Solar cooker - cardboard and tin foil

“I came across this link a few minutes ago. Neat idea, especially for developing country use. Cheap, light, works in winter, and can even be used to make ice at night in temps up to around 55F (use it as a solar radiator instead of collector). Definitely backpacking/camping/emergency possibilities for this thing, if you can stand a 2-hour cook time. So it might be better for base camp use while you go exploring local trails. Or in an emergency if you are out of fuel and need to boil some water while waiting for rescue. I think for portability one would need to use a sheet of semirigid plastic that could be rolled up between uses.

http://solarcooking.org/funnel.htm”

“I am not sure I would wanna go thru all that for backpacking...but I may have found a neet science project for my kids!!!”

“Good idea, Gemini. And then you can keep it in your emergency supply box.”

“BTW - I noticed they say their design calls for a 60 degree angle in the cone, but the optimal angle is 45 degrees. The problem is at 45 degrees, the cooking time is only good for a few minutes before you must turn it to catch the sun again. The 60 degree model gives you over an hour, but at lower intensity. If time is of the essence and you don't mind tending it some (like a fire), you could reduce the angle from 60 to 55 or 50, maybe even 45 if you have nothing better to do than turn it every few minutes.

Gemini - maybe the science project could explore the usability of the 45, 50 and 55 degree models?”

“Very interesting!
This sounds like it would be good for small emergencies (that is, if the weather is sunny).”

“Good Idea Techntrek!!”

“LOL, you could record boil times for 2 cups of water for all 4 models, just like us Pepsi can stove freaks that spend hours boiling water to test design changes.”

“I saw this before...he's used the funnel to make ICE!

THAT's the idea I'd like to experiment with....”

“yeah, making ice...I would love to try that too. interesting”

“"I saw this before...he's used the funnel to make ICE!"

Uhhhh, didn't I mention that twice? Must be an echo in here...”

“Does the funnel go on your head??”

“Its got the tin foil, MarkO. So that would make it dual-use. Perfect for ultralighters!”

“http://solarcooking.org/plans.htm#box-style

It's funny I just sent my Mom a link to this site.”

“Gemini would be glad to hear that, techntrek!!”

“http://solarcooking.org/soda-bottle-pasteurizer.htm

This one caught my eye ... I guess anything with a pop can does.”

“I built a big one a while ago. I dont cook often but I use it now and then :) It helps to have a black pot/roasting pan which you put in a food grade clear plastic bag inside.”

“So, how big is that box. Copy paper box?

Pretty bulky to be walking around with. Base camping in the desert would allow this thing to work, but I couldn't imagine getting enough sun under canopy (or on a North Slope in the winter) to make this effective anywhere else.”

“Cardboard, acrylic sheet and an inner tube for a car or truck........

Paint the cardboard flat black....

Inflate the innertube and set it on the cardboard....

Place your black backpacking pot(with meal to be cooked) in the middle of the tube.....

cover the top with a clear acrylic sheet like plexiglass....


SOLAR OVEN...enjoy.....

(P.S....Placing the oven on a slight incline to face the sun will enhance operation...)”

“I wonder if you can use those car shades that are made of mylar and fabric or mylar and cardboard? Thinkbubelz and I have one of the fabric and mylar ones-- it's pretty light weight. there's a plastic band that goes around the rim (it's in the shape of a circle), so you can pack it down pretty small and it's pretty lightweight...”

“I think they had one like that at the link that Tango posted earlier.”

“ST--isn't it hard to get the innertube inflated/deflated? Wouldn't you need some kind of pump?”

“If I am going to have all that gear available, it will mean I am on a "mechanized" hike.

If I am on a mechanized hike, I will just heat my meals on the manifold.”

“I like the simple square box design, but not for backpacking, for base camp or car camp, makes great baked beans or cobblers with fresh berries for returning hikers.


gotrek www.mytrekkingpoles.com”

“Says that a UV index of 7 is required. Well, I doubt it will work here in WA. It's not even Fall yet and the UV index up in the Cascades is 4 today. Down here in the city it's only 2.

I liked the idea of using it in an emergency. : (”

“

http://solarcooking.org/windshield-cooker.htm”

“great minds thing alike.
Thanks Tango! :-)”

“Funny...

I just found this link on the KOA Kampground site (while looking for something else)-- although I think their comment about leaving the food and coming back later might lead to disaster if there are any hungry raccoons or other critters around. Obviously, leaving your food at the campground when backpacking is not prudent.

Is it me, or wouldn't it be easier to just get mirror or some aluminum foil to make your own solar cooker for less cost? Has anyone seen this contraption before?

http://www.surferchef.com/KOAdiscounts.htm”

“My daughter's middle school has all the kids make solar ovens and cook rice in them. Some also cooked muffins. Most of the kids ovens took nearly the whole school day to cook the rice LOL.”

“To me, the solar cooker they have advertised on KOA looks like a box with a mirror attached... LOl

I'm thinking it might be fun to try out the solar cooker during the summer at home on the deck... :-)... just to see what the heck you could cook...”

“I want directions on a solar oven in case of power outage!”

“Here you go

http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/funnel.htm”

“Baking
Preparation: Times vary based on amount of dough.
Cooking Times: Breads: 1-1.5 hours; Biscuits: 1-1.5 hours; Cookies: 1 hour

lol...an hour for cookies???

maybe I'll go without...I'll make rice crispy treats!!!”

“Hey, if you are in the desert it should work quicker right? (while it gets full of dust and grit LOL)”

“The more sunlight you focus on it the faster it will cook. Experiment.”

“Or you could just use the #&%!$ing oven.”