Does the outdoor temperature affect cooking times?

This is a very good question.


The answer is:  sometimes.


As long as it is a sunny day, you can nearly always cook using a solar oven.  That's because the oven operates on the principle of focusing the sun's rays, not on using the outside temperature.


If you are in some of the Northern states, however, colder temps usually mean that daylight is very limited.  


You'll have to make sure you do two things:


1.  Make sure you position the oven so it is facing directly towards the sun.
2.  Make sure you cook during the brightest/warmest time of the day.  (Usually this is between 10 am and 2 pm.)
3.  Make sure you adjust the position of your solar oven every hour to maintain higher temps.


Here in Charleston, SC, the temperature really isn't much of a factor.  There are only a few weeks where it gets really cold here, and it is usually sunny.  


But I do have a backup system, just in case.  :)

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down....

It's a chilly, rainy day here in Charleston, SC.  Not a heavy rain, but a drizzly one.


And so this means no cooking in the solar oven today. :( (It's overcast, not just scattered showers and clouds.)


Normally, this isn't a problem.    If you can't use the solar oven, you simply cook indoors.


But in an emergency situation, you need to plan ahead for days when you can't use a solar cooker.


Here are a few ideas:

• Invest in some thermos-type containers.  Cook extra food when the days are sunny and store them in these for later.  
• Bake breads, cakes, etc.  These will keep for several days (even without refrigeration - remember, we're talking about an emergency situation), and will help provide sandwiches and snacks on the days that you can't use your solar oven.
• Have an alternative cooking source, such as a hobo stove.  (This is basically a metal can, like a coffee can, that you use pine cones, twigs, etc. in to light a fire in.)  While it's smoky and sooty, it'll at least let you heat up food.  (Have canned food on hand for this - things that will heat up quickly.  Also, you can have things such as instant rice or potatoes, too.)

These are a few ideas.  Just planning ahead will make things a lot easier to deal with, and in an emergency, you need to be able to feed your family whether it's raining or sunny.

Global Sun Oven - Product Review

I’ve always been a proponent of making your own solar oven, and I still think that you should know the basics of making one in the event of an emergency.

However, I have recently discovered that there are some real advantages to buying a commercially-made solar oven, and wanted to pass along some information along to you guys.

Solar ovens that you make yourself typically get into the 200 degree range, maybe a bit more. This is usually fine for cooking, but it will just take longer (up to four hours or so). Not usually an issue, but can be a problem if one or more things occur:

1. The day is only partly sunny with intermittent cloud cover.

2. The days are getting shorter (in the winter).

3. You have several items to cook and you need to cook in batches.

You get the idea.

So I was looking into some alternatives to a homemade solar cooker and found one that looked promising - The Global Sun Oven. (More info -click here: Global Sun Oven - Solar Cooker  )

There were other alternatives, but I wanted something that would last a long time, and other products I saw seemed to have a shorter life (according to customer reviews). I found a lot of other things that impressed me.

It gets as hot as a conventional oven.

This was one of the two biggest factors for me. If I was going to invest in a solar oven, I wanted to make sure it got hotter than something I could make myself. (Yes, I have seen people who say they can make ovens that get in the 300+ degree range, but I haven’t been able to do it myself.) The fact that this oven could get into the 300+ degree range (and possibly reach 400 degrees under ideal conditions) was a big selling point for me. It means that I can cut my cooking time by almost half, in some cases. That could also mean making more than one meal in it (such as lunch and dinner) OR being able to make large batches of food (such as stews, soups, etc.) and then stocking my freezer.

Because this oven gets as hot as a conventional one, make sure you follow some safety guidelines, such as always using oven mitts when removing food and supervising children when they are around the oven.


The panels to help focus the sun's rays into the main part of the oven are also a factor in why it gets so hot - very nicely done.

One quick note - make sure you follow the manufacturer’s directions before the first use. You need to let it heat up (empty) and then clean the inside well before using it the first time. (Like most conventional ovens and cookware suggest.)

It heats up quickly.

Because of the design and the way it seals, this oven heats much more quickly than a solar oven I can make. This also helps cut down on my cooking time, in combination with Reason #1.

One thing you will need to be mindful of is that the food will need to be covered. If you don’t cover the food while it is in the solar oven, the top window will fog up and this will decrease the effectiveness of the oven.

If you do not have a dish with a lid, you can use the oven bags that are used for baking turkeys.

It’s durable.

This product can be expected to work well for years, as opposed to one you make yourself, which needs to be replaced every few months (at least). It’s also of heavier weight than one you make yourself, which is another plus - it’s less likely to blow over.

There is a platform for food.

This is essential so that there is enough air circulation to cook food properly. Having the platform makes the air get up under the food, as well as around it. (Just make sure to balance the food properly - the platform does move. This is a good thing, so that you can position the food for the best cooking position, but just realize that you need to balance it.)

Better safety

The higher temps meant that I could cook meats and other temperature-sensitive foods on days when I otherwise might be leery of doing so. The Global Sun Oven helped me cut my costs because I could use solar cooking more often.

Overall, this is a great oven - hotter temps than one I can make, quicker to heat up, platform for positioning food and for air circulation, and it’s durable.


For more information, including pricing, please click here:  Global Sun Oven - Solar Cooker 

Solar Cooking Classes in Charleston, SC

Cooking with solar ovens is simple to learn!

You can learn how to make your own oven, or you can learn the different types of commercial ones to purchase, along with recipes and tips.

For information, contact us!

scsolarcooking (at) gmail (dot) com

Solar Hot Dog Cookers

One of the easiest and quickest things to cook in a solar oven or cooker is hot dogs.


This is a good thing for several reasons:

1. If you have a day with limited sunlight, it is a relatively quick meal (as far as solar cooking goes).
2. Most kids love hot dogs, so it's a popular meal.
3. You can cook the side-dishes with it - baked beans, for example - in jars.  This really only needs to be heated, so it's another (relatively) quick item.

You can use several methods, but my favorite is using the basic cooker (second pic from the top on the right) along with a covered Pyrex casserole dish (dark is better, but clear works).

Just place the hot dogs in the dish and cover them.  You can use a clear turkey roasting bag, but it's not necessary if it's a bright day.

Check the hot dogs after 15 or 20 minutes - sometimes that's all it takes.

Quick, easy and solar - the best combination!

Cooking a Meal In Jars

Cooking meals in a solar cooker using jars makes meals easy.

Put your main dish in a pot, and put your side dishes in jars.  (I use quart jars.)

Using one fairly good sized cooker, you can cook a whole meal in only one cooker.  If you need two, put the main dish in one and the side dishes in the other.

Sorry that this is short, but things are busy today!  :) 

Helping Friends and Family in an Emergency

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo hit my hometown.  My family was without power for nearly 3 weeks.  They were lucky - some areas didn't get power for 2 months. 


This was before many price-gouging laws were in effect or enforced.  Ice was $10 a bag (nearly 10 times what a bag normally costs now, 20 years later, so you can imagine how jacked up the price was compared to 1989 prices).  Propane?  If you could find it (nearly impossible), it was outrageous.


Luckily, my dad has always been a camping enthusiast.  He had a gas grill, plenty of propane, and lots of camping equipment.  They had lights, hot food, hot showers and more.


Dad cooked for more than just his own family during that difficult time.  When the neighbors smelled food cooking when my Dad fired up the grill, they came over and he was happy to share.  For some neighbors, the hot meal they had that day at my Dad's house was the only hot meal they had had in days.


I feel like being able to use a solar cooker in an emergency is even better than a grill.  I won't run out of fuel!


Having a solar cooker during an emergency can not only help your family, but can help others in an emergency.  Having a hot, hearty meal can make a world of difference in a crisis situation.  


This is one reason why I am so passionate about spreading the word about solar cooking:  it can make a difference in people's lives, and can provide help for families in need.

Using jars to cook in a solar oven

One way to cook several things at once is to use glass jars with your solar oven/cooker.

This is an especially good method when heating up foods from your emergency kit (which should have canned goods that merely need to be heated, not cooked).

Here is a video showing how to do this:

Solar cooking doesn't have to be about making a complicated dish all the time.  It can also be about simply heating up foods that are already cooked, such as canned and prepackaged foods.

Using a Parabolic Solar Cooker

So far we have talked about solar ovens when discussing solar cooking.  Solar ovens are similar in method to slow cookers - low heat over several hours cooks your food.


Parabolic cookers are very different, as this video will show:




The parabolic cooker focuses the sun's rays and concentrates them on one focal point.  That focal point gets hot very quickly, so you have to be careful not to get burned.  (Sunglasses are recommended when using a parabolic cooker.)


There are two common methods for cooking over a parabolic cooker.  One uses a wire base to set a pot or pan on.  The other - more common - method is to use some type of grill over the cooker.  You set the pot or pan on the grill at the focal point and cook like you normally would - the temperatures are very close to what you have on a traditional grill or stovetop.


If you use recycled materials, this can be a very cost-effective way of creating a solar cooker, as well.  

Solar Cooking Recipes

Many traditional recipes for a slow cooker can be used in a solar cooker, since the principles are the same.


I'm compiling a cookbook, but I'll be posting recipes here on the blog from time to time. :)

Pork Roast and Apples

1 medium-sized pork roast
3 apples, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 sweet onion, chopped
salt, pepper


Combine all of the ingredients in your pot.  Put the meat in first, and you can cut the roast into smaller pieces if you want it to cook faster.


Set the pot in your solar cooker and cook until the apples and onions are soft and the meat juices run clear.


Simple!  :) 

Solar Cooker Designs

There are so many designs that you can use, but here are a few of my favorites because they are so simple and cheap to make:












Simple and inexpensive!


Enjoy!

Solar Cooking for Emergencies

A solar cooker should be one of the main components in your 72-Hour Emergency Kit.


Why?  


You need to remember the Rule of 3's for survival:


You can survive...

• 3 minutes without air
• 3 hours without shelter
• 3 days without water
• 3 weeks without food

A solar cooker can help with water and food.  It can cook food, of course, but also purify water.  Fresh, safe drinking water can be scarce in an emergency.

"How Long Does it Take to Cook with a Solar Oven?"

The short answer:  "It depends."


Let me explain.


It will depend on a number of factors:

1. What you are cooking
2. How bright the sun is
3. How well your cooker/oven is insulated
4. How large your reflective surfaces are

Among other things.

Notice I didn't say anything about what the outside temperature was.  Outside temperatures really have little effect on how well or how quickly food cooks.  The most important factor is how bright the sun is and how well you can collect the rays.  You can cook during the winter on sunny days.

Solar Cooking Basics

There are numerous solar ovens you can buy, and there are tons of solar cookers you can make; however, they all have some basic things in common:

1. There is a way to reflect the sun's rays into the cooker or onto the pot.
2. There is a dark surface to absorb the sun's rays - the inside of a box, or at least the pot itself.  Some models use black ceramic tiles to absorb and retain heat.
3. There is a way to seal in the heat - either with a glass/plastic cover, or with a plastic bag around the pot (like an oven cooking bag).

If you have these three things, the designs you create are almost endless.

(Parabolic cookers are a bit different, and not as easy to construct.  They focus the sun's rays on one spot and cook more quickly.)

What is Solar Cooking?

Solar cooking is simply using the power of the sun in order to cook your food - much in the same way as a slow cooker works.  


You can use a solar powered oven, a solar oven cooker, or a parabolic solar cooker.  There are solar cookers for sale and also ones that you can make yourself.


"Why should I learn about Solar Cooking?"


There are many reasons why you should learn about Solar cooking:

1. Good for your budget - not heating up your house when you cook saves money on cooling bills.
2. Good for the Earth - no gas or electricity needed.
3. Good for emergencies - you can feed your family even when the power or gas is out.
4. Good for meals - food tastes better!
5. Good for your time - just set your meal in the cooker and go about your day - just like a slow cooker!

For more information about solar cooking, please come to a class or keep checking here for more resources.