[[lifestyle:words_of_wisdom|Words of wisdom]]: "....the solar oven is a very good mimic of a crock pot slow cooker" - Bob Wells((https://www.cheaprvliving.com/cooking-solar-oven/))

====== Solar ovens ======

Solar ovens are devices that concentrate and retain heat from the sun to [[food:cooking|cook]] foods.  They can also used to reheat or to [[water:start|disinfect water]].  The ovens may have integral cooking containers((as with thermal tube designs)) but more commonly a black pot is placed into the oven.  


Advantages:
  * free!
  * "Low and slow"((long duration, relatively low temperature)) techiques adapted from [[food:cooking:crockpot|crockpot]] recipes may be useful.
  * cooking outside prevents heating interior of vehicle during warm weather


Disadvantages:
  * requires good sun
  * wind can blow the cooker around
  * wind will wick off heat from open designs
  * can be bulky - look for foldable/collapsible designs


====== styles ======

Major design styles include:

  * box - a box with reflectors
  * bag - like a box, only made from flexible matrial like neoprene with mylar lining
  * funnel - a rough parabolic shape
  * thermal tube - horizontal clear tubes into which food is placed

===== requirements =====



The acronym **CARD** describes what is necessary for solar cooking:((https://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=37882&pid=507641#pid507641))  

  * **C**ollection (reflectors)
  * **A**ttraction (black pots or painted oven bottom)
  * **R**etention ("greenhouse" enclosure or insulated box walls with cover)
  * **D**uration  - time in the oven

One might add **S** for **S**unshine.  
===== commercial ovens =====

Commercial ovens tend to be expensive.  See also DIY overns below. 

  * Global Sun Oven (aka Burns Sun Oven), used by Bob Wells((https://www.cheaprvliving.com/cooking-solar-oven/)), jimindenver((https://cheaprvliving.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=22611&pid=272592#pid272592))
  * [[https://amzn.to/3zBB5J9|Go Sun]] (thermal tube), used by zenerbufen((https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/inl7xi/are_van_dwellers_really_using_go_suns_solar_oven/g4a52ij/)), biobennett((https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/idcljq/do_these_solar_ovens_actually_work/g28dqx2/)), AbsintheFairyGirl(((https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/idcljq/do_these_solar_ovens_actually_work/g28wdpw/))
  * [[https://amzn.to/3xrsVB2|Sunflair]] (bag), used by jimindenver((https://cheaprvliving.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=22611))
  * [[https://amzn.to/35NUMjr|Sun Oven All American]] (box), used by PrairieFire_withwind((https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/idcljq/do_these_solar_ovens_actually_work/g2eetp7/))
  * SOS Sport, used by used by PrairieFire_withwind((https://www.reddit.com/r/preppers/comments/idcljq/do_these_solar_ovens_actually_work/g2eetp7/))
  * [[https://amzn.to/3gDcg8d|Amazon search]] for solar ovens



===== DIY ovens =====

  * Providence Acres tire-based solar oven ([[http://web.archive.org/web/20130424024039/http://providence-acres.blogspot.com:80/2012/07/our-diy-solar-oven_16.html|from the wayback machine]])
  * Pocket Full of Wanderlust's $5 DIY solar oven ([[https://web.archive.org/web/20160316023810/http://www.apocketfullofwanderlust.com/2014/01/the-500-dollar-solar-oven.html|from the wayback machine]])
  * backwoodshome [[https://www.backwoodshome.com/making-and-using-a-solar-cooker/|DIY solar oven]]
  * open design [[https://www.reddit.com/r/Permaculture/comments/ly5h03/took_down_an_abandoned_antenna_from_the_roof_and/|made from a satellite dish]]


===== further reading =====

  * Bob Wells' [[https://www.cheaprvliving.com/cooking-solar-oven/|article on solar ovens]]
  * Heaven's Flame book on solar cooking (PDF) ([[http://web.archive.org/web/20201119120100/https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/solarcooking/images/f/fe/Heavens_Flame_-_Joe_Radabaugh.pdf/revision/latest?cb=20200621174500|from the wayback machine]]), [[https://amzn.to/3gGYqQV|out-of-print paperback]].
  * warming food [[https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers/comments/cjuzcl/solar_oven_vanstyle_between_the_front_windshield/|between windshield and reflector]]
  * [[https://vandwellerforum.com/user-184.html|jimindenver]] is the most famous nomadic solar cooker user.
    * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnPpTyX1hew|jim reviews solar ovens]]
    * jim [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-mlBvceHEM|demonstrates]] the Dr. Solstice solar oven
    * jim [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uai-HTE2S5w|compares]] very small solar ovens