Making a solar oven with reflective mylar.

[VanFan]

Rice today.  I used less than the usual amount of water.  At 2 hours, it was done (not crunchy), but a little dry, so I added more water.  At 3 hours, it was still a little dry, and somewhat overcooked.  Not my worst rice; not my best.  It was much more flavorful  than stove cooked.  Next time, I'll start with more water and drain some off at 1-1/2 hours if needed.

 

[highdesertranger]

I am curious. why are you messing with the water? why wouldn't be the same as on a stove top? highdesertranger

 

[jimindenver]

wrap the pot in a cooking bag and seal it shut to help insulate the pot and retain the water. I never use extra water in my rice.

 

[VanFan]

I am curious.  why are you messing with the water?  why wouldn't be the same as on a stove top?  highdesertranger

Yeah, I wonder, too.  I had read that rice often comes out way too wet, because there is less moisture loss (like in a slow cooker).  Some even suggest as little as 1 to 1.  When cooking stove top, I use a tight lid and don't peek, so I don't really think that much steam escapes.

No rice experiments tomorrow because another apple pie has been requested.  (Now that I think about it, I could stack 'em up, with the pie on top.  Hmm...)

This is cool, but where would the cooks sit?! (Windshield screens with camping chair cooker) https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/s...5-31-17.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170531222144

 

[VanFan]

Today's apple pie was darn good!  I put a black cover over it, and it browned perfectly, even though the oven maxed out at 250F.

 

[VanFan]

It's been cloudy here much of the time lately.  Yesterday, I made another mini apple pie (popular request) in spite of hazy skies.  My cooker never got over 200F, and I brought the pie in after about 2-1/2 hours.  It was, of course, not done.

Today was brighter, and I set a Mexican casserole out for about 2-1/2 hours.  It was good, but once again, the oven didn't get over 200F.

Instead of an oven bag, I have been using two 2-1/2 quart Pyrex casseroles as an enclosure.  Yesterday and today, I went up to two 4 quart Pyrex bowls.  I wonder if that is too large an area to maximize heat retention.  Bags would definitely be more portable, but I think heat retention might be less.  More experimentation is in order, but I really like solar cooking overall!

Also, I am experimenting with attaching the cooker's panels with magnets and washers.  The washers can be sewn to the Reflectix easily.  I think I can wrap the magnets in duct tape and sew them on as well.  If it works, this cooker will be even easier to store and use.

Do any of you have tips or recipes?

 

[Sofisintown]

Do any of you have tips or recipes?

Not an expert by any means, but all the containers for cooking in solar ovens I have seen in videos are BLACK.

I hope JiminDenver pitches in, here. He knows.

 

[VanFan]

...all the containers for cooking in solar ovens I have seen in videos are BLACK.

Yes, black cooking contains are usually recommended.  For panel cookers (vs. box-type ovens), the pot is enclosed in something clear to trap heat because it is otherwise exposed to open air.  Turkey/oven bags are often used.  Some people place the pot under an inverted clear bowl, or inside a pair of bowls with the one on top inverted clam shell style.

I have seen the acronym CARD used to describe what is necessary for solar cooking:  Collection (reflectors), Attraction (black pots or painted oven bottom), Retention ("greenhouse" enclosure or insulated box walls with cover) and Duration (yep--it takes a minute!).

I got the big bowls hoping to fit a larger cooking vessel inside, because I still want to try that mini slow cooker bread recipe with solar. (I had to turn that on its head to get the top browned; will probably have to show the loaf's bottom to the sun to get it browned, but I don't know.)  It might be a long wait for a really good sun day though.

Yes, I understand Jim Denver has a good reputation where food is concerned. I am a lazy, lazy cook, but am oddly drawn to unconventional (and, admittedly, sometimes marginally effective) methods. Solar cooking helps fill the niche.

 

[VanFan]

Also, I am experimenting with attaching the cooker's panels with magnets and washers.

That was a bust.  Instead, I'm using brass paper fasteners (the ones with round heads and two legs that split).  Longer ones would be better, but I have a box of 100 short ones on hand.  This is less fiddly than lacing the panels to the base each time, and I love how compact it makes the cooker!

 

[VanFan]

The sun has been (mostly) back!  I've also upgraded with a nice black pot that fits perfectly in the Pyrex bowl enclosure.  Want to start conversations in a busy (boo) campground?  Set up a solar cooker.  Inquiring minds definitely want to know if it really works and what's cookin'.

This week, I made shepherd's pies.  The ground beef and vegetable filling was prepped ahead, and I used instant mashed potatoes on site, so I cheated.  Two of these in foil mini loaf pans fit inside the pot and were steaming hot in no time.  A single-serve pineapple upside down cake was a fail because I started it way too late.  It was salvaged using an electric skillet, but remained a little mushy.  My husband has really enjoyed this, so we fixed half a box of Zatarain's red beans and rice one afternoon.  I preheated the water and cooking chamber for about 30 minutes, stirred in the mix and a little olive oil, and it was perfectly done an hour later.

I'm hooked.

 

[Sofisintown]

Van Brat,
Could you please take a picture to post next time you cook?
I want to see the the solar oven you made.

 

[VanFan]

Hey Sofi, I am a brat, but not that Brat (LOL).  I do have pictures, but have to admit I've been too lazy to figure out how to post them.  I tried once to post pictures from a digital camera of my crazy sink, and failed.  Maybe the resolution was too high?  Also, it seems I had to get them from the camera to the laptop, then post to the forum.  Is there an easier way via smart phone (I'm a relatively new adopter/Luddite)?

 

[Sofisintown]

Oooooops! :shy: Sorry, VF! I'll watch it next time...
If you can access CRVL from your phone, and upload pictures straight from the phone 'galery'.
It's easier that way. I'll try it to make sure.

 

[Sofisintown]

upload pictures straight from the phone 'galery'.
It's  easier that  way. I'll try it to make sure.

Eh, I tried that, it didn't work :-/

 

[VanFan]

Sofi:  Thanks for trying!  I will probably wait until tomorrow and try to work through it.  I really am being shamelessly lazy today :sleepy:.

 

[nature lover]

Van fan I resemble that remark.

 

[VanFan]

Pictures (hopefully) of Copenhagen-style solar panel cooker made with Reflectix:

 

[VanFan]

So no picture .

Day before yesterday, we had a basically failed apple pie for lunch.  I think ambient temperature and wind make a big difference in panel cooker performance.  Also, the angle of the sun is changing quite a bit now.

Yesterday, I cooked some instant brown rice.  It was... instant brown rice--not a favorite here, but had to check it out.  I think we'll stick with regular rice in the future.

Today, I got out a "Fun-Panel Solar Cooker" I made from cardboard and foil before abandoning it in favor of the Copenhagen design.  WOW!  I put it out around 1:00 just to see what it would do, and it got to 275F in less than 15 minutes!  Shortly after that, it hit 350F, and I scrambled around for something to cook.

While we mixed up a half batch of cornbread (with peppers, onions and cheese, of course), I put some butter in the microwave/dishwasher safe dish I've been using and set it on top of the inverted lid of the black Graniteware pot enclosed with Pyrex bowls.  Ten minutes later--that dish wash totally melted!

Switched to a six cup gray-ish muffin tin inside an oven/turkey bag and stuck it in the cooker on top of the Graniteware pot turned upsidedown by 2:00.  It never got hotter than 275F after that, but the cornbread muffins were nicely done by 3:00, with crispy sides and lightly browned tops.

The Fun-Panel is not as small as the Copenhagen, and not as rugged since it's covered with foil, but it has some advantages.  I got the plans here: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/_...oking/images/9/9c/Fun-Panel2_Instructions.pdf  It folds to about 10" x 20" by 2-1/2", or a thinner 20"x20", so is about 6" bigger than the Copenhagen.  Also, I actually didn't mess with the slots and tabs per the instructions, because that just seemed too fiddly.

 

[VanFan]

[quote pid='509413' dateline='1602020348']
The Fun-Panel...
[/quote]
Found a YouTube with easy to follow instructions for the Fun Panel.  Although this is not the collapsible version, it is easy to modify.

 

[nature lover]

Thanks for the links to solar cooker’s. I have no experience with them but when I was a camp counselor at church camp we cooked pizza in a reflector oven by the campfire. I think we even bake the cake worked out good it was just heavy tinfoil in a box With some sticks to make a rack to put the pizza on.