Solar Cooking
On any clear sunny day, the energy from the sun can be readily used to cook food, without any high technology. There are many types of solar cookers, but the desired result is the same. The two main types of cookers are the parabolic dish and the box oven. The parabolic cooker consists of an old satellite dish lined with polished aluminum. At the focal point of the dish extends a platform on which to place a pot of beans, popcorn, or any other food you would cook on a stovetop. Once the dish is positioned to face directly toward the sun, the rays of light are concentrated onto the pot and it begins cooking instantly.
HSU Students eating popcorn cooked by a parabolic cooker
Cooking intensity varies with the size of the dish. For any food you would bake in the oven, the box cooker is ideal. It is an insulated wooden box with a glass door at the top. The interior is coated with black non-toxic paint, and the exterior should be attached to some sort of reflective surface (this is where the creative part takes place). When the box oven is placed in line with the sun, the reflectors concentrate the sun’s energy into the box while the black surface absorbs this energy and the insulated box traps the heat inside. Both types of solar cookers are a great way to reduce natural gas and electricity use while saving money on utility bills.
Parabolic Solar Cookers [PDF 719.1KB]
HSU Student & by Jennifer, Edited by Bart Orlando and Krystal Rogers (March 2004)
Cobb Parabolic Solar Cooking
HSU Student & by Duncan McIntosh and Bart Orlando (May 2005)
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