Slant faced solar oven from cardboard boxes

[Beatnikzombie]

I love the close up of the sizzle.

[warrensavage]

i WONDER IF YOU COULD HAVE A SOLAR FAN IN THEIR TO CIRCULATE THE AIR TO STOP IT FROM STEAMING

[solarcookingnut]

@warrensavage You sure can! I have seen quite a few wooden solar ovens where they put computer fans in to keep the air circulating for even temps and keep the steam down. I just keep lids on my foods. I done this so that people could see just how hot one of these get. I rarely have problems with much steam since my ovens aren't air tight.

[bluntley420]

@solarcookingnut But doesnt it take from the point tof using less energy. Although I'm sure the energy required to run a computer fan is subtantialy less than to heat the oven,

[solarcookingnut]

@bluntley420 compare the use of an electric oven, :) there simply is NO comparison here to a mere little fan. all one has to do is simply.....set up a simple solar panel to power the fan. Lets consider this, Solar cooking saves all around in that if you DON'T solar cook, and just use your oven indoors, realize, you also run the central cooling system in your house to cool down the house while cooking inside. how much electric did you use while you posted this?

[kevjay777]

@bluntley420 The sun released it's energy ~ 8 minutes prior to earth receiving it; it isn't like adding another load to the electrical grid which requires another lump of coal added to the boiler to maintain steam turbine RPM, or taxing the rods that much more at a nuclear reactor etc.

The sun has no idea we use it's energy - it remains unaffected no matter if we had trillions of planets being 100% powered by the sun; it's lifespan is set in stone no matter how much its power is harnessed.

[bluntley420]

@solarcookingnut But doesnt it take from the point tof using less energy. Although I'm sure the energy required to run a computer fan is subtantialy less than to heat the oven, It kinda superscedes the resaoning of

Using the solar panel in the first place

[solarcookingnut]

@bluntley420 My goal here is to help people incorporate methods of cooking here that will help them be less dependent on the grid. I am here to merely educate people, especially those who are low income and can't afford to buy solar panel systems. What I am showing is even a homeless person can do this without needing electric or other fuels. From what I show others, all they have to do is use their imagination from that point on.

[ObamaTaliban]

Nice video! I built one solar oven with a 1/8x12x16 inches glass top. The box I used is from a print paper. The temp rouse to 250 deg F. When I'm cooking, the temp only reaches 215 deg or lower because of the steam fogging up the glass. Does anybody have a fix for this?

[solarcookingnut]

The temps always fall once food is put in. Steaming of the window is common with some ovens. Just wipe it off with a paper towel. some people leave the lid up just a tad bit for air circulation, but you can lose heat that way. try putting your pan of food inside a turkey roasting bag, then put in the oven, or use two large glass bowls to put the vessel in, capping one bowl over the other. Once the food is steaming hot is usually an indicator your food is cooking or already cooked.

[lenhoj85]

My slant face ovens only seen to reach 105. Any hints?

[solarcookingnut]

I would need to know more about it. this one is double walled, using two boxes, and in between the walls are lightly wadded up newspapers. inside is lined with aluminum foil glued to all walls.  then painted flat black with NON toxic paint. Then I painted some ceramic floor tiles flat black, leaned them along the back. you must also angle your reflecter correctly, and keep the oven aimed at sun for maximum heat. hope this helps watch more of my vids they may help w/ur particular problem

[lenhoj85]

I found what was wrong. All I had to do was paint the outside black. Just one question, what is the piont of lining it with foil then painting it black? why not just skip the foil and just paint the box black?

[solarcookingnut]

the foil acts as insulation from the heat inside and still reflects heat towards the food.  the surface of the foil is hotter than just cardboard. It also protects the interior from moisture. all cardboard ovens need to have foil glued to the interior.

[trc0223]

i love cooking with the sun!! But too bad i live in an urban environment where using objects that can potentially burn down the area is illegal.

[stonerj0e]

but it still looks kinda raw to me and if you let it go any longer your food will completely dry out !

[solarcookingnut]

LOL, I was showing they were cooking. They were perfect when they got done. I REFUSE to eat meat not thoroughly cooked. Flipping the burgers over also is important to keep it from drying out. One can cook them in a covered dish if the fat content is low. this is my third year to solar cook, and when its done correctly meat is tender and juicy.

[ilovealf]

Awesome videos. But I prefer my fire and electricity. I believe Solar cooking is just something to give Adults a little rise. It's a Fad. But interesting none the less.

[solarcookingnut]

Hi, thanks for the comment. alot of people think its a fad, but, what many don't realize is solar cooking has been going on for years as a way of survival in areas like Africa and especially India. Lives have literally been saved in Darfur to keep women and children from going out looking for wood. Some here in the U.S. have been solar cooking for over 30 years. It's a way of life for many, some indeed its just a fad. Not with me. My ovens are out every sunny day. Thanks again 4 comment

[swanseabayseadog]

Thanks so much for your videos - I am downloading them like crazy. I made whole Greek rice stuffed vegetables yesterday, nice but too much water & the colour bleached from the veggies. Took @ 2.5 hrs.Today I made moussaka with beef. 3hrs.I covered the top of the food this time with some leftover teflon nonstick 'paper'. Which kept the heat in & the topping went brown & crunchy!I have a box oven with 3 reflectors. Thanks about the warning re retinal damage - I will be more careful from now on.

[solarcookingnut]

Thanks for the comment! Rice, once you learn the right amount of water, will be the best you ever eaten. In my really hot ovens, I just use 1 cup of rice and just a 1 1/4 cup of water. I like my rice where the grains are easily separated. If I want it more chewy, I leave it in longer. You should make a video of your oven and food being cooked in it for everyone to see. The more we have solar cookers posting THE BETTER!

Thnx again for the comment!

[solarcookingnut]

I get very concerned about videos of people approaching their ovens or parabolics with no sunglasses on, it gives people the wrong idea that its not an issue, but, novices don't know how to approach one without literally blinding themselves doing damage. Those who have done this for years know how to turn the oven or approach from the back or side. I try to keep it out there that eye protection with shiney reflectors are a MUST.

[RVqueen]

You're my latest hero.

[solarcookingnut]

LOL, thank you!

[NewYorkSports]

is there a place to get instructions???

[solarcookingnut]

I use simple white glue like elmers to glue my turkey bags to the window. Yep, NEVER use duct tape IN an oven, not only will it melt, but gas off with fumes you DON'T need in your food. So glad you made a version of my nesco, you need to post a vide of it and let us see how its working for you!

[rmarisco]

how do you adhear the glazing inside the frame? i've been using duct tape, but it melts in the heat! any suggestions? (i made a version of your nesco roaster- pretty sweet!)

[Spinfuze]

You need a double layer of plastic or glass with at least 0.5 inch of airspace. It will keep more heat in.

[solarcookingnut]

I have thought about it, but, have had good success with it cooking. My nesco has several layers of plastic on the lid. I post various ovens so that others can see even a single layer of plastic for a window can cook foods well.

Thanks for the comment greatly appreciate it!

[johnlebl]

Wow, thanks for the link! I am curious how well this will work in Canada during cooler weather. I saw at the Moncton Home Show, that Co-op fuels has a solar heating panel that uses recycled pop cans end to end for the collector tubes that the air to be heated flows through. I should give this cooker a try.

[solarcookingnut]

I have successfully cooked in Feb, in 30 degree farenheit temps, with snow on the ground using a panel cooker. You can cook well in a slantfaced oven in the winter if you add more reflectors to concentrate more heat into the oven. Once you get use to this kind of cooking, I will guarantee, you will get hooked! Good luck!

[solarcookingnut]

Nesco has made electric roasters since back in the early 1900's. My grandmother had this, then handed it down to my mother and alot of turkeys were cooked in this. It's the same as the electric roasters you see at walmart. It stopped working, I took it, kept it, hoping to fix it, only to convert it into a solar oven, so now, I don't have to worry about getting rid of it, lol.

[NanetteW]

Thank you for this..

what is a nesco oven, please?

[47f0]

I built a "heaven's flame" style oven just to test it out - works great! I'm building a bigger one with more durable materials - here in Florida, cardboard tends to go soggy after a few days of 110% humidity. My beautiful smooth reflectors now look like grandpa's backside. Maybe that plastic "cardboard" they use for signs?

[47f0]

By the way, a tip on the omelette - a small splash of milk or water keeps the eggs from setting up too hard with the slower cook times. But otherwise, anything you'd cook in a crock-pot turns out beautifully. I've done pseudo-casseroles and a couple of great roast and veggie dinners.

[solarcookingnut]

Hi, yes, use the plastic that looks like corrugated cardboard. In grocery stores, notice if they have any of the soda signs made out of this material that they might have extras of and use them..... for free.

These would be excellent for the outer box

to protect from humidity.

[solarcookingnut]

Use these also for the reflecters. Use a spray adhesive to spray the plastic signboard with, then put your foil on and it should hold up well. Of course, any oven made with cardboard still has to be brought in to keep dry when finished using it.

[usmartine]

Thanks for all of your answers to comments - information much needed.

[solarcookingnut]

Foods I cooked in my ovens, chicken breasts, burgers, steak w/ carrots, onions and potatoes, pineapple upside down cake, brownies, casseroles, banana nut bread, and pizzas made from scratch. Pizzas made from scratch need to have the dough cooked first, then add toppings and bake 15-30 min more depending on your oven. Instead of boiling eggs in the house, I put them in a black pan, just a tad bit of water, put lid on, and cook in preheated nesco oven. scrambled eggs in it too.

[solarcookingnut]

Anyone who wants to learn solar cooking needs to try out various ovens and cookers to learn their nature in how they cook. The best way to do this is to have several different kinds of ovens and cookers, and at the same time, COOK THE SAME FOOD in each of them, and compare the cooking times, and the taste of the food from each one. I feel no one should just stick with one type of solar cooker/oven. People need to be fully open minded, and willing to experiment ALOT.

[agungk]

I would love to cook with solar ovens. But those icky stuffs cooked with box type ovens really scare me. I think solar ovens will be accepted by the mass if we don't have to compromise food tastes and shapes and don't have to wait the whole day for a mere bowl of chicken soup to cook. And if we have to put on dark shades, and sombrero every time we cook, I think sun cooking will only be regarded as a fun activity for once or twice a year. It's time to put hi-tech into solar ovens!!!

[solarcookingnut]

I believe why some don't stick with it is they expect things NOW, and slow cooking is just not their style.

Poorly designed ovens are big disappointments and people just won't do their research. And people will usually start with something to cook that will disappoint them, then just ditch the idea. I know how to use them better now, and can get lunch and dinner meals out of one day of cooking.

[solarcookingnut]

You mentioned "icky stuffs" that scare you, what are they? curious to know.

[agungk]

you know, like the day i found some video on youtube of someone cooking an omelet. after spending perhaps half a day doing it, he came up with a rubbery slab not unlike of giant amoeba. that scared me. :)

[solarcookingnut]

LOL, yuck! I understand now. When I cook my eggs, I use the hottest oven I have, and they get cooked fast as long as its a clear day no clouds. I will put my pan in the oven to preheat along with the oven, THEN put the eggs in, and they begin cooking as soon as they hit the hot pan.

[solarcookingnut]

I can heat up a bowl of soup with a simple oven I made out of a steel bowl, with a posterboard reflecter wrapped halfway around it, within 30 min.

if its clear out and no clouds roll through. The curved reflecter acts like a parabolic cooker does. I will post a video of it the next sunny day I have, its been raining the past few days.

[solarcookingnut]

Thank you for the comment! The oval pan you see is what I use to cook corn on the cob that has been frozen. Since they are short and stocky, I just stand them up on their ends, and leave about 1/2 inch space between them, put a touch of water in for a little steam, then put the lid on, and put it either in this or another oven, or even a panel cooker. I also cook eggs out in the ovens so I have a good supply of cooked eggs for egg salad, deviling, or even heat up for a fast breakfast.

[longtang1234]

please do more videos. I have been cooking corn in black socks and turkey oven bags.  [1. Put a black sock over corn on the cob. 2. cover with oven bag. 3. put under the sun. 4. use tin foil reflectors or mirrors to direct more light to the corn. Fun Summer activity.]