Preparing food and delicious meals is one of our preferred activities when camping. We typically use a propane stove or a campfire, but we recently came across exciting alternatives – did you know that you can cook with solar-powered stoves and cookers?
Yes, you can cook using solar energy, and that is great. Some alternatives are available in the market, and you can use solar cookers and solar ovens. Each option comes with pros and cons, which will explore below.
Overall, the major drawback is not being able to use it during the night or on cloudy days. On the other hand, you can easily prepare your food on summer days without electricity and any gas – that is brilliant!
Let’s go through a detailed review of this topic below.
Is there such a thing as a solar-powered stove?
Yes, there is! A solar stove will convert solar energy into heat to allow cooking. Usually, they are built with a reflective surface that reflects and redirects sunlight to a specific point that will overheat.
They are ideal for campers, survivalists, hikers, and backpackers camping in remote locations (off-grid) and have no electric hookups close by.
Go sun Go solar portable stove is an excellent alternative that allows you to boil water and cook your meals within 20 minutes. It is lightweight (14lbs), measures only 23” x 13” x 13” and a suprising capacity of 145oz (4.3L).
It can reach temperature up to 550 °F (288 °C) and do not electricity nor gas. The video below show some of its features and how to use it.
How does solar cooking works?
A solar cooking device will convert UV light rays into infrared rays. Generally speaking, you need to follow the 3C rule, which consists of:
- Concentration – A group of mirrors or reflective surfaces will reflect the sunlight into a specific point where your cooking area.
- Capture – A dark cooking pot will be used to capture the concentrated infrared rays and transfer the heat to the food inside it. We usually use black pans/pots since they will absorb the maximum amount of infrared rays (some models, Go sun Go solar portable stove , already come with their cooking pot).
- Conservation – The pot must have optimal insulation to ensure the heat is trapped inside it and helps with cooking. Preferably, pick a double-wall pot with a ceramic coat, such as MSR 2.5L camping cook pot.
Do solar ovens really work?
Yes, solar ovens are an eco-friendly and low-budget alternative that is really efficient. There are models that can reach up to 400°F (204°C) in full sunlight, such as Gosheng portable solar oven 3.5L.
According to gosun.co, the efficiency of some solar cookers is estimated to reach its peak at 80%, which means that 80% of the infrared lights are converted into heat.
Can you boil water in a solar oven?
Yes, you can. Most solar oven models reach more than 100-celsius degrees (212 Fahrenheit), which is more than enough to boil water. Therefore, you can sterilize water with these devices.
How to make a DIY Solar Oven?
The video below details how to easily do a DIY solar oven with minimal investment and very quick – watch it!
How much is a solar powered oven?
You can spend less than $20 with a DIY approach up to $500 with the more advance options. We personally tried Go sun Go solar portable stove and really liked it. At the time we are writing this post it costs approximately $125.
Can you cook anything in a solar oven?
You can cook almost anything – the limitations will probably be related to the cooking pot size and the device you choose.
For example, it will be hard to cook a pizza in a solar oven, given its size and the need to have an open surface to bake it. A list of delicious dishes that you can prepare while camping with solar ovens:
- Baked Fish
- Baked Fresh Fish Fillets
- Bar-B-Que Chicken
- Basil Butter
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts With Tomatoes, Olives and Capers
- Campers Beef Stew
- Chili
- Fish Fillets
- Roast Pork with Apples
- Shortcake
- Sirloin Tips with Mushroom and Onion
- Steamed New Potatoes
- Swede Prairie Baked Venison
- Wild Rice
(Source: Solar Oven Recipes – Easy and Deliecious | Solar Oven Society)
What is the difference between a solar oven and a solar cooker?
Even though both use the same principle, they might differ in shape and cooking outputs. Solar ovens are more baking-orientated, whereas solar cookers can be used to cook a wide variety of things, from eggs to stews.
Can you power an electric stove with solar panels?
Electric stoves tend to consume high amounts of energy, and therefore powering them with conventional solar power might be difficult.
However, if you use a model with low energy consumption (up to 500W) and you can use solar power generators with a high capacity if you are considering it, such as Bluetti Solar Generator 2200W and Jackery Solar Generator 1000.
Overall, we do not recommend this approach unless you are going to use your solar power generator for other use, such as recharging your PC, phone, running a TV, a mini camping AC, etc.
Alternatively, you can also use a 12V portable oven, which will run on 12V batteries for long time.
What are the 3 types of solar cookers?
Overall, you have three types of solar cookers:
- Box solar cooker – as the name says, it is made of an open box that redirects sunlight to a specific area, where you can place your cooking pot and prepare your meal.
All season solar cooker is a budget-friendly option, which is very easy to use and maintain. It is lightweight and foldable, ensuring portability for all campers.
- Parabolic Solar Cookers – The parabolic shape help these models to focus all the UV rays into one spot, which gives them fantastic efficiency. These cookers can fry and grill meat, and you can even cook popcorn.
GDAE10 Portable Solar Cooker, 1800W 1.5m Diameter Camping Outdoor Solar is an excellent model with adjustable temperature. Similarly to the model above, you can use it in all four seasons (as long as you have sunlight exposure!).
- Panel cookers – They incorporate features of parabolic and box cookers; however, they tend to be less efficient than the previous models.
What are advantages and disadvantages of using solar cooker (and ovens)?
The table below summarizes pros and cons of solar cookers and ovens.
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- No fuel required (save money!)
- Easy to operate
- Safe
- No maintenance (only cleaning)
Cons
- Depends on weather conditions
- You will not be able to cook at night
- Cooking might take longer
FAQ
Can I use a solar cooker in winter?
Yes, there are no problems. The only thing you will need is plenty of sunlight exposure to ensure the 3C (concentration, capture, conservation) rule works!
Are solar stoves safe?
Yes, they are. We recommend reading the manufacturer’s instruction to properly operate and maintain it.
What are the alternatives to solar oven and solar cookers?
You can use butane or propane stoves that will suit you as well.
We wrote an article detailing the comparison between these models and recommend you read it – read it here.
Conclusion
Solar cooking is a great alternative for off-grid campers – they are cost-effective, easy to operate and eco-friendly. Overall, you can choose between solar ovens and solar cookers.
Our preferred model is Go sun Go solar portable stove, which comes at an affordable price and with great practicality. However, we understand that different campers have different needs.
If you are camping in a large group, it might be worth considering a parabolic cooker, such GDAE10 Portable Solar Cooker, 1800W 1.5m Diameter Camping Outdoor Solar given its power and cooking capacity.
Don’t forget to bring appropriate camping gear, such as ceramic-coated cookers and pans, such as MSR 2.5L camping cook pot.
