On the PBS TV show, "America's Test Kitchen", they featured solar powered oven models, with the comment that it is a evolving technology. They
concluded that some of the models did OK with cooking certain selective items, i.e. high moisture, slow cooking like stew, but heat stability
sensitive items like rice, bread, etc. did not turn out well.
Do any Nomads use a solar powered oven?
[Edited on 8-10-2009 by Gypsy Jan]
Solar oven
Osprey - 8-10-2009 at 02:53 PM
We have this old fashioned kind and it works great. We've never had a bad meal from it but I guess that's because we are careful to choose just the
kinds of food it's made for.
One of my Mexican neighbors could not believe we use it. When I explained how it works he said "No fire. And you eat the stuff? You gonna die"
[Edited on 8-10-2009 by Osprey]
Johannes - 8-10-2009 at 03:06 PM
Look at
<http://www.solarcooking.org/>
and how to build them
<http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Cooking/cooking.htm#SolarStills>Johannes - 8-10-2009 at 03:09 PM
Originally posted by Osprey
We have this old fashioned kind and it works great. We've never had a bad meal from it but I guess that's because we are careful to choose just the
kinds of food it's made for.
One of my Mexican neighbors could not believe we use it. When I explained how it works he said "No fire. And you eat the stuff? You gonna die"
[Edited on 8-10-2009 by Osprey]
We have the same Solar Oven. It works great!
rocmoc n AZ/MexicoBAnn - 8-10-2009 at 04:21 PM
I have the same oven (Sun oven). I have cooked rice with no problem. We full time in our fifthwheel and the oven is the best thing I ever bought! I
use it most days of the week. Our summer home has hook ups but I still use it there. And for the Baja it is the best thing going. What makes the oven
so great I bought it at a auction for $4.00 and it was new!
Osprey
Gypsy Jan - 8-10-2009 at 05:14 PM
Your neighbors probably think that you are practicing daylight bruja medicine!bajaguy - 8-10-2009 at 05:17 PM
Guess it doesn't do well for popcorn before bedtime???BajaNuts - 8-10-2009 at 06:20 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Guess it doesn't do well for popcorn before bedtime???
probably have to pop it at noon and wait for the evening forum fireworks shows.
These are cool looking cookers, I have some friends living off the grid here in WA and this would be GREAT for them. Might like to get one me-self,
except I' just googled it on ebay and there ain't nuthin less than $250!
BAnn get's the prize for Best Yardsale Find!Osprey - 8-10-2009 at 06:24 PM
No good buying those cheapy solar ovens. You'll discover, as many others have, they only work well with bigger, hotter suns. Kinda like 110 vs 220 --
that would be Alpha Centuri or further out.BajaNuts - 8-10-2009 at 06:28 PM
so, not so good for Washington latitudes?
Can you pickup Dish TV Sat signals with those things...
Mexray - 8-10-2009 at 07:24 PM
...or maybe you could use it for a signaling mirror if you're lost in the Outback...
I guess they'd be OK at high noon...but Propane and Charcoal work much better when the sun goes down!Udo - 8-10-2009 at 07:32 PM
[Edited on 8-11-2009 by udowinkler]gnukid - 8-10-2009 at 09:25 PM
Here's one made this year with scraps and some foil. It tends to reach 200-250 F through most of the day in winter. We cook meals in a large crock pot
and let it cook for 4-5 hours starting early, say 10AM.
Foil on wood
Stored turned away from the sun when not using.
Adjuster
Microwave plate for cover David K - 8-11-2009 at 11:37 AM
How does it do at night?
Seriously, I used to sell a solar cooker back in the early 80's... focused the sunlight from a fold out dish onto a grill where a sauce or fry pan
could be placed... Made hot dogs on it.Bajajorge - 8-11-2009 at 01:24 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Guess it doesn't do well for popcorn before bedtime???
Just go to bed earlier.ecomujeres - 8-23-2009 at 11:36 PM
We have used a number of home-made solar cookers for years while living on the beach near Mulege. It even worked in Oakland, CA in the summer when we
were lucky enough to have the sun poke through the fog.
The basic design incorporated several nested, cardboard boxes, a lid made of thick glass and foil covered cardboard collectors.
A great starting place for home-made ovens can be found in the book Heaven's Flame.
There are also lots of designs and tips on the internet.
We regularly cooked rice, beans, stews, chicken legs, and even excellent brownies. On really good days, when it was clear and the wind was down, the
oven would reach and hold at 350 for at least two hours, but it consistently held around 325. The trick is to reposition as the sun moves to keep the
temp up.
A must for most foods is a covered dish (dark colored adds to absorption of heat)
Brownies do best when the dough is not very deep in the pan.
