Solar Cooking
These cookers (sometimes called sun ovens) work much like Crock-pots, typically cooking between 180-300°F. They can be purchased online now for approximately $30 for a simple panel system to over $200 for a well made solar oven.
Not only is it fun to cook using the sun, it is a critical skill to have in a disaster, crisis, or survival situation. You can certainly live on cold canned goods, but if the water system is contaminated (as it is during hurricanes and earthquakes) and the electric hasn’t come back on, the sun oven can save the day by pasteurizing water, killing infestations in dried foods, sterilizing dishes, drying firewood, and sprouting foods. You have taken care of the primary requirements of food and water if you couple this with a rainwater harvesting system. It takes practice to perfect cooking with the sun so use one NOW to prepare for the future.
Solar Cooker types: There are three basic styles: Panel, box/oven, and parabolic.
- Panel – Panel cookers are the simplest and cheapest. In a pinch they can be made from car windshield shades.
- Box/Oven – These cookers are very practical, fully encased units with clear glass or Plexiglas tops. They come in numerous varieties and can be used for baking as well as typical stove-top cooking.
- Parabolic – Parabolic cooker’s round shape focuses the sun light causing it to reach the highest temperatures of all the solar cookers. However, it requires more tuning to keep it working optimally.
Tips and Techniques:
- Cookware used in a solar cooker needs to be black with tight fitting lids in order to absorb the maximum amount of heat. Aluminum or stainless steel tends to reflect the light instead of absorbing it.
- The best cookers will have additional tunable reflectors to help focus the light onto the cooking area. These can be made of metal flashing, mirrors, or sun-shade material.
- Insulation around the sides and bottom of a solar oven will help keep the heat in when the sun goes behind a cloud or a curious friend or family member blocks the sun because they want to see your new cooker. Remember to use a natural type of insulating material like wood, stone or wool.
- Be sure to use a solar cooker that has a thermometer mounted in it so you can adjust for optimal setting and to ensure you keep cooking above 125°F. On cloudy days cook only those foods that require simmering and cut portions into smaller pieces for better cooking.
- Remember that with top load ovens you will lose 50-100°F in just a few seconds of “checking the pot”.
- Because there is less steam lost in solar cooking you can use ¼ less liquid for rice and beans.
Warnings: Foods that remain at 50-125°F for 3-4 hours can grow harmful bacteria. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bacteria in food are killed at a temperature of 165°F, so monitor the thermometer.
Learn how to use the solar cooker! Experiment, bake breads, cakes, pies then move up to a roast. Start with making some hot chocolate or boiling water for oatmeal or cooking rice. The solar cooker is an essential tool in your preparedness tool box.
