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Solar cooking

Varmint

By Varmint
in Cooking

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Shalmanese

Shalmanese

Posted
Posted

Cooks Illustrated reviewed Solar Cookers in 2007 and rated the Sun Oven as "Not recommended" and the SOS Sport Oven Solar Cooker as "Recommended with reservations".

PS: I am a guy.

dcarch

dcarch

Posted
Posted

Keeping in mind that a gas stove gives you 18,000 BTUs output.

 

A very good solar collector gives you about 200 BTUs per square foot of collecting surface. Therefore, a 2' x 2' solar oven will give you 800 BTUs.

 

Extreme insulation is key to a solar oven construction.

 

 

dcarch

Smithy

Smithy

Posted
Posted

This popped up in a few news sources when it was being Kickstarted: 

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scotfrank/solsource-cook-anything-under-the-sun

 

Not sure what the equivalent BTU would be. But seems to take a different approach from the SunOven

That kickstarter campaign is over and done, but I see it's commercially available now: SolSource Parabolic Solar Cooker

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

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"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

dcarch

dcarch

Posted
Posted

the problem with this item, in addition to the high price, is that you have to use special pots and pans which have totally black coated bottoms to help the absorption of solar energy.

 

dcarch

 

This popped up in a few news sources when it was being Kickstarted: 

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scotfrank/solsource-cook-anything-under-the-sun

 

Not sure what the equivalent BTU would be. But seems to take a different approach from the SunOven

andiesenji

andiesenji

Posted
Posted

Cooks Illustrated reviewed Solar Cookers in 2007 and rated the Sun Oven as "Not recommended" and the SOS Sport Oven Solar Cooker as "Recommended with reservations".

I believe the Sun Oven has been redesigned and made sturdier.   Australia is increasing their marketing of solar cooking units.

"There are, it has been said, two types of people in the world. There are those who say: this glass is half full. And then there are those who say: this glass is half empty. The world belongs, however, to those who can look at the glass and say: What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!" Terry Pratchett

 

ChefPip

ChefPip

Posted
Posted

I've been gathering materials to assemble a solar oven of my own.  At this point I know I don't want it sitting on the ground and it will probably be more of a novelty at first until I can determine how well it will perform.  Then what types of baked goods it could best be suited to with consideration to temperatures and baking times.

 

This is the site I am considering.

 

http://www.williamgbecker.com/MakeSolarOven.html. 

dcarch

dcarch

Posted
Posted

I've been gathering materials to assemble a solar oven of my own.  At this point I know I don't want it sitting on the ground and it will probably be more of a novelty at first until I can determine how well it will perform.  Then what types of baked goods it could best be suited to with consideration to temperatures and baking times.

 

This is the site I am considering.

 

http://www.williamgbecker.com/MakeSolarOven.html. 

 

I think the best approach is using Fresnel lens. Check out youtube "Fresnal cookers" "Fresnel BBQ" etc.

 

dcarch

  • Like 1
ChefPip

ChefPip

Posted
Posted (edited)

Yes Dcarch,  I see what you mean.  I watched an evaluation of several  Fresnel Lenses.  I didn't know where people were getting them or the differences in the focal lengths..  I could see using this with Cast Iron ware for a number of things as the food would be covered.  One of the lenses that was evaluated by the show's host was thought to be a possibility for an otherwise solar oven.

 

I'm guessing the Fresnel would be mounted at the outer edge of the "funnel" instead of at the bottom where the glass window would be mounted.  I'm sure the Fresnel would significantly amplify the solar energy better than just a plate of glass.

 

It's an interesting idea.

 

Here's the Youtube video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xExXjXm0YV0

Edited by ChefPip (log)
  • 2 years later...
Smithy

Smithy

Posted
Posted

*bump* Has anyone here been experimenting with solar cookery lately? I assembled a box with foil and plastic kitchen wrap before remembering that this topic exists.  I'd have done things differently if I'd done more research first; still, in my current situation (lots of sun, lots of heat) I've got a solar slow cooker for cheap.

 

20170315_180219.jpg

 

This was just a smallish box picked up from a convenience store's stock of not-yet-crushed boxes.  If it had been slightly larger I could have put my cast iron griddle on the base and improved the heat collection.  (That's a dark brown plastic cutting board in the top photo.) I've tried it twice, both times using a clay pot.  Oven temperature reached 186F the first day, but I didn't measure the temperature of the pot's contents.  The second day I didn't get the oven temperature because I was gone most of the day, but as the pot's contents were cooling down I measured 155F. Both times I've succeeded in getting nicely cooked peppers (bell and chili) out of the deal.

 

20170316_174645.jpg

 

Not bad for a discarded box, aluminum foil and kitchen wrap!  Next time I'll try some of the designs linked above. In addition, I'll be on the watch for a Fresnel lens.

  • Like 8

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

dcarch

dcarch

Posted
Posted

Sunlight gives you less than 300 BTU per sq. ft. compared to a gas range, which produces 18,000 BTUs.

 

The whole key for a better solar cooker is insulation, insulation and insulation.

 

Also, the cookware should be as black as possible.

 

dcarch

  • Like 3
Smithy

Smithy

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, dcarch said:

Sunlight gives you less than 300 BTU per sq. ft. compared to a gas range, which produces 18,000 BTUs.

 

The whole key for a better solar cooker is insulation, insulation and insulation.

 

Also, the cookware should be as black as possible.

 

dcarch

 

Thanks for that information.  I'll keep it in mind for future developments. This was just a test run using easily-found and -disposable supplies - something I won't mind 'losing' at the next trash drop.  Even this bush-league setup is working well for quick thaws and rewarming food, though: the glass jar of frozen sauce was thawed within an hour, and my leftovers were plenty warm in 15 minutes.  It is probably relevant that the deck that the rig is sitting on is well over 100F. 

 

20170317_185355.jpg

  • Like 2

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

IndyRob

IndyRob

Posted
Posted
On 5/9/2011 at 7:51 PM, dcarch said:

See if you can find a throw-away large screen rear-projection TV.

 

Crap.  I believe I have one in my basement that is destined for the dump.  I'll now be obliged to take it apart.

 

But it kinda' seems like the cooking equivalent of wrestling a grizzly bear.

dcarch

dcarch

Posted
Posted

if I was to make a solar cooker, I would use 1" thick rigid foam for the outside (foam is cheap at HD) box. For the window, I would look at Craigslist for salvaged modern insulating windows for IR reflecting glass.

For interior finish, I would go to a telescope making forum and ask for information about the blackest black paint.

 

Solar light enters the cooker, hits the black surfaces, converts into IR(heat), the IR reflective glass blocks the IR from escaping.

 

You may end up with a real practical solar cooker.

 

dcarch

 

  • Like 1
  • 7 years later...
MM73

MM73

Posted
Posted

102 - perfect for solar cooking! We live in Portugal and the weather here is also very conducive. I've got some baked potatoes on the go right now in fact. My wife and I made our own solar oven (box type) and we're very happy with how it performs. To be honest I'm quite surprised - I was expecting much from it. Anyway, we documented the build process here if anyone is interested to make their own:

 

https://reclaimdesign.org/diy-solar-oven

  • Like 4
Smithy

Smithy

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, gfweb said:

@MM73 How hot will it get in the oven?

 

 

That's my question, too! In addition, I'd like to know specifics about your baked potatoes. How long did they take? Did you need any special steps for them?

 

Thanks for reviving this topic, by the way.

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

MM73

MM73

Posted
Posted
23 hours ago, gfweb said:

@MM73 How hot will it get in the oven?

 

That will depend on weather conditions etc but most solar ovens reach temperatures close to 150°C

  • Like 2
MM73

MM73

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, Smithy said:

 

That's my question, too! In addition, I'd like to know specifics about your baked potatoes. How long did they take? Did you need any special steps for them?

 

Thanks for reviving this topic, by the way.

I put the baked potatoes in at around 10am and then left them all day whilst I was in our workshop - we took them out at around 5pm or so, just in time for dinner!

  • Thanks 1
MM73

MM73

Posted
Posted
18 hours ago, Smithy said:

 

That's my question, too! In addition, I'd like to know specifics about your baked potatoes. How long did they take? Did you need any special steps for them?

 

Thanks for reviving this topic, by the way.

We have also put together a solar quiche recipe and accompanying video if you're interested - it tasted delicious (if we do say so):

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_N1qos7_fc

  • Like 1
  • Delicious 1
gfweb

gfweb

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, MM73 said:

That will depend on weather conditions etc but most solar ovens reach temperatures close to 150°C

good for a braise

  • Like 1
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