The Heat of the Sun Really Cooks!

Posted on October 31, 2008 by Joyce Benson   Add a Comment |
Tag(s): Food, Going Green, Kitchens And Baths, The Great Green Outdoors

Solar cookers may look a bit funky, but they actually work, and cook food without consuming electricity or any fuels! Perhaps its most ideal use is for humanitarian relief efforts in third-world countries, but they are also perfect for camping, hiking, and picnicking excursions here in parts of the U.S. due to their portability.

There are 3 common types of solar cookers:

• Heat-trap boxes cook at moderate to high temperatures and often accommodate multiple pots.
• Curved concentrators (parabolics) cook fast at high temperatures, but require frequent adjustment and supervision for safe operation.
• Panel cookers incorporate elements of box and curved concentrator cookers. They are simple and relatively inexpensive to buy or produce.

A solar cooker needs an outdoor spot that is sunny for several hours and protected from strong wind, and where food will be safe. Solar cookers don’t work at night or on cloudy days. Typically, shiny surrounding surfaces and a transparent heat trap lets sunlight into the cooker.

Source: The Solar Cooking Archive

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