Our Solar Oven Gets Around

There are a few types of solar ovens, panel, box or parabolic shaped. Below is the box style. The inside of the box is black with a tempered glass lid. It has reflective shields around it to direct the solar rays to the oven. The black interior absorbs light which turns into heat. There is insulation inside the two walls of the box.

They will work on cloudy or cold days as well. The cooking time needs to be adjusted.

Solar cooking is effected by the time of day and season, wind and ambient temperatures.

Solar cooking can be done year long. In the summer months it only takes a couple of hours to cook a roast. Something we would not normally make in the summer time not wanting to heat up the kitchen. The oven reaches temperatures of about 275 to 350 f. depending on what time of day and the direction it is facing.

The roast browns and has wonderful flavor with pan drippings for gravy. Nothing burns in a solar oven. It can dry out or even turn to mush if left out too long,. but it will not burn.

If a thawed whole chicken is cooked all day it may turn to mush. If it is put out too early and is kept moving it toward the sun that by dinner time, not only will the meat fall off the bone, but it will be disintegrated

It can also be used it to reheat food. It takes about an hour in the afternoon to reheat but does not add more heat to the house from using a conventional oven or use propane.

When cooking with a solar oven do not add water to the pot unless you want it stewed. The added moisture just boils everything. In the winter time, a frozen pot roast or chicken can be put out and aimed toward the noon sun. In the morning it is defrosting, noon it is cooking, and afternoon it is keeping it warm, and by dinnertime it is ready to eat.

Red sauces like spaghetti sauces, leave the lid off so that it can cook down. Put it out in the morning and by the end of the day it has cooked down to a wonderful sauce by dinner time.

We have not tried baking as yet, but excited to eventually do all of our cooking outside in the solar oven. Finding black pots that are not toxic are a challenge. We use a cast iron pot most of the time. It takes longer for the pot to heat up but once it does it works great and the heat stays in longer.

We have our solar oven on a wagon. That way it can be moved to a new location to face the sun or if the wind kicks up. We use bungie cords to tie it down when it is windy so that the reflectors do not bent. It is also low so that I can reach inside.

Mounting it on a pole with a lazy susan type of platform may work as an alternative set up.

Don't forget oven mitts when checking on the food. Cooking with a solar, don't forget it is hot. And never forget your sunglasses!

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