Why cook with a solar cooker?
- Solar cookers use clean energy from the sun and reduce the load on the power grid.
- They are easy to use. Think of them as outdoor crockpots or sous vides.
- They keep the home cooler in the summer because the heat stays outside.
- They are portable and can be used at picnics, on boats, during camping, etc.
- They can be used during a power outage.
- It's free energy.
- Food comes out moist, usually not overcooked.
- They can pasteurize water.
- It's fun to design the cooker.
What are the cons of using solar cookers?
- They need sun to work. Forget about cooking on cloudy days.
- There's no precise control of temperature.
- You need to plan your meals ahead of time for most of the cookers..
How often do I need to turn the solar cooker?
- For maximum heat, rotate the cooker every 10 minutes for a parabolic cooker and 15 mins for the others. Rotating every 30 minutes is more realistic. Or...face the cooker where the sun will be between 12 - 3 pm if it is left unattended. Some people have built their own trackers which point their solar cookers towards the sun wherever the sun moves.
Does the sun have to be out for the cooker to cook?
- Depending on the cooker, if a shadow can be made, food can be cooked. Of course, if there's more sun the inside temperature will be hotter. Keeping the glaze clean also helps.
Does a solar cooker use a solar panel?
- Unless it is a hybrid solar cooker, there is usually no solar panel.
Which way does the cooker need to face?
- To maximize the amount of sun, stand where you can see your own shadow at its largest size. The cooker and its reflectors should then face you. Or, face the food towards the sun, and try to make the shadow of the cooker the biggest it can be.
What do you do when the sun isn’t shining? Unless you have a hybrid solar cooker which can plug into an outlet, battery, or generator, you’re not going to be solar cooking. Some hybrid cookers can use wood also. Insulated cookers can keep cooking for a while waiting for some clouds to pass. Thermal cookers (a pot that goes in a large thermos) and hay basket (cardboard box with newspaper, or laundry basket with towels) are great to use your on cloudy days. They work by keeping the heat in using insulation after a pot of food is boiled, which reduces the energy usage and the chance of burning something unattended while the food is cooking. They are great for potlucks because they are also portable.