Starting this weekend Penn State Master Gardener Joe Judge will be selling solar cookers at the local Farmers market. He is raising money for Project Sunshine. Has anyone ever used one? I thought for the cost of 25.00 I would give it a try. The money goes to Africa to help families cook and pasteurize water. I have read that you can make bread, quiche, and a cobbler, no pie but what the heck beats running the oven in the summer.
I am a physics teacher, so we tried to build one, didn't work too well. But if the angles are correct, it should concentrate the light rays and heat. Theoretically
Posts: 99 | Location: SW South Dakota | Registered: June 10, 2008
After reading your post, I looked up solar cookers online, and there are quite a few out there. I would really like to get the one that is a hybrid, but that might be in the spring. I found this site when searching for the cookers. If you get the cooker, please let us know what you think of it and what your results were.
As an edit..I'm stoked about the solar cookers and after reading much about these things..I'd like to get feedback on solar cooking trials and tribulations. I've done the sun-tea, dehydrating, but actual baking and the "new" techniques using solar power for cooking just the average meal. There's probably some stuff on here about that, and I might have to delve into the FIND section. I would appreciate comments and suggestions on this topic. And thanks to Bonniek for this thread.
Posts: 500 | Location: roanoke, va | Registered: January 13, 2008
I will keep you posted. I plan to buy one this weekend at the market.Not sure when I will get a chance to try it. This is a very busy time for me with work and football staring. I will go on unemployment the thrid week of Sept. so I'm hoping to give it a try then. My job is seasonal. I wish I could collect in the summer and work in the winter. I do work in the winter but only 4 hours a week.
We have had a solar cooker for years, and use it a few times a week during the summer. Sometimes we just bake a few potatoes, and sometimes we cook a roast or a vegetable casserole.
We put it put into the sun until the heat reaches about 300, then put the food in. My hubby checks it every 20 min or so and adjusts it as necessary. After a few hours, he brings the food in to eat. Sure beats getting the kitchen hot in the summer.
mindwing
Posts: 63 | Location: Clearlake, CA zone 7 | Registered: May 18, 2008
