Windshield screen solar cooker

[Bela's Mom]

I cooked a roast in my windshield screen last week at the beach. I could not get it above 225 degrees so it took a very long time. Of course, the wind was blowing almost 40 mph as a cold front moved through after I got it all set up. Anyway, it tasted fine except the potatoes needed more cooking. I will continue to experiment!

Thinking about building the box kind but wanted to experiment with something that could be folded up first.

 

[Lucky mike]

now you've gone and done it!!!!........Im hungry now and I was fixing to go grocery shopping.....that looks yummy!!!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I like to par boil the taters first. It looks good tho.

 

[Bela's Mom]

That's a good idea! I'll try boiling the taters a bit first next time! Thanks!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Forgot to mention...
Using this method, I've seen cooking temps of a little over 300F. There wasn't a stiff wind tho.
These aren't the best cookers, but not bad either, especially for price and portability.
Some of the box type fold and store easily, but most seem a bit pricy. A Global Sun runs about $250, a clunky box with folding reflectors. These will reach around 400F on a good day.
A Sunflair is a "soft side" at about $100 and not much different than using Reflectix for performance.

I've made box type using mylar emergency blankets and they work well.
I've got more time than money, so when I wanna let el sol do the work, I grab the Reflectix, throw a bunch of stuff in a baking bag and go to cookin.

 

[Bela's Mom]

Yeah, I've looked at the commercial ones. I just wanted to try using what I already had. I have more time than money these days too, lol, and was just experimenting with things I read about. I like the idea of using things that have other purposes also. But I guess if I really want to cook solar, at some point will have to make something that will do it better. I like the Reflectix idea! And the emergency blanket idea. I read somewhere that the smoother reflector works better than the little bubbles on the windshield screen.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

True, smoother is better. That's the only count against Reflectix, as with those windshield screens. The Mylar blanket is better if you can get it smooth using something like 3M adhesive spray on a stiff backing, like maybe Coroplast
I've thought about finding some Mylar mirror squares or a large one to cut to sizes. (maybe Home Depot???).
Since I'm a fan of skillet dinners, I rarely do "crockpot" solar cooking. Possibly, someday I'll get off my duff and make one to use more often.
Its fun to experiment, especially when it ends with a tasty plate of good food tho.

 

[Varmint]

Being a former sheet metal worker, I'd like to try some alclad sheets for this. They're highly reflective, like mylar or mirrors, and lightweight. Not sure of the price, though. I see no reason why regular aluminum or stainless steel couldn't be used when buffed to high sheen. Thin guage sheeting is a must, however. I wonder what tinfoil laminated on aluminum sheet would be like, now that I think about it....