Solar Ovens

SOLAR OVEN

COOKING:

What would you do if you did not have any power? How would you cook your food? Do you ever not want to cook in the summer because it is way too hot?  Try something new…

How about cooking with the power of the sun!!!

Why use a Solar Oven? Solar oven cooking is a safe and easy way to cook food without consuming fuel or heating up your home. They can be used any sunny day no matter the season or outside temperature.  With no fuel to store or buy solar ovens are a wonderful addition to your emergency preparedness supplies.  Solar ovens are also eco-friendly!

What can I cook in a solar oven?

You can cook almost anything you would cook using a conventional oven or cook top.  You can bake, boil and steam.  You can not fry food.  You can even use solar ovens to raise dough and dry fruits and veggies!  I have cooked rice, rolls, brownies, hard boiled eggs, and even made yogurt in my solar oven.  It is almost impossible to burn food using a solar oven!

How long does it take? 

Cooking temperatures will vary depending on the brightness of the sun and how often the oven is turned. Some oven cooking times are close to that of a conventional oven while others may take much longer.  Different ovens have varying maximum temperature capabilities; some can reach above 400 degrees F, while others may reach temperatures closer to 200 degrees. 

For best results and fastest cooking times a solar oven should be refocused to the sun about every 30 minutes.  If that is not possible the sun oven should be focused toward the south to receive maximum sun exposure. 

Do you need special bake-ware for solar ovens?

No, but light weight dark pots work best.  Non-stick and glass bake-ware work well.  Stay away from anything shiny.  Most cooking should be done in pots with lids, except baked goods. 

How much do solar oven cost?

There are many different types of solar ovens.  Some you can build yourself in just a few minutes for next to nothing. Other oven plans are more complicated and can take a weekend or longer and cost close to a hundred dollars.  Many Solar ovens can be built using common household items such as a left over pizza box, cardboard boxes, aluminum foil and glue.  There are also some plans available for wooden solar ovens.  These tend to be heavy and require some carpentry skill.  If you’re not the do-it-yourself type, there are many commercial solar ovens available.  The prices for most commercial ovens range from about $150-$300. 

Do-It-Yourself Solar Oven Types

            Pizza Box Oven       Wooden Solar Oven      “ Minimum” Solar Cooker

For a good description of different oven types and plans to build your own

 Look out this site:

http://www.solarcooker-at-cantinawest.com

The Pizza box oven:  Probably the easiest and cheapest to build.  It can reach temperature of about 200 degrees.  It is not recommended to try cooking in outdoor temperatures less than 60 degrees.  The Pizza Box ovens do not fair well in cool temperatures or wind.   Due to size and low temperature capability your cooking option is better suited to warming meals, or cooking small portions.  Est. Cost about $5.

The “Minimum” solar cooker:  Is made from a few card board boxes.  Most research shows it can reach temperatures up to 300 degrees.  The size and cooking options would be determined by the size of your boxes. These cardboard cookers if painted can withstand some weather but will deteriorate over time. They are light weight and more durable the pizza box oven.  Est: Cost up to $20

Wooden Box cookers:  There are many plans available for simple to extravagant solar box ovens.  Some have numerous reflectors and real glass lids.  Others have one single reflector.  The Ovens with more reflectors attract the sun better and get hotter.  They will cook faster.  If you have the skills and the time, some of these home-made ovens can stand up to the cooking power of some of the commercial ovens.  These ovens can be very heavy and sometimes built on stands.  The Est: Cost of these is $50 + The price would depend on availability of materials and types used ex: wood, real glass, reflective materials.

Commercial Solar Ovens

There are many types of commercial ovens available.

 Here are two of the most popular commercial solar ovens.

‘Sport’ Solar Oven

The ‘Sport’ is a slant faced box oven.  It is light weight, weighing only 10 pounds and very stable.  It can be used in two cooking positions either the summer base 30-degrees or winter 60-degrees. The Sport has a large cooking capacity and reaches temperatures up to 300 degrees F.  Optional reflectors can be purchased.  ‘Sport’ ovens retail around $160 including shipping/handling. 

         The ‘Sport’ Solar oven can be purchased online at http://solaroven.org

The Global Sun Oven:  The Sun oven can reach temperatures of 360- 400 degrees.  If preheated, you can bake goods in times comparable to a conventional oven.  It can be used during any season and at any temperature as long as there is sun.  It has four large reflectors, an adjustable leg, and a self baking shelf.  The sun oven is portable weighing 21pounds. It is easy to setup and take down.  Online the Sun Oven ranges in Price from $250-$299.   

You can purchase a Global Sun Oven online @ http://sunoven.com/

                                           Or locally from

Sun Oven Distributor

Mary Schofield (541) 280-6170

(541) 526-1529

sunovenoregon@yahoo.com

*Ask about the “Preparedness Special Rate”

 valid through 07/15/11

Solar Cooking Food Guidelines

(Est. cooking times for ovens 250-300 degrees F)

COOKED DRIED CEREALS AND GRAINS - (barley, corn, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, wheat): est cook time: 2 hours. Begin with the usual amounts of water and next time adjust accordingly.  If your sky conditions are less than ideal, you may want to preheat the water and grain separately, as suggested for pasta. This is especially helpful if the grain is either very slow to tenderize (brown rice, hulled but not pearled barley) or gets mushy easily (quinoa, millet).
VEGETABLES - Add no water. Artichokes: 2 1/2 hours; Asparagus: 1 1/2 - 2 hours; Other fresh green vegetables: 1-1 1/2 hours. If cooked longer they will taste fine but lose their nice green color. Beans - dried: 3-5 hours. Usual amount of water, can be soaked ahead of time; Beets, Carrots, Potatoes and other root vegetables: 3 hours. Cabbage, eggplant: 1 1/2 hours if cut up. Eggplant turns brownish, like a cut apple, but the flavor is good; Corn on the cob: 1 - 1 1/2 hours. The corn kernels will fade slightly if left longer in direct sunlight. The husk will hold the moisture in and protect the kernels naturally. A clean black sock can be put over an ear of corn to help absorb heat for faster cooking time. Squash, zucchini: 1 hour. Will turn mushy if left longer.
EGGS - Add no water. Two hours for hard yolks. If cooked longer the egg whites may turn a slight brown, however, this will not affect the flavor.
MEATS - Solar cooked meat is similar to meat cooked in a slow cooker.  The longer it is cooked the more tender it will become. Fish: 1-2 hours; Chicken: 2 hours cut up, 3 hours whole; Beef, Lamb, etc.: 2 hours cut up, 3 - 5 hours for large pieces; Turkey, large, whole: all day.  It is not necessary to add water unless you are planning on making a “gravy”.
PASTA - Heat water in one pot and put dry pasta with a small amount of cooking oil in another pot, and heat until water is near boiling. Add hot pasta to hot water, stir, and cook about 10 minutes more.
BAKING - is best done in the middle of the day (9 or 10 am - 2 or 3 pm) Breads: Whole loaves - 3 hours; Cakes: 1 1/2 hours; Cookies: 1 - 1 1/2 hours and do not need to be covered. Avoid bottom crusts - they get soggy. Black socks can also be used to cover foil-wrapped garlic/herb breads. Takes awhile for the heat to work through, but with the sock to dull the foil it eventually will, and the sun makes wonderful fresh garlic bread.
SAUCES & GRAVIES MADE WITH FLOUR OR STARCH - Heat juices and flour separately, with or without a little cooking oil in the flour. Then combine and stir. It will be ready quickly.
TYPICAL COOKING TIMES FROM Solar Cookers: How to make, use, and enjoy, Solar Cookers International, 2004

 

For Some Additional Cooking Ideas or Recipes check out these sites:

http://eartheasy.com/sun_oven04.htm

http://www.survivalunlimited.com/sun_oven/recipes.htm