Solar Ovens Vs. Conventional Ovens

You can warm up soup in a solar oven.

Solar ovens are cheap to or even free to build, free to run and can cook the same things as a conventional oven. However, there are practical differences that will guide your choice in using either option.

Cost

Apart from the cost of materials to build them, solar ovens are free to run. Conventional ovens are a major expense and use electricity or gas as fuel, all of which costs money.

Speed

Solar ovens will not reach temperature much higher than 300 degrees F. Thus, cooking is a long-time, maybe all-day, affair. Regular ovens can reach 400 or 500 degrees F., meaning that cooking time is reduced.

Range

Almost anything that can be baked in a regular oven can be baked with a solar oven. However, large bulky items like turkeys will usually need to be cut into smaller pieces to cook properly.

Storage

A conventional oven is a fixed appliance that takes up space. Some models of solar ovens can be folded up to take flat or minimal storage space.

Warning

Conventional ovens are enclosed and secure. Solar ovens left unattended may be subject to raiding by dogs or wild animals. On overcast or rainy days, a solar oven won't be very useful.

Fun Fact

Tulsi manufactures a hybrid solar oven that backs up the solar power with electricity but uses 75 percent less energy.

References

• Solar Cooking Website: Solar Cooking FAQ
• Charity Guide: Build a Solar Oven
• Earth Easy: Solar Hybrid Oven