagine there would be a lot of happier people in this electric outage on the east coast if they could put their food in the solar cooker, let it go all day not worrying because it won’t burn, and dinner be ready when they are, if they had prepared ahead of time and bought themselves or made themselves a solar oven or solar cooker.
Especially in the heat wave while no air conditioning available.

Store shelves in my area are bare of propane, batteries etc.
Glad I’m not waiting in line for gasoline or out searching for propane and batteries or a way to cook the food rotting in my fridge from having no electricity and backup plan...

Love my Sport Solar oven and my homemade solar cooker (turkey bag, aluminum foil pan, black pot.) I don’t just use them for emergencies. I use them because it helps keep the house cool in this heat wave. And it takes such little effort to use them.

[freedomfiter2]

When I lived in florida, I’d put things like lasagna on my dash a half hour before lunch. Usually it’d be too hot to eat.

[Texas Fossil]

The drying method of food preservation makes some sends.

I made 2 racks that I mounted with 4 wires from a beam above a large South Exposure window in my Sun room. Remember the persimmons begin to ripen after 1st hard frost. I had read how the Japanese and Koreans did this and thought I would try. Must say that I really like them, but few in my family do.

We have a 50+ year old Hyachi Persimmon tree. Very few years have we not had a crop. (last year's 100+ year drought is an exception) The crop this year is huge.

It takes patience to establish fruit trees and grape vines. Have a great Eversweet strawberry bed and Rosborough blackberry bushes. If you pick the blackberries at just the right stage they are incredibly sweet and make amazing jelly or pies. I have shared root suckers from my blackberry plants with many neighbors.

Also garden some.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Thanks for your reasoned response. So far the Sport Solar Oven looks like a good choice to me, also. What I can’t seem to determine is what the temperature range it is capable with the reflectors. Seller specs just give a range cooking without them.

To everyone that made a snarky environmental remark:

I’ve been without power for a week because of hurricanes. And for several days a number of times. It isn’t funny. I don’t think the people around DC are yucking it up right now.

I couldn’t care less about all the greenie reasons the EnviroTards give for using a solar oven, I’m prepping. This is entirely a matter of self interest and self preservation. I’ve also got a Volcano stove, lots of charcoal, the optional propane attachment and 3 tanks of propane. Which will go a lot further if I have an alternative on sunny days.

Go ahead and cook your dinner on the hood of your car. You probably won’t need a gun to protect it anyway (grin). I imagine that after several weeks of no power you won’t be laughing so hard at mealtime.

[lag along]

I love strawberries straight from the garden. Had a nice bed of of plants until the wife thought she like to have a couple of pygmy goats - they loved the strawberry plants straight to the roots.

Ah - now I have the time but —

[Texas Fossil]

Have read that goats are not selective feeders, they will eat poison ivy too.

[lag along]

These were pretty selective (past tense) - they started on the flower beds, then the garden, then the fruit trees. They strangely disappeared before thy could work on the weeds and such; I am sure the wife got a chuckle from my chasing and yelling at the l’il buggers. They could escape from any fence known to man.

[Texas Fossil]

They could escape from any fence known to man.

Have been told about that. I'll pass on the goats. My son had one for a single night, then gave it back to the guy he bought it from. hee hee hee

[Gabrial]

You not going to get 400 degrees easily.

I researched and built one out of two boxes, rock wool insulation, glass, mirrors, etc.

Full sun would get me 285 to 300 degrees. I cooked all sorts of things in it, including a huge pork butt which came out great. Always use a meat thermometer when cooking raw meat.

I have cooked lasagna, cookies, soup, chicken, eggs, ribs, etc., with it and had a ton of fun.