Energy Cooking with Sunshine (WOW!)

[indimuse]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVKBmrZGplY&feature=feedu

Solar cooking! Bless this idea! Spread the word!
I think every family should have an solar oven. You never know..
anyway...cool.. ;)

[tabasco]

1. Sunshine.

What's that?

[Shagbark Hickory]

18. I dunno. It's been so long since we had any I forgot.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Thanks, indimuse! K/R and I have a bunch of solar ovens (ask me anything)

I've cooked taters and veggies, even a tri-tip (comes out like stew meat) and a pork loin (yummy).

I work with a few teachers who teach students about energy and then raise funds to buy sun-ovens to send to Africa.

Lately they're sending solar powered reading lights so that people can study or read after dark.

Imagine that, using first world solar technology to bring reading light to the developing world!

:P

[OneGrassRoot]

5. That is so cool. I've been interested in solar cooking for a while...

Time to do something about that interest.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

K&R to OP

[Catherina]

6. Have you built any yourself? If so, can you recommend a good link?

Thanks. And thanks for what you're doing helping Africa

[NYC_SKP]

8. Yes, and Happy to Help, and LINKS:

For me, the Definitive Solar Oven Design Page is here: http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/

For fun: Eco Seeds Magazine, online journal published by my favorite teacher's wife, what a great family, up in Durham, California: http://www.communityseeds.com/

SunOvens International, make a super sturdy oven (seen in video), price break to nonprofits and schools: http://www.sunoven.com/

Tip: Ovens need to be air-tight, I've baked cookies in the little SunSpot oven pictured below in 15 minutes in December. Outdoor temps aren't as big a factor as sunlight. This design must face the sun, but it's very effective for a cardboard unit.

[Catherina]

9. Thank you! I just saved all the links

This is really excellent information. Some friends of mine are building a school in the countryside. This will come in really handy. Thank you :hi:

[indimuse]

12. WOW! Thank you NYC_SKP for the info and links!

;)

[Catherina]

13. As a cook, I have questions here. What are the drawbacks?

I read you can boil water but have no idea how long that would take. Do you know?

More importantly, what are the drawbacks? What can't I use this for? And any other advice you have please.

I'm all excited now.

[stillwaiting]

3. Thanks for posting! I really enjoyed watching that. Provided a little much needed hope.

:)

[malaise]

4. I want one

This is great

[Kadie]

7. Awesome. I want to make one!

I just followed your link to other links at youtube. I think making a solar oven would be a good project to make with the kids!

That non-profit they talk about in the video you posted is doing a wonderful job.

Thanks so much.

[WolverineDG]

10. k&r

bookmarking for later research :)

dg

[IDemo]

11. I've built one and later bought one

My old homebuilt (Google 'fun panel' for the plans)


The new unit - not mine but one like it (folds up nicely for storage)

[Catherina]

14. How long would it take to bake a cake in that? Or cook potatoes? Thanks n/t

[IDemo]

15. It can vary, anywhere from 1½ to 3 hours

There are a few factors which will affect cook times for a solar meal. The open solar cookers like I use won't get quite as hot as an enclosed 'box oven'. The angle of the sun is important, which will vary according to one's latitude and the season of the year. Breeze, which can greatly diminish the heat; and the volume and moisture content of food being cooked.

These represent the cheapest, easiest and potentially most important immediate use of solar energy in my opinion. A grade school child can build one of these in a single morning. They are helping provide relief to Third World women who, in many places, risk their lives walking great distances each day just to retrieve wood for cooking.

Check out the video at this link -> http://solarcooking.org/

[Xicano]

16. K&R

Thanks idimuse for posting.

[northernlights]

17. I got my 1st solar oven last summer

I have 2 more on order, of a different style to support bread making. (The 1st is the "hotpot" which works like a crockpot, only without the electricity.

Looking forward to using it again this spring, summer and fall, along with the new ones.

Every little bit adds up.

[Wilms]

19. K&R n/t

[RebelOne]

20. OK. sounds good. But what if you do not have

any sunshine? I live in a mobile home that is surrounded by trees. Nothing but shade around the house. I have even bought the solar lights and put them where I thought they would catch the sun, but they didn't work.