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Solar cooker cheap |
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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Posted: March 19 2006 at 1:32pm |
I found this site www.solarcooking.org and it has several different type of plans for making solar ovens/cookers for really cheap, alot of them are made with boxes and aluminum foil and black paint, there is one made with a tire inner tube, piece of glass and piece of wood, these are totally cool. It does take 2-3 hours to cook something in them but it would save on fuel and we have so much sun here in OK (except for today it is actually, finally raining) that I think this might work well for me. I am going to get the paint this week and try this out. If anyone else gets to try this out before I do, please let us know how this works. We are due for more rain tomorrow, so probably the middle of the week before I can try it out.
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Hi, great site. I've thinking about a solar oven, here in Northern California it gets to 120 during the summer and this will be a great cooking source. I just looked up those box stoves, heck, even I can make one of those. I'm thinking banana boxes, they're sturdy, top already has a nice opening, just enlarge it. You know, even if BF doesn't hit this summer, this would be a fun way to prepare a meal. Thanks again |
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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They do look so easy and cheap anybody could afford to make some of these. I bought the car window shade foil thing and black paint today to make the car shade cooker one, supposed to be able to bake bread, cook and boil and pasteurize water. I will try it out when the sun shines again, we have not had rain since Oct and have been under a burn ban forever, it has rained for 4 days now (thank goodness) but of course there is no sun when I want to try this out.
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omega
Valued Member Joined: March 16 2006 Status: Offline Points: 183 |
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I read somewhere or another, quite recently, that in an emergency where you must conserve cooking fuel, that you can bring your soup/stew/cereal/whatever to a rolling boil, and then place the pot in an insulated box -- insulated with newspapers and/or blankets and/or styrofoam and/or "etc."
They said to leave it there for hours, until the next meal, and that it would be fully cooked. This seems to me to resemble thermos cooking, but in LARGE quantity, and seems to me that it might be important to experiment with, BEFOREHAND, with inexpensive ingredients, like oatmeal or tomato soup or whatever. If it works, then one might want a more "permanent" type of insulated energy-free "oven." |
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Bake Bread??? OK, I didn't see that one. That definitely gets my attention. Would you please let me know how this works out???
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Which one of the pattern's are you using? I can't seem to find it.
You know one of the benefits of the solar cooker besides saving fuel, it's not so obvious that you have something to cook!! No need to advertise.
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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Femvet, on the main page click on panel cookers, it is the third row down, the first cooker, the Windsheild Shade Solar Funnel Cooker.
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Fruit Loop
Valued Member Joined: February 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Hi Guys- Just butting in! I also like this idea of solar cooking and also looked at that website. I like the sunshade cooker idea and the solar funnel cooker. Not too sure how to go about baking stuff. What kind of cookware would be needed to do oven stuff like baking? I will be getting the black pot today to boil, heat up stuff like you would on a stove. Do you think it would work also for frying pan stuff like pancakes etc? Great find you all!
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Found it, thanks. Doesn't tell how to bake bread. Just in the oven bag??What do you think? TIA
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sometime earlier I was looking at a site that sells commercial solar ovens and they said that you should ALWAYS use black/dark cookware. also, I'm sure if you can bake bread, it will cook pancakes. After all, they're thinner and lighter. Supposedly you can cook most anything in a solar oven. the commercial ones have the advantage that they don't need to be turned as often, but they're pricey. I relly am jazzed about the idea being able to make an oven for less than $10 including the bags, saving a ton of fuel. Overall, I'm trying to buy only things that we can use in any case (part of me is still hoping that this won't be so bad). so, not spending the $200 on a solar oven can be re-directed towards a camping stove and fuel.
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phoenixrising
Adviser Group Joined: March 18 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 64 |
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Femvet, Thank you! I'm going to purchase supplies today. I already own an expensive pot set that happens to be black--yes! About 9 years ago, my eldest and I made a small box variety solar cooker, and made cookies. I actually have pix somewhere. 2 cooking sources down, one to go...
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Cool, you actually have some experience. Please, share. How did it go???
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Fruit Loop
Valued Member Joined: February 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Any input would be great! Would you just wrap the plastic bad around a cookie sheet/bread pan within the Solar set up to bake? Femvet- I also like the idea of not spending money on a commercial solar oven!
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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I was reading somewhere on the site that you can use mason jars to cook things in, just paint the outside black. I am going to try bread this weekend just in a dark metal loaf pan. I am not sure about frying things, I think the bag has to stay closed as much as possible to keep the heat in over a period of time. I can't read entire posts on the board anymore, it only goes down to 7 lines then it is cut off, so if you are asking me questions after line 7, I can't see them unless they are at the top of your post, I am not trying to be rude or anything. I have had this problem since yesterday, it is getting very annoying.
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willtolive
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Omega..... I Built an awesome "haybox" just for my pressure cooker and it works great. It will keep food piping hot for over 12 hours if I put it in when it is up at pressure..... and the food is very cooked. Also, if I don't pop the seal on it it will not spoil nearly as quickly as there is no way for bacteria to enter. Send me a personal note if you want more info. John.
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merrittjohn
V.I.P. Member Joined: January 31 2006 Location: Afghanistan Status: Offline Points: 62 |
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Forgot to log in for the above...john.
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willtolive
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Penham, any idea if you need any particular kind of paint for the mason jars?? By the way, it looks like there all kinds of bugs since the upgrade. Please, be patient and give them soame time to work out the kinks. If this little stuff gets this much to you, how are you going to cope with BF?
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On the solar oven I made I painted the can black with tempura paint from the craft store. I guess tempura paint doesn't kick off bad chemicals? I just did what was suggested. -K
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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The paint is supposed to be non-toxic after it dries, and flat black, I got the .97 cheap spray from Walmart, it has been cloudy here and rainy or snowy for the past week, LOL, of course we haven't had rain since October and when I want to try this out, I can't, oh well, I'm aiming for the weekend. As far as the being able to read the posts, it is still messed up, but I figured out if I hit the "quote" button I can read the entire post, so at least I am not missing important information. It was just frustrating reading 7 lines then not knowing what else was said, having no link to articles cause they are usually at the end of the post, but it's ok now. I am hoping I will do fine when the BF gets here, I work great under stress, having been a counselor for teenage gang members, also a counselor in a psych unit, also did child abuse and neglect investigations (alot of sexual abuse and court), also in a juvenile detention center, also in a juvenil drug/alcohol rehab, until suffering from burnout 15 years later. It's the little things that get to me, put me in a crisis situation (like a riot or send me with the SWAT team) and I do great!
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Penham, are you planning on putting the bread pan inside a roasting pan? I may be totally wrong, but it seems to me that would more likely simulate an oven.
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Fruit Loop
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Ok Guys- here it goes.....I'm experimentling today. I will post tonight what my results are!
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Fruit Loop
Valued Member Joined: February 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Here are my results!
At 9:25am the temp outside was 39 degrees, humidity at around 30%, snow on the ground in the shade, UV index of 4, slight breeze of 6 mph ESE, partly cloudy. This is in the foothills of Northern Colorado, just east of the Rockies. I put my solar windshield shade on my backyard trampoline (not on a bucket like suggested) with a small black pot with a black lid placed inside of a turkey-size oven plastic bag. In the pot, I put in one cup of water and timed it to see how long it took to boil. At 10:20am I looked in the pot and sure enough!!!! The water was boiling!!! I can't tell you how excited my girls and I were! It took approx. 50 minutes- I wonder how long it was boiling before that since I didn't even check it until 50 minutes into it. My second experiment was at 1:45pm, partly cloudy, temp of 55 Degrees, UV index of 6, Humidity of 31%, winds were 7 mph SE. I put 3 pillsbury crescent rolls on a small black frying pan with a tight fitting black lid and put it in the plastic bag. At 3:00 pm, the temp was 55 degrees, wind was 9 mph SSE, humidity 29%, UV index of 4, and partly cloudy. I checked the rolls after 1 hour and 15 minutes and they were FULLY cooked! Maybe not as brown on top as the oven nor as fluffy but tasted just the same! I am amazed that on a nice but not ideal day that this really worked! I hope this gives some insight on the solar oven idea- I'm sold! |
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omega
Valued Member Joined: March 16 2006 Status: Offline Points: 183 |
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Amazing. Just incredible...
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oknut
V.I.P. Member Joined: March 04 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 847 |
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Thank you for this information. I just printed off the directions for the sunshade cooker and ordered a 5 qt preseasoned dutch oven. Today I'll venture out to find the sunshades. This is such a great idea that I may end up using it a lot during our hot summers even if I don't have to. Thank you for posting this!
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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I tried out the car shade solar cooker yesterday, I baked cornbread in it, it took about 2 1/2-3 hours but the conditions were less than ideal, UV index of 4 and cloudy at times, 66 degrees, I wasn't even sure it would work with the weather at all, and the wind was 32MPH. I used a black non-stick round cake pan and put a black lid from another pan (it didn't fit, too large) over the top. I will try cooking/baking something different later in the week. I am wondering if this might work through a window, so as not to have to go outdoors and would avoid the wind? Will have to try that too. Also I started rather late in the day 2ish and it seems as though earlier in the day would be better with the sun.
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Nastase69
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Penham, did you use a cooking bag too are just the pan and lid. I just purchased my sunshade last week thanks to your posts. |
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oknut
V.I.P. Member Joined: March 04 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 847 |
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Penham - this has to be one of the best tips ever. I'm planning to use this as my backup plan for boiling water collected in my rain barrels and for cooking beans or baking breads. We may never lose gas to our home, but the oven won't work without electricity.
The idea of an absolutely free energy source for cooking with no major investment is fabulous. Who knows, a seasoned cast iron skillet might even get hot enough to cook tortillas. I plan try a few things too once I get feeling better and get my garden in. Thank you again for posting this thread! If it's 90 plus degrees with no air conditioning, I'd rather cook outside anyway. |
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This is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What good news! Oknut, where did you get your dutch oven from? I need one as well. TIA
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oknut
V.I.P. Member Joined: March 04 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 847 |
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Femvet - I ordered mine at amazon.com. I added a set of handle covers to put the purchase over $25 and got free shipping. I got one without a bail handle and it was just under the $25 and shipping is free. They have a 5 Qt preseasoned one with a bail handle that's $27.06 and ships free.
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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Yes, I used the cooking bag and did it just like they said, on top of a bucket, I did have to put rocks in the bucket though to weigh it down cause it was so windy, the bucket was plastic and very light. I think I am going to try the tire oven, only instead of using the innertube, I think I will just try a regular tire, since I have one in the shed and I think I already have an old window and piece of wood out there too. Will have to wait until the weekend though, supposed to rain for the next couple of days.
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Ironstone
Valued Member Joined: March 13 2006 Status: Offline Points: 383 |
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I read somewhere to paint a canning jar on the outside with black paint and to put the lid on for a pressure cooker. Have been wanting to try it. This is wonderful news! I have the tinfoil and need to construct one yet. Thank you all for the information.
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Ironstone
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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On the solar cooker that was designed by the BYU professor, it does say he uses a mason jar painted black. It's the other solar funnel cooker on the site, has 12 printed pages of info (I printed some of it out). I hope to not have to buy anything special, I did get the black paint, and will paint the outside of a regular pan black and try the mason jar too.
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Ironstone
Valued Member Joined: March 13 2006 Status: Offline Points: 383 |
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Am really happy today. I found the perfect pot for the solar funnel oven. I think it was meant to be a cannister in a kitchen but the shape is perfect. Sort of a cylinder with about a 6 inch bottom and a lid in a cobalt blue. It paid to keep looking for just the right thing.
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Ironstone
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Fruit Loop
Valued Member Joined: February 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Have you guys read the one solar funnel cooker instructions where at the end of it, it said that you can also make ice at night in like 50 or so degree weather? I'll have to try that as it gets warmer out!
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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Yes, I did read that one, it is the BYU professor that designed that model, it is has the 12 pages of printout, a solar freezer as well as the solar oven.
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Fruit Loop
Valued Member Joined: February 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Whoever lives in a warmer state than me, try it and tell us if it works! It sounds like a great idea.
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sweetpea
V.I.P. Member Joined: March 27 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 299 |
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Southern AZ here ... they say any time of year you could make ICE? Sorry, hot summer nights here are around 7o+ degrees - too much asphalt in this cement jungle to make it any cooler! Could try it out in the desert where it's alot cooler... it's been said to get cold out in the desert at night! A couple of suggestions for breads ... breads have been made in tin cans before - why not paint a can black and try baking in one of those. Also, the terra cotta pots (pretreated for heat) could work as well. Line with aluminum & bake. |
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"When an emergency arises, the time for preparation is past."
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Fruit Loop
Valued Member Joined: February 21 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Hi sweetpea!
I think if it only stayed around 50 degrees or so ay night it says it would work. I think any hotter it probably wouldn't make ice. I am looking forward to trying it soon! |
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sweetpea
V.I.P. Member Joined: March 27 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 299 |
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I think I did read that post at one time - interesting reading at that time, but we didn't have any thoughts of BF back then ... thought it might have been something interesting to try while out camping ...
Anxious to hear your results!!
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"When an emergency arises, the time for preparation is past."
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Penham
Chief Moderator Moderator Joined: February 09 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 14913 |
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Anybody else try to cook something yet?
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Penham
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Ok, DD and I just finished cooking Ramen noodles, the outside temp was 91 degrees, UV index 8, 13 MPH winds, so pretty much perfect conditions for cooking. It took 25 minutes for the Ramen to cook, in an uncovered black cake pan (they recommend using a lid, but I am experimenting, so didn't use one). DD said they taste the same (I don't eat them) as cooked on the stove. I have a pan of brownies in now, so will see how long it takes and how they come out.
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2ifbyC
Adviser Group Joined: March 30 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 533 |
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Ummmm. Now that's a test!
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Survival does have an 'I'!
Dodging 'canes on Florida's central Gulf Coast |
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oknut
V.I.P. Member Joined: March 04 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 847 |
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Wonderful Penham!
I'm ashamed to say that although I picked up 3 sunshades, velcro and the turkey bags, I haven't even put mine together yet. I'm really watching these tests to get a feel for how it will work. |
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Calico
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I hope to try the sunshade cooker this weekend. I wonder if the glue on self-stick velcro would melt in the heat. I don't just want easy cooking, I want REALLY easy cooking!
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