Solar Oven Sensation

Yesterday my husband took my solar-cooker-baked cake to work. I like to bake but I can’t allow myself to have too many tempting treats around the house because I will eat every little bit of it. Yes I will.

So when I do bake something it’s fun to share with other people who like a tasty treat once in a while, too. Since I just got my cool new solar cooker recently I decided to put it’s cake baking abilities to the test. The solar cooker passed with flying colors.

When my husband told his co-workers how I baked it, the news caused a minor sensation at his office. Some of the questions included: “Is this safe to eat?” “Does the cooker get hot enough?” “How does it work?” “How long does it take to cook things?”. Well, I agree, solar cooking does seem kind of weird, and these are definitely legitimate questions. So I thought I’d tell you all a little bit more about it, and lay your fears to rest. For more in-depth information I recommend this website (this is the organization where I got mine).

1. “Is it safe?”: If you are not afraid to eat anything you make in your slow cooker/CrockPot, you needn’t be afraid of eating anything you make in your solar cooker. Just like a slow cooker, a solar cooker uses longer cooking times at lower temperatures to produce delicious, moist meals. Temperatures in some solar cookers can reach 500 degrees, though this model was engineered to not exceed 300 degrees to prevent scorching of foods.

2. “Does the cooker get hot enough?” “How Does It Work?”: Yep, it sure does get hot enough. Those pots are HOT when you take them out. Pot holders are a must. The included thermometer tells you that, too. It works because sunshine can get in the cooker, but the heat can’t get out. A solar cooker works like a roach motel, only for sunshine - rays check in, but they can’t check out. It’s the Greenhouse Effect, which we all know works everytime we get in our cars on a sunny day. If you feel you need a little extra heating “oomph” you can always attach the included reflectors. But this may make things too hot!

3. “How Long does it take to cook things?”: Just like in a slow cooker things take a long time to cook, maybe twice as long than in a regular oven. But since lower temperatures provide a more gentle cooking environment, even if you forget and leave something in the solar cooker for hours and hours, it won’t burn!

As I type this I’m using my solar cooker to make dinner - ground turkey meatloaf and steamed veggies. I put them in at about 2:00 and it is now 6:30. I probably could have taken them out an hour ago, but my husband isn’t home from work yet, so I thought I might as well keep things warm. I know my meatloaf will keep. (The picture on the left is the finished product. I cooked the meatloaf in my muffin tin for the first two hours, took it out and poured off the grease, then put the “meatcakes” back in the this covered pot to continue cooking. Both the “meatcakes” and the steamed veggies came out great).

Today there have been about eight little brown-outs, with the power going off for about thirty seconds each time. If I had to rely on my kitchen oven (which is electric) to cook dinner today, I would be a very frustrated housewife. But I’m cooking dinner with no worries - the electricity may go out, but not the Sun!

Also, let me just add that even though lots and lots of people have never heard of solar cooking, this technology has been around a long time. The first solar cooker was invented by a Swiss man about 250 years ago. The more modern “box” type cooker was invented by two American ladies about 30 years ago. Thousands and thousands of people around the world today rely on solar cookers to put food on the table. Plus, it’s just plain fun, and pretty amazing that it works so well. Solar cooking is a GREAT idea for frugal living!

Update: Well, Hubby FINALLY came home from work at about 7:30. I immediately served up the turkey meatloaf and veggies, and they were delicious. Everything was perfectly cooked, even after being in the solar cooker for at least five hours. It’s so good when it hits your lips! - no leftovers!

Here is a picture of my SOS Sport Solar Cooker in a sunny spot, warming up for cooking.