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Any thoughts on solar ovens?

  • 05-05-2013 12:15pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    Just been browsing instructables looking at solar ovens as a green way of cooking food and a potential backup if I run out of solid fuel if the SHTF, one example here:

    F8V3FXXG7DY85WT.LARGE.jpg

    Looks simple enough even for the DIY inept like myself. The advantages if it functions correctly are obvious - a continual supply of cooked food and warm water for cooking/washing/drinking copious cups of tea.

    However I get the impression that these instructions are written by North Americans who of course live in a vast desert by and large, so get much more sunshine than we do.

    Does anyone here in Ireland have experience of using this type of oven? Is it not worth the bother considering the frequent cloud and drizzle in which the Emerald Isle is enveloped?


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    Any thoughts on solar ovens?

    One word IRELAND - is it worth the effort for the one day in summer when it might work?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    Any thoughts on solar ovens?

    One word IRELAND - is it worth the effort for the one day in summer when it might work?

    The reason I asked is I wasn't sure how much direct sunlight is needed to cook food adequately - presumably it depends on the oven in question to an extent, would be interested to know if anyone has tried to use these outside the single day of summer Ireland gets! :-)


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 15,676 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tabnabs


    I think anywhere north of the English Channel would be pretty worthless.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    Tabnabs wrote: »
    I think anywhere north of the English Channel would be pretty worthless.

    Have received a PM from a user who has made use of one to heat water in the past but outside Summer a solar oven in Ireland is just a paperweight apparently. Heigh ho!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    I think you might be better off with a trangia and a haybox cooker


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    mawk wrote: »
    I think you might be better off with a trangia and a haybox cooker

    Might depend where you are intending to use them?

    Trangia is a great camping cooker for anyone on the move but why limit yourself to a lighter weight cooker if you are staying put. I say that because I don't see anyone lugging the bulk (not weight) of a haybox around and the OP has mentioned bugging in in other threads.

    We do a lot of our cooker top cooking at home on gas and a cylinder lasts 3-5 months (never used more than 3 in one year but boil water with electric) so if anyone is bugging in it might be easier to change over the way they cook now from electric to bottle gas and just stock up on gas cylinders. Then when the power goes thats one thing you don't need to worry about at least in the short term. The addition of a haybox could save a lot of gas and extend fuel supplies even more.

    Longer term I have plans for an outdoor bread oven which for those who have a survival group plan could be a good community project. Which reminds me, I must check the price of firebricks and stock up on them as they are very useful for a lot of heating and cooking projects.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭Solair


    They work in Spain or California but in Ireland you definitely won't get enough solar energy to make it work.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    Might depend where you are intending to use them?

    Trangia is a great camping cooker for anyone on the move but why limit yourself to a lighter weight cooker if you are staying put. I say that because I don't see anyone lugging the bulk (not weight) of a haybox around and the OP has mentioned bugging in in other threads.

    We do a lot of our cooker top cooking at home on gas and a cylinder lasts 3-5 months (never used more than 3 in one year but boil water with electric) so if anyone is bugging in it might be easier to change over the way they cook now from electric to bottle gas and just stock up on gas cylinders. Then when the power goes thats one thing you don't need to worry about at least in the short term. The addition of a haybox could save a lot of gas and extend fuel supplies even more.

    Longer term I have plans for an outdoor bread oven which for those who have a survival group plan could be a good community project. Which reminds me, I must check the price of firebricks and stock up on them as they are very useful for a lot of heating and cooking projects.

    Thanks again Eirator, very touched that you remembered my strategy (if you can call it that) revolves around bugging in. My father and his partner cook with bottled gas though they seem to need more than you do, perhaps they're a bit too liberal with their usage? I do remember a bottle running out before his pension was due forcing us to cook spaghetti bolognese on the BBQ, very tasty! :-)

    Am I right in thinking the Haybox works along the principle of reflecting heat back into the cooking container? I have read it can reduce the energy required for cooking as much as 40% but have always been a little sceptical, as I always am when trying to apply things I learned in school to everyday life - anyone here made use of one?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    The haybox doesn't so much as reflect the heat as just stop it escaping but a layer to reflect heat back wouldn't go a miss. There was a bonniebede thread that looked into them in more detail. I've never used one to cook with but have used them to keep food hot and they do that great. We use all cast iron saucepans and casseroles and I suspect that they would work well with a hay box as the cast iron would hold a lot of heat to keep the cooking process going.

    I said we use gas but we boil most water in an electric kettle and have and electric oven as well as a multi-fuel cooker so gas is just part of our strategy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    The haybox doesn't so much as reflect the heat as just stop it escaping but a layer to reflect heat back wouldn't go a miss. There was a bonniebede thread that looked into them in more detail. I've never used one to cook with but have used them to keep food hot and they do that great. We use all cast iron saucepans and casseroles and I suspect that they would work well with a hay box as the cast iron would hold a lot of heat to keep the cooking process going.

    I said we use gas but we boil most water in an electric kettle and have and electric oven as well as a multi-fuel cooker so gas is just part of our strategy.

    Sounds ideal, I have a small stove with hexane fuel tablets which we use to boil water and cook small amounts of food occasionally for practice if nothing else - would much rather have one that can make use of scavenged deadwood and twigs but will have to wait until next month's paycheque!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    silentrust wrote: »
    Sounds ideal, I have a small stove with hexane fuel tablets which we use to boil water and cook small amounts of food occasionally for practice if nothing else - would much rather have one that can make use of scavenged deadwood and twigs but will have to wait until next month's paycheque!

    If you want to boil water there is NOTHING better than a Kelly Kettle it burns free fuel, twigs, bits of stick, deadwood, pine cones and most things that can be made to burn including I believe camel dung but then if we had that easily available your solar oven would be a better bet :D

    The only problem is the Kelly Kettle is ONLY for outdoor use and don't be using the hexi stove indoors as iirc the fumes aren't good for you.

    The attachments you can get for Kelly Kettle to use it like a stove are of limited use but fit in well with some peoples mode of operation.

    I currently don't have a Kelly Kettle as I can't decide which one to get (I really want 2:o) but from experience the small one works well as does the largest but the medium one doesn't have the best flue to size ratio so seems slightly less efficient.

    A haybox shouldn't cost much to make its just a box with a lid/door stuffed with insulation. Long term convert an old fridge, even a large cool box can be used with more insulation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    If you want to boil water there is NOTHING better than a Kelly Kettle it burns free fuel, twigs, bits of stick, deadwood, pine cones and most things that can be made to burn including I believe camel dung but then if we had that easily available your solar oven would be a better bet :D

    The only problem is the Kelly Kettle is ONLY for outdoor use and don't be using the hexi stove indoors as iirc the fumes aren't good for you.

    The attachments you can get for Kelly Kettle to use it like a stove are of limited use but fit in well with some peoples mode of operation.

    I currently don't have a Kelly Kettle as I can't decide which one to get (I really want 2:o) but from experience the small one works well as does the largest but the medium one doesn't have the best flue to size ratio so seems slightly less efficient.

    A haybox shouldn't cost much to make its just a box with a lid/door stuffed with insulation. Long term convert an old fridge, even a large cool box can be used with more insulation.

    Just had a look at the website, many thanks for this. I like the look of the small one as it seems to me better economy of fuel to heat up small amounts as they're needed - bearing in mind you can always empty and refill it with cold water - just don't use it to run any baths...!

    Hot water is a luxury I could really do without losing. Years of public school ice cold showers have taken their toll - perhaps there'd be a way to upscale something like this to a full scale boiler?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    silentrust wrote: »
    Just had a look at the website, many thanks for this. I like the look of the small one as it seems to me better economy of fuel to heat up small amounts as they're needed - bearing in mind you can always empty and refill it with cold water - just don't use it to run any baths...!

    Hot water is a luxury I could really do without losing. Years of public school ice cold showers have taken their toll - perhaps there'd be a way to upscale something like this to a full scale boiler?

    Just throw money at the problem :D Get a Frontier Stove and its water boiler attachment although the one review of the water boiler isn't great.

    I took a look at the Frontier Stove in that outdoors shop on the quays in Waterford and while I like the design I thought it was a bit thin, but I suppose you have to compromise on weight on an item like that.

    The larger Kelly Kettle is the one to get if you are not going to back pack it. Its what has put me off getting one, the little one only boils enough for a mug and a bit of the size mug I use but the bigger ones are just a bit big to carry solo.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    Just throw money at the problem :D Get a Frontier Stove and its water boiler attachment although the one review of the water boiler isn't great.


    I took a look at the Frontier Stove in that outdoors shop on the quays in Waterford and while I like the design I thought it was a bit thin, but I suppose you have to compromise on weight on an item like that.

    The larger Kelly Kettle is the one to get if you are not going to back pack it. Its what has put me off getting one, the little one only boils enough for a mug and a bit of the size mug I use but the bigger ones are just a bit big to carry solo.

    Most interesting, will see if finances allow then give you all a full review.

    I take it then your strategy is centred around bugging out? A fortified cabin in the woods where you can survive as the world burns?

    Returning to the topic at hand one of my survival buddies from back in Blighty says that solar ovens are useless for bread apparently, so perhaps another reason to get one that runs on twigs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    Bugging in with a good bit of gear packed and ready to bug out. In fact various levels of preparedness including grab bags if we needed to leave in a couple of minutes down to a few boxes of stuff that would make bugging out a lot more comfortable assuming transport is available. Cars would also carry a few useful basic survival items at all times.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭jaqian




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    jaqian wrote: »

    Brilliantly innovative Jaqian many thanks, I have printed this and added it to my ongoing SHTF ring binder (on the basis you may not be able to look it on Digg come the apocalypse).

    Have you tried this before? I suppose you'd need a fewof these to get anything cooking properly?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    They cook very well, effectively the same as the burner part of the trangia and many other meths stoves.

    If you are looking for something really lightweight they are ideal and can be made while out in the field if necessary but you still need a supply of meths.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    They cook very well, effectively the same as the burner part of the trangia and many other meths stoves.

    If you are looking for something really lightweight they are ideal and can be made while out in the field if necessary but you still need a supply of meths.

    Well said chief, I suppose that's the attraction of the solar oven in that the Sun is an abundant resource (outside Ireland and Britain ).

    Still there is no shortage of twigs out there. Certainly safer to store wood than alcohol in any case.


  • Registered Users Posts: 590 ✭✭✭maddragon


    I have a proper solar oven for demos etc. brilliant when you have direct sunlight. As useful as a chocolate teapot if you don't. In full sun it will cook a full chicken in about 2 hours. Great thing is you will never burn the food even if you head off for the day because it will move out of the suns path as the day wears on. I'm lucky to get 15 days a year out of it in this place though (Cork)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    maddragon wrote: »
    I have a proper solar oven for demos etc. brilliant when you have direct sunlight. As useful as a chocolate teapot if you don't. In full sun it will cook a full chicken in about 2 hours. Great thing is you will never burn the food even if you head off for the day because it will move out of the suns path as the day wears on. I'm lucky to get 15 days a year out of it in this place though (Cork)

    Thanks Maddragon, question answered it seems - did you build the oven yourself or buy a pre-made one? Very jealous you're in Cork!


  • Registered Users Posts: 442 ✭✭H.O.T.A.S.


    Whilst not ideal for Irish weather in terms of cooking a meal how would a solar oven fair up if used for food preservation? Can you make/modify one as a dehydrator?


  • Registered Users Posts: 590 ✭✭✭maddragon


    I bought a premade one and it can be used as a dehydrator.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    maddragon wrote: »
    I bought a premade one and it can be used as a dehydrator.

    Most promising! I have toyed with the idea of buying a hydrator but so far only growing enough strawberries to be eaten immediately. Let's hope one day there is a surplus! :-)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    silentrust wrote: »
    Most promising! I have toyed with the idea of buying a hydrator but so far only growing enough strawberries to be eaten immediately. Let's hope one day there is a surplus! :-)

    LOL you obviously haven't been gardening long!

    Some fruits are best eaten immediately!

    The problem is Plan A) Grow enough food to survive soon becomes plan B) God that was good lets eat it now. You really need a few years experience before you can grow enough to satiate Plan B) and have enough left for the primary Plan A), unless of course you don't have any taste buds.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    LOL you obviously haven't been gardening long!

    Some fruits are best eaten immediately!

    The problem is Plan A) Grow enough food to survive soon becomes plan B) God that was good lets eat it now. You really need a few years experience before you can grow enough to satiate Plan B) and have enough left for the primary Plan A), unless of course you don't have any taste buds.

    Only for a year or so I'm afraid, my SO really is the expert. She does it to save money and because she is a flower child. I do to batten down the hatches come the Apocalypse - having said that I have seen dried strawberries but agree they're probably best eaten off the bat...

    ...Anyone had experience making jams? That's what I'd like to do next. Have bought some jars just for the purpose.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,520 ✭✭✭eirator


    silentrust wrote: »
    Only for a year or so I'm afraid, my SO really is the expert. She does it to save money and because she is a flower child. I do to batten down the hatches come the Apocalypse - having said that I have seen dried strawberries but agree they're probably best eaten off the bat...

    ...Anyone had experience making jams? That's what I'd like to do next. Have bought some jars just for the purpose.

    Its interesting that some of the stuff we talk about here is really just the lost art of house keeping. 50 years ago making jam and pickles from summer excess would have been automatic now its something an enlightened few do because it tastes so much better than shop bought and even fewer do because its part of self sufficiency.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 678 ✭✭✭silentrust


    eirator wrote: »
    Its interesting that some of the stuff we talk about here is really just the lost art of house keeping. 50 years ago making jam and pickles from summer excess would have been automatic now its something an enlightened few do because it tastes so much better than shop bought and even fewer do because its part of self sufficiency.

    cf. Encyclopedia of Country Living. :-)


  • Registered Users Posts: 32 nigra


    What with the good weather and the need to keep young children occupied outdoors, I managed to boil 500mls of water for my first cup of tea from a DIY solar oven and then hard boil a couple of eggs without really trying in my back garden.

    I glued kitchen foil to a cardboard IKEA box to make reflector panels. Then I put a water filled black pot inside a clipped oven bag, all under the glass dome of a cake dish and placed the reflector panels to concentrate the sunlight onto it. It took an hour initially from 1pm to heat the water (which turned out to be hot enough to make tea), then a second try with a lot more water in the pot cooked the 2 eggs from 3pm until 6pm - the water was actually boiling when I opened it up.
    I was quite surprised at just how seriously hot it could get.

    If tomorrow is as good i'll try and be a bit more adventurous and try to cook a full meal. Anyone else up for the challenge?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 518 ✭✭✭ Lilian Late Chickpea


    nigra wrote: »
    What with the good weather and the need to keep young children occupied outdoors, I managed to boil 500mls of water for my first cup of tea from a DIY solar oven and then hard boil a couple of eggs without really trying in my back garden.

    I glued kitchen foil to a cardboard IKEA box to make reflector panels. Then I put a water filled black pot inside a clipped oven bag, all under the glass dome of a cake dish and placed the reflector panels to concentrate the sunlight onto it. It took an hour initially from 1pm to heat the water (which turned out to be hot enough to make tea), then a second try with a lot more water in the pot cooked the 2 eggs from 3pm until 6pm - the water was actually boiling when I opened it up.
    I was quite surprised at just how seriously hot it could get.

    If tomorrow is as good i'll try and be a bit more adventurous and try to cook a full meal. Anyone else up for the challenge?


    Hi that's seriously impressive, could you post up a few pics of your setup?


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