Solar Oven?

[AARTY]

My wife heard about a Solar Oven and is interested in how it works, and how to obtain one. We aren't currently in the market for one, we aren't even ready to settle down in one spot just yet, however we are trying to plan a more conservative homestead and any practical way that we can be more self-sufficient is a step in the right direction. Thanks in advance for any postings

Corey Wright and Family

[Shamrock1121]

I have 3 solar ovens and enjoy using 2 of them as much as possible. One is a simplistic portable (lightweight/fold-up) that I keep in my emergency kit and would never use it unless I absolutely had to - it's actually more complicated to use than the others, but it was the first one I purchased. It's nearly impossible to use in Kansas because of all the wind.

I keep my ovens on a steel tool cart (that I permanently borrowed from my wonderful hubby) for ease of movement. I keep them in the garage when not in use with covers on them, then roll them to a nice sunny area(protected from wind if possible), and cook away.

1. Tulsi-Hybrid Solar Oven: (http://shop.solardirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=469). It runs on sun-power and/or electricity (low wattage use). The benefit of the electric part is that you are able to use this oven even when the sun doesn't shine - 24 hours a day - 365 days a year. The electric feature is a safe-guard as well. If you are cooking meat and the heat is reduced to an unsafe cooking level due to cloud coverage, it will kick in and automatically heat the oven electrically to a safe cooking level. Improperly heated food can lead to bacteria growth.

This oven came with 4 stainless steel "pans" (they actually look like cookie tins with lids that have been painted black on the outside), which are excellent to use. This oven looks like a hard-shell briefcase or suitcase, and everything I need can be loaded inside and it's ready to go. Very portable.

2. Global Sun Oven:
http://www.iprepare.com/sunovglsoov.html
No electric back-up. You can only use in the sun for heat. It can be easily carried, but a little more difficult to transport than the Tulsi.

- When cooking in a solar oven, you really need to be available to move the oven to follow the sun. You can't just load it in the morning and come home to a fully-cooked roast beef dinner. You must adjust the oven to catch optimum sun several times during cooking. You need to plan on starting your food by noon or 1 o'clock to catch the optimum amount of available sun. Don't expect to come home at 5, load the solar oven, and have dinner ready at 6.

- It works best on clear, sunny days. If there is even a lot of haze in the air, it will interfere with proper heating. When they burn the stubble fields in the area, after wheat harvest, I have to use my Tulsi to make sure I keep enough oven heat due to the haze caused by the burning debris in the air, even though there may not be a cloud in the sky.

- You need to preheat the oven for about 30 minutes to bring it up to temperature before adding food. Once the food is added, the temperature will quickly fall again. Avoid peeking because every time you open the oven, the temperature drops considerably.

- It's best not to cook large chunks of foods. When I cook a pot roast, I cut it into several portions and put the portions each in a different pan for quicker, more even cooking. You can also cook grains, beans, soup, and make baked goods.

- You have to monitor the thermometer carefully. You don't want your food sitting at a temperature of 140°F, or cooler, or you chance bacteria growth.

- Cast Iron is not a good type of cookware to use. Choose things that are dark cookware with lids that are thin. You can paint the exterior of canning jars with black paint (the heat-resistant type) to help absorb more heat and cook foods in them. You can use these for beans, soup, or to sterilize or heat water.

- Don't over-load your oven.

- Easy to cook (1-2 hours):
* eggs (with or without water - quickest without water)
* rice
* fruit
* vegetables that grow above the ground
* fish
* chicken

- Medium cooking time (3-4 hours)
* potatoes (cut them into small, equal-sized chunks
* root vegetables
* some beans, lentils
* most meat
* bread (yeast)

- Hardest to cook (5-8 hours): These things are "hardest" to cook because they take so much time and you have to have a long stretch of sunlight to get the cooking done. You have to continually move the oven to follow the sun. Start cooking early enough to get it done - so plan well.
* large roasts
* large amounts of soup and stew
* most dried beans

- Things cook faster:
*when the sun is high in the sky (summer - midday)
*no clouds or wind
*use black pots (thin metal) with lids
*food is in small amounts, small pieces, little or no water added.

-Foods cook slower (or may not finish cooking)
*when the sun is low in the winter sky, early evening or early morning
*when it's partly cloudy, hazey, or a lot of wind
*pots without lids or are a light color, shiney metal, or are thick and heavy cookware
*foods in large amounts, big pieces, and a lot of water

Recipes - doing a Google search will get you all kinds of recipes. A good book to get on the subject (check your local library for a copy or have them get one through inter-library loan) is, "Cooking with the Sun" by Beth Halacy and Dan Halacy. It includes instructions on how to build and use solar ovens, along with a lot of recipes.

You can make your own solar oven with something as simple as a pizza box, or one of the many designs you can find in books or on the Internet, but I like the benefits I have with my Tulsi since it's both solar and electric.

-Karen

[SolarGary]

Hi,
Here are some more solar ovens, including one that tracks the sun. These are mostly "build it yourself" ovens.

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Cooking/cooking.htm

Gary

[mistyriver]

I love my Sun Oven. I use black enamel pans in it and everything cooks as quickly as it does in my regular oven, providing it is a sunny day. I've baked lots of bread, legs of lamb, beef roasts, etc. in it. I can usually get it up to 400 degrees.

[nancy1340]

Hi,
Here are some more solar ovens, including one that tracks the sun. *These are mostly "build it yourself" ovens.

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Cooking/cooking.htm

Gary

One of the best links I have ever seen! Thanks Gary.

I have a Sun Oven that we got JIC. I cooked a small roast in it and it did a fine job. I spent more time adjusting the angle that I probably needed to but wanted to see how hot I could get it. 350 was max for me.

[theresehirko]

My summer projects, like I don't have enough with being in nursing school, is to build a solar oven and a solar still this summer. In case of another Katrina, I want to be ready. We can cook with no power because we have a gas stove, as long as the gas is still working. We are within easy walking distance to a freshwater lake, but unless it's purified, is undrinkable. With both the oven and still, we can be self sufficient and healthy.

[DavidOH]

Yup, there you go.
How much do you want to spend on that Solar Oven?
$20 or $2000 ???

Hi,
"build it yourself" ovens.

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Cooking/cooking.htm

Gary