Sport Solar Oven
 

Has anyone tried one of these "solar ovens" as shown at http://www.solarovens.org/index.html ? If the reviews can be believed, this is a pretty efficient solar cooker, something which could be quite helpful if energy prices continue to climb as forecast.

I am aware that one can make a solar cooker out of cardboard and aluminum foil, but efficiencies, peak temperatures, and chasing the sun appear to be issues. I rather invest a few FRN in a useful product that use lots of my time debugging a design.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

I own a Sun Oven and have actually baked a loaf of bread in it. Believe me though, that required a cloudless summer day to achieve temperatures high enough to do the job. Here in NW Indiana, I've never ever achieved an honest 350 degrees. The only way I'd buy the Sport Sun Oven would be with the optional reflectors.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

The reviews I read of the Sun Oven were less positive than the reviews of the Sport Solar Oven. Cooks Illustrated did a head-to-head test and preferred the Sport Solar Oven.

Here in Alabama, I think the oven will get hotter than it would in Indiana. For the type of cooking I would use it, 250 degrees would be fine. Still I agree that the reflectors would be a plus, especially in the winter months.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

Yes, the Sun Oven comes with reflectors standard equipment; but the Sport Solar Oven does not -- it's an option. Still, a very attractive price nonetheless. And, it looks like the Sport Solar Oven holds more food!

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

I'm not sure what make my oven is but I realize its best application is for slow cooking. I can cook up to 6 qt mason jars at a time. For reconstituting dried beans, rice, grains. I use it like a slow cooker in summer, fill the jars 1/2 and fill with water, leave an inch of head space and leave the lids loose. When you get home suppers done.

Its not as easy to set up as the SunOvens, the reflectors go together with a bunch of hinged pins. The glass top is a pain to remove, no handle, I have to pry it up with a spoon.

PS, clocks messed up on my camera and I'm too lazy to fix it ...

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

That makes me want to pull mine out and try it! Thanks for posting the picture.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

Lets do a Saturday cook-off !

The sun's high in the sky and I want to do a batch of beans and rice with chicken breast.

We could to a comparison and post pics of the daily progress.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

That sounds good. But I dont have any dead chicken. ( I wont buy that crap from the store) however, I do have 2 roosters that need to be dead!

So how do you prepare the meat? You will have to walk me thru it since I am a solar oven virgin!

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

I think first you should share that recipe.


Oh, did I mention, I can't participate, I don't have a sun cooker yet, but would like the recipe anyway. :23_1_22:

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

I just learned a valuable lesson......

Don't look at your solar oven while it is facing the sun!
Its a blinding experience!

:36_1_25: :36_1_25: :36_1_25:

I am trying beans today. The heat is up to 300 degrees, and is 69 degrees outside.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

I keep meaning to buy one, but never get around to it. Too cheap. Will maybe build one if i ever get the time and urge.

But if you don't want to rely on the sun, and you're in no hurry , experiment with this (I know it works well with eggs):


YouCanCookWithCompost







.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

Ok, I cooked small red beans in my solar over.......... I was going to take pictures of them before we ate them all, but it didnt happen! Some of the best tasting beens I had in a long time! I will do something else tomorrow. MMMMM I can't wait!

Momopanda....... I have a hard time thinking about putting something in a compost pile, as my only compost piles come from the south end of a north bound sheep! But your idea is a good one>

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

you could probably paint an old airtight car flat black, and use it as a solar oven.

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

Theoretically, perhaps. But, are there really any old airtight cars? And if there are, would you want one in your yard? This afternoon I went into my garage and it was hotter than blue blazes in there. Doubt it would bake a cake though. :)

Re: Sport Solar Oven
 

anyone try this one?
http://www.earthtechproducts.com/p2564.html