Solar ovens

[MustangGal]

DS and I are going to make two solar ovens this summer and compare them for a science project. Anyone made their own and recommend any particular plans?

[Urban Survivalist]

I have made several and it is a great project to do with the kids. If you have questions you can go to solarcooking.org and get plans.

[Noble]

I made one from a auto windshield shade using these instructions: http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/windshield-cooker.htm

Looks like this...


Cooked some lentils and rice in it just fine. Took a couple four hours.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I gotta try this!

[MustangGal]

I have the stuff to make this one! Gonna try it out in a week or two.

[monkeybird]

I watch at least 20 YouTube videos on making a solar oven. I was seriously going to do it, but decided I wanted one that would last, so a bought one. However, I know how to make one should the need arise.

[pitbulld45]

I have seen em made out of everything from a card board box, foil and a zip lock bag to welded units. I think I will make one for sure.

[Rmplstlskn]

The one thing that really sparked some interest in me on solar ovens was the NG show on Preppers where the lady cooked ALL of her meals on their solar oven... That was cool... I had always relegated them to "survival" uses as I thought it would take too long to use regularly. But it seems that opinion was wrong... Anyone know which one was shown in the show?

As for using other shiny things (car sun shield, aluminum sheeting, tin foil), I would think it needs to be really, really shiney and focusable to use for ant decent cooking where you needed decent cook times... 4 hours for a pot of lentils won't cut it in for everyday use...

Rmpl

[monkeybird]

I have the identical oven. It's a Sun Oven. It's very well made and folds up nicely for storage.

http://www.sunoven.com/

I began by thinking I'd make my own, maybe use an old cooler instead of a cardboard box, but I decided I wanted something that will do the job and last. The last thing I want in the PAW is to do is try and make a solar over, scavage for parts and then have it get damaged with rain etc.

Solar ovens are great for cooking a lot of things, especially for security. There's no smoke. Another bonus, you can pasteurize water. You can purchase these vials full of wax, when the wax melts, the water is safe to drink. The vials are reusable.

My sister has a different brand, can't remember what is is, but I love mine.

FYI - you can get it much cheaper by searching amazon, etc.

[Currahee]

I'm thinking about this guy

Seems a good mix of storing compact, cost and performance.

I need to think of some new way to cook and this might be the key.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Solar ovens intrigue me and I have looked at several plans. I think having one, or the materials to make one in TSHTF would be fine. I just don't want to rely on the sun to cook a meal for me. There are days in my AO that the sun doesn't shine much, and as Rmpl stated 4 hours to cook a pot of lentils won't cut it. I have looked at the Rocket Stove by Stovetec. They also have a Water Pasteurizer, so for less than $150 you could have a way to cook and make water safe. These have been and currently are being used in third world countries. Now putting your meal in a solar oven and "set it and forget it" sounds nice, but I wouldn't want to be far from it as I wouldn't want an animal (two or four legged) to stumble upon it and I get back to nothing. The Stovetec stove would require someone to be there while it is cooking, but you can boil a gallon of water in 20 minutes, according to their site, using just three 1.5" by 12" inch long sticks of wood. I have plenty of wood in my AO. Just my two cents...YMMV

[monkeybird]

I have a propane camp stove for backup, but using a solar oven is not as difficult as you think. You may have enough wood for your needs, but burning wood gives off smoke and odor.

http://cookit.e2bn.org/historycookbook/1406-bread.html

This link is to a fascinating video on bread baking in Tutor times. It may be in part two, don't remember, but they show how the cook had to prepare the oven, it's not just building a fire. This is amazing stuff. I appreciate my solar oven more after watching it.

[MustangGal]

I think we all need to have as many ways to cook as possible. Nothing works for every situation, but if you have several choices - you are in a better position.

[Hidden Agenda]

I think we all need to have as many ways to cook as possible. Nothing works for every situation, but if you have several choices - you are in a better position.

Agreed. I like the idea of solar ovens for typical day to day uses, but think you always need back-up plans. How will you cook/treat water if a tropical depression is soaking your area for a few days? (as we have experienced here in FL on many occasions).

Two is one, one is none.

[lcas-271]

I went to a "Self-Sustained Living" expo last fall were they were demoing such units. They also had an area where the kids could build and small solar oven, though it was pretty flimsy when they were done. I sat down and talked to a lady that lives fully off grid and she told me that she uses her purchased solar oven nearly everyday. Her routine was to mix up whatever she wanted for dinner in the morning and then place it in the oven around 1100hrs. When it's done cooking she would then vent the heat but the sun would keep the meal warm until it was serving time.

The only problem that I saw with her set-up was she placed it at the end of her drive and the neighbors would stop by to see what was for dinner.