Solar Cookers
When you use a solar cooker, your cooking is done by utilizing
the sun's light in which the light falls on to a dark surface and
is converted into heat. The heat that is created by the solar cooker
is then trapped around the pot and flows to slowly and completely
cook the food.
A solar cooker is a free energy device that uses the sunlight that
shines into your yard every day. Most domestic solar cookers are
safe since they use sanitary material surfaces along with a low
operating temperature.
Solar cooking is both safe and cheap when you compare it to gas,
propane, electric, kerosene or wood. Solar cookers have no smoke
or pollution that gets released into the atmosphere.
Solar cookers are a convenient way of producing a good meal without
the need of heating up the house or buying fuel and they can be
used as well in times of emergency. There is a plethora of different
designs of solar cookers. While some are quite elaborate and can
reach higher operating temperatures, most if not all are safe, inexpensive
and are perfect for household use. Solar cookers come in two basic
forms known as solar boxes or solar panels.
The solar box cookers feature a well-insulated box that usually
comes with a single large window, which is either completely flat
or almost flat and is located on the top side of the box and also
features an adjustable reflector that is located in the lid.
There is also another form of the box style solar cooker that features
a slanted glass window as well as multiple adjustable reflectors.
Regardless of the box style solar cooker you choose the one thing
that is common regardless of the style, is a black metal tray that
is located inside the cooker for you to cook your food on.
The panel style solar cookers are designed as single pot cookers
but can reach hot enough temperatures to pasteurize anything by
boiling it. These panel style solar cookers will heat in the same
way as the box style solar cookers but with the exception that the
food may need to be either stirred or rotated to allow for even
cooking. The panel style solar cookers are relatively quick to make
as they use very little material and can be transported or stored
almost anywhere with ease.
The solar panel cookers feature either four or five flat panels
which are usually around 13 by 16 inches and are covered with a
highly reflective surface such as your everyday aluminum foil. These
panels are then arranged in such a way, so each one of the panels
reflects the sunlight to a centralized point, which usually has
a small dark colored pot or jar.
Solar cookers are an effective way to cook your food without the
need for electricity. Regardless of your circumstances, as long
as you have a sufficient amount of sunlight to create the temperatures
necessary to cook the food you'll enjoy heating your meals in a
non-polluting manner and keeping the kitchen cool to boot.
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