Solar Ovens - Have a Sun-e-que

Instead of a Barbeque you can let the Sun do all the work and have a Sun-e-que. The Sun means free fuel, and that means no more trips to refill your propane tank too. This solar cooker is all about heating up a crock pot or HOT POT, and works on any sunny day.

The HotPot solar oven comes with the large heavy duty black enameled steel pot and glass cooker that is pictured above. The Hot Pot solar cooker is a large thick clear tempered glass bowl, fitting inside the glass is a strong black steel pot surrounded the glass cooker. There is 1/2” between the metal and the glass allowing a small pocket of air space to surround the pot for added heat retention.

How does it work? The sun penetrates the transparent glass, strikes the black pot, and converts to heat that is retained inside the glass bowl. On a sunny day, a quart of water will boil in less than an hour, a four pound chicken will cook in about two hours in a HotPot. The cooker rests inside a super shiny metal reflector, which is composed of several panels riveted together that easily fold out to capture the direct and indirect energy of the sun. The sturdy reflector sets up in 30 seconds. It is made to be easily collapsible and folds down into a flat compact unit that takes up little storage space when you are not using it.

This solar oven is going to set you back $99, but we think given the no fuel long term cost - it's a steal.

At solarovens.net

Solar Funnel Cooker - Make Your Own Solar Oven

It's been awhile since we featured some solar cooking, and with the cold Winter upon us - a nice thought to look forward to this Spring. There's a really amazing site where we found this parabolic cooker with loads of plans to build your own - SolarCooking.org. The parabolic cooker above involves a reflective dish that concentrates sunlight to a point where the food is cooked. This approach is very dangerous since the sun's energy is focused to a point which is very hot, but which cannot be seen. So if you're making one of these ovens - make sure and know you can't see where the heat will be until you TEST TEST TEST. Click on through for more details and also visit SolarCooking.org for the latest in Solar Ovens.

At How to Make and Use the Solar Funnel Cooker

Making "Heaven's Flame" Solar Cooker

We've been following the solar cooking craze all Summer, and if you hadn't noticed the end of Summer is fast approaching. We suggest if you can't buy a solar cooker, you may want to build your own.

We found a site called, "Back Woods Home", which has all the details on how to get beyond more traditional cooking method and go FULL SUN. The best thing about building your own solar cooker? All you need to do is get some card board boxes, glue, and other things around the house and you're good to go.

At Making and using a solar cooker

Solar Sizzler

We've been covering solar ovens, cookers, and grills for the entire Summer, and you have to love this Solar Sizzler not only for the name but also for the couple in the pictures. I've never seen two people have more fun cooking in the Sun. It mounts on a camera tripod and comes apart so that you can fit it in a knapsack and take it camping. Best of all? It doesn't cost $400 clams - only $50 bucks for this solar flare wonder!

Via Treehugger at Solar Sizzler

The Global Sun Oven

We've been covering quite a few solar oven / grills this week. The Solar Cookers from Cookers International are high performance solar box cookers. Made of durable molded plastic, these solar cookers will withstand years of use. You can reach temperatures in the mid- to upper-300ºFs. Weighs 21 pounds and comes with a carrying handle.

At Solar Cookers International (Solar Cookers & Supplies)

TAMMOCK Trading Solar Grill

We've been doing a fair amount of reading in the area of Solar Grills. A solar grill is the perfect addition to your outdoor kitchen and can barbecue fish, chicken, GIANT steaks, and yes - even vegetables. The Solar-Grill has a flexible mirror, which focuses the sun beams on the barbecue cup allowing it to heat up. Your meal is cooked in the self contained barbecue cup an heated evenly from all sides, without direct irradiation by sunlight.

At TAMMOCK Trading

Update:The Tammock site now has an order form for those who want to purchase their own solar grill.