Solar Cookers Australia
If you've heard of (or seen) Solar Cooking, you probably know that it is only limited by the solar cooker you are using.
Some solar cookers (especially parabolic cookers) get very hot, though are bulky, dangerous and require constant adjustment. Some have slightly better insulation, though severely limited cooking area, making them unusable for daily cooking. Some are cheaper, though have extremly poor build quality and potentially unsafe (toxic smelling) materials.
The below summary should help you decide…
Solar Cooker Options
Solar Cooker Options
There are a few main types of Solar Cooker…
Ovens Also known as 'box' cookers, these have a chamber that gets hot, similar to a gas / electric oven.
Pros: Even Cooking Ease of Use Usable for a wide range of foods
Cons: Some have lower temperatures (especially those without reflectors) Some have limited cooking space (especially height)
Parabolic Dish Also known as parabola mirror cookers, these have no chamber, but a rest for a pot or pan.
Pros: Very high temperatures
Cons: Bulky Difficult to use Require constant attention and adjustment Dangerous (can cause blindness and serious burns) Unstable in wind Need large storage space
Evacuated Tube Also known as tube cookers, these have a small round chamber with small tray
Pros: Cheap to buy.
Cons: Fragile Severely limited space for cooking Fiddly to load and unload.
Where to buy Solar Cookers from?
Where to Buy
Buy LOCALLY!
We have heard many reports from people who have purchased from different locations around the world.
Sometimes the device is nothing like whta is advertised. Other times the device does not suit Australia at all. Some have reciced counterfeit solar cookers, made from inferior materials. Still others have received no item at all or had their credit card skimmed later.
We recommend purchasing from reputable Australian sellers only. There are only a handful in Australia.
We hope to add some to this page further below.
Where is the best place to use the Sun Oven?
Health benefits of Solar Cooking
Solar Cooking can be Healthy!
Food cooked in the sun can be healthier for you. This natural cooking technique destroys less nutrition from the food^
Food cooked in it's own juices just tastes far better too!
^ Parabolic cookers are prone to burning food which does destroy nutrition and may introduce carcinogens.
Can you save money with the Solar Cooking
Saving with Solar Cooking
It is possible to save a lot of money with solar cooking.
Although some are tempted with cheaper devices, a solar cooker that perfoms well is vital to save money with solar cooking.
The more you you cook with a solar cooker, the more you save. If you solar cooker doesn't cook well or last then you will loose money, not save it.
Some solar cookers struggle to last a few years. Compare that to a Sun Oven that is designed to last 15-20 years and you will see that a good investment pays off!
It is possible to save $5,000 - $10,000 over 20 years!
Environmental Benefits of Solar Cookers
Environmental Benefits of Solar Cooking!
Solar Cookers have a huge potential to be able to save copious amounts of CO2 and pollution.
There is no cleaner way to cook food!
Every time you use a solar cooker, you are using clean energy and avoiding fossil fuel use.
Again, the more you use a solar cooker, the more the environmental benefits.
Needed Features for an Effective Solar Cooker
Needed Features for an Effective Solar Cooker:
Cooking Area Size We put this above even the temperature, as a small cooking chamber is virtually unusable. Make sure that the chamber is large enough for a good size dish and that the height doesn't limit your pan usage. Height is often a major drawback - compare to the Sun Oven which is 17cm-27cm high.
High Temperatures A good solar cooker should be able to reach more than 150ºC for good cooking results and versatility.
Safe Internal Cooking Chamber Some solar cookers have plastic or bad smelling chambers that are potentially toxic or unsafe.
Insulation Good insulation enables the solar cooker to be used in a greater number of instances. It allows the food to keep cooking in intermittant shade (ie from clouds) and after the sun goes down.
Reflector Area In general, the larger the reflector area, the higher the heat. This can be a drawback with parabolic cookers (due to wind and the food burning). If the reflectors have a number of faces (ie the Sun Oven), it means the solar cooker doesn't need to be adjusted as often.
Build Quality It is vital to get a solar cooker that is good quality and designed to last. Some solar cookers come poorly assembled, manufactured from sub-par materials and can not handle everyday use.
Ease of adjustment To cater to the suns differing angles in summer and winter, it is necessary for the solar cooker to be able to be raised to face the sun in different seasons. Some solar cookers have fiddly, easy to break mirror inserts. Others spill the food. The Sun Oven is a good example of this with a built in adjustment leg and swinging base to alleviate both issues.
Thermometer Although not vital, a thermometer that can be read without opening the lid is immensely helpful.
Solar Cookers for Sale
Where / When can you use a Solar Cooker?
Where Some solar cookers are small enough to put in your backpack while hiking or camping! These are generally only useful for heating up basic foods (ie beans from a tin).
Larger parabolic cookers are only practical on a back verandah.
Some combination solar cookers, (like the Sun Oven) are compact enough to take with you on the road, yet can cook an actual meal.
When Basic solar cookers will only give decent results on clear, sunny and warm days. The Sun Oven can be used even in freezing conditions on a clear day or for slow cooking anytime the sun casts a shadow! Parabolic solar cookers can be used on still, clear days.
Places to purchase a Solar Cooker
Aussie Edition Sun Oven The Sun Oven is one of the Worlds Best - it gets rave reviews and has for 30 years. Large cooking chamber, 4 way reflectors, built in thermometer, sun alignment devices, top quality materials, designed to last 20 years. Special Currently Running